When you drive the earth anchor all the way in with the chain wrapped through the trap. Yup, did that today.

Next set I drove my driver through a root making a pilot hole. Called it quits for the day. LOL

Why I use pogos and cable. I cut the cable at the end of the season, don’t even try to pull them anymore.

^ X2

Double stake rebar here. Lots easier

I had nothing but problems with earth anchors breaking as I was driving them in last season. Tried to send a pilot hole down first and the anchors still broke free from the cable a few times. After the first couple of times it happened went straight to double stakes. Took some bolt cutters and cut the j hook on the double stake swivels and was able to leave quick. Came back a couple of months later when the ground wasn’t frozen and pulled them out easier. That’s gonna be my go to, really want to try pogos for my raccoon traps though and see if they’re any better. Just don’t trust basically a fender washer up against a yote

fender washers will hold a coyote. I just think its to much fooling around to use them. different preference make the world go round i guess

I use earth anchors where the soil might have been worked and is loose to get down to the hard pan. Otherwise I use rebar and double stake all sets. The cable stakes I use 3/16 quick links to attach between cable and swivel.

I think carrying around rebar is a pain in the a$$, I've been making those earth anchors out of black pipe, I cut them into 3 1/2 inch pieces, cut the downward side in to a v, pound down & weld, weld a nut on top for cable & good to go. Depending on where I trap, I make my cables 18 & 20 inches with 12 inches of chain between cable & trap. For a driver, 30 inch piece of rebar with one end ground smooth works.

I agree with carrying rebar around. I am lucky, most of my sets I can get to with ATV or pickup. If I have to walk in its with cable stakes and driver.

I did rebar for years, went to pogo style cable stakes and now, back to rebar. I'm not packing gear anywhere. I work out of the back of my truck. I find it redundant to drive in a pilot hole, pull the stake, then drive in a cable stake/earth anchor. The hardest part of trapping is pulling stakes. Why do it twice? I had good luck with Pogo's, I just found it easier to drive in a rebar stake once and leave it. I only used double stakes early season, once the ground froze, I found double staking unnecessary.

I thought all of us had immigrated to the best rig set up there is.....
chain stakes with super stake ends.
MTP is only a call away!

Pulled 15 traps today in about 15min actual time, if that. Of course that’s with a 20v drill and we’ve actually had a little rain so that made it easier. I’m learning soil types too. I’ve figured out just how far I need to pound in the stakes. Clay gets about 8” and regular soil gets about 12”, anything more is just a waste of time. Also learned go all the way down the length of the auger when pulling, still gotta put your weight into it, but they come out easier.

This!

There is no best staking system.

Just splurged for a 24v flex drill. Huge difference. But still no perfect system. I was on the north side of Atlanta today in some of the most cobble soil I've ever seen in Georgia. Clay and rock mix ain't kind to augers.

I hate to be a drag on the subject but I gave up the pounding and just chunk a drag out.

To each his own

X2, I gave up on the earth anchors quite a few years ago.

I'd love to but I can't.

I use the chain stakes with super stake ends.
Depending on the soil, I may drill a pilot hole first because my wrists are in bad shape.

Another option is double staking with rebar. Or if the ground is frozen hard - a single rebar stake.
Again drill a pilot hole to reduce damage to my wrists.