After consulting the archives on what gauge to use I found that most that use wire use 11 gauge or multiple strands of 14. What would be the best place to get this. I checked online at my local hardware store they don't have it.

Trap supply places. FNTpost.com is a good place to start.

Have you considered drowning rods? Less kinks with those.

Should have checked their websites before posting, I can get 14 gauge locally would it be a bad idea to use double-stranded 14 gauge?

I hate doubling wire so just get 11 or 9 if you can find it. Some of the fencing companies carry rolled of it. Local hardware stores have it sometimes too. Hardware stores usually at least have galvanized 9 and 11 guage fencing wire. Nothing wrong with galvanized for drowners.used it for years when I still used word drowners.

Funkes or Hilltop most likely has it on hand.

Will look next time I go to town.

Drowning rods would be at the top of my list. Followed by 1/8 cables. Iron #11 or #9 wire would be a lesser option. I find it much harder to use than cable.

#2 Machine chain for me.....buy once ,cry once

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Fiberglass tree stakes are what I use for rods.

For drowner application for beaver/otter,double 14 is not a good choice.
11 ga is good.
When using wire for anything more than single use you need to inspect it for kinks.Kinked wire will break.
There are ways to tie the drowner at the bottom so kinks are not a problem or can be cut out and re tied quickly.

I plan on moving to chain as it seems to not kink like cable does and lasts longer than wire for next year. The wire is mostly for just this year as its short notice and bad planning on my part.

I'm with you Nessie...chain drowners..one and done

Nice setup

I detest using wire on anything trapping related.
It's time consuming, pokes holes in gloves and boots, and occasionally results in lost animals.
Use cable or, if you are unfortunate to live in an area without rocks use rods.

Where I am wire is a vital piece of equipment for lots of applications.
Cable will fail and it wont show.It rots on the inside.With wire you will know when its time to trim and/or re-inforce.

I dont think cable drowners last long enough to rot from the inside. I only see a couple of catches before
theyre kinked enough to not allow the lock to slide. I bought mine from MTP, and while it's nothing they did wrong...
beavers are gonna grab whatever they can at that crucial time, and we know they have a strong jaw.
Naturally, ive noticed more on the back foot catches, where they can turn to bite easier, which happens to
be the cable which gets ruined for its intended use.
Im switching to rebar/straight rod, but I'm gonna keep other options available in those other spots.

My partner is a machinist at work and a major DYI guy at home. We’ve been doing drowning rods with snares for the last week and I’m convinced I should have switched to rods 20+ years ago. ‘Probably won’t ever go back to wire or cable drowning.

Drowner rods IMO are the way to go. If you can’t get a drowner rod in then number 2 chain is next. Wire and cable all have there use on the line but are a pain to deal with for drowners. When I pull my drowned beaver up to the bank I don’t need to worry about it never had to replace a piece of 1/2 in rebar cause of kinks or damage. They also to me are way faster I can probably get 3 drowning rod rigs set up by the time someone fills there bags with rocks or dirt. Or tired from walking in carrying tie plates or what not. But like most things trapping ask 30 trappers get 30 different answers or opinions. Find what works best and is easiest for the individual.

Indeed
Been using them nearly 20 yrs and they still going strong. 3/8” smooth rods.
Makes me wonder how many miles of wire I’d a gone thru just in the 7 yrs of yr round full time beaver removal.
Taken bout a dozen over 70 lbs too.