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Drag design and usage #7654264
08/20/22 09:42 PM
08/20/22 09:42 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,771
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline OP
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,771
Amite county Mississippi
After a few other post dealing with drags I end up going though my "ready box" just to look at something.
You know many believe a drag is a drag is a drag but this is false imo. Have a lot of different type and make a lot of different type..each one does something different and is for a different purpose. Sharpen a prong this way instead of that way , a bend here instead of there make this one then that, will all give different results. Some wanted by some some scorned by others
Could probably write a few paragraphs on each but due to lack of in the field experience personally I'll digress.
So, what's eveyones preferred and why ?

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Last edited by Wolfdog91; 08/20/22 09:43 PM.
Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654291
08/20/22 10:13 PM
08/20/22 10:13 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,976
North Central Idaho
Jumperzee Offline
trapper
Jumperzee  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,976
North Central Idaho
Wolfie, since you asked..... smile I make and sell my own drags as well. Doubt we'll ever be in competition since shipping big hunks of pointy steel around the country is cost prohibitive.

Calling mine "drags" is a bit of a misnomer since they're purpose built to be more of a portable anchor - for wolves. I spent a while prototyping them and settled on the black ones. They're 8lbs each and NOT designed to leave the site in the typical sense of a drag. I use them a lot for making a set where I want to without needing to mess with cabling off to a tree or earth anchoring in marginal soil. They've worked great for me and folks who have been running them. The only time they've left the set is on a hard packed dirt road but left a huge gouge and were tetherballed when they left the road.

Here's a batch headed off to a customer, a couple prototypes (way overkill), an MB drag and 750 and Duke 1.5 for comparison. [Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654336
08/20/22 11:04 PM
08/20/22 11:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
B
Bob Offline
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Bob  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
[Linked Image]

If you follow the chain back you’ll see a big rock. That is my preferred drag. Heavy, free, and already at the set so I don’t have extra weight to carry.


"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654393
08/21/22 02:08 AM
08/21/22 02:08 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
B
bearcat2 Offline
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bearcat2  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
Jumper's drags are the cats meow if you don't have to pack them. I've used logs more than anything for drags. But have went to making a bunch of my own for ease of use and not having to look for a log and cut it. I don't have pictures of mine, but similar to an MB drag except each side is made out of one piece of 5/8 rebar with bent corners rather than separate pieces welded together. And they are about twice as big with an extra chunk of 5/8"s welded across the top for extra weight. Not as heavy as Jumper's but almost as big and not that much lighter. I can bury them under the trap or close to it if I don't have a convenient place in the brush to hide it. Or I can just toss it in the brush or snow, bed the trap and cover the chain. I like the points angled out because the catch better than those angled in. I think those angled in will hold better when they catch, but usually they wrap the chain around something as soon as they hang up anyways. And I've had a wolf drive a point so far into a log that I've had to pound the drag back out, couldn't get it out by hand.

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654464
08/21/22 07:57 AM
08/21/22 07:57 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,863
SE Kentucky
K
kytrapper Offline
trapper
kytrapper  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,863
SE Kentucky
I have several different style of drags I use. MB’s with additional 60D nail on point, Tracker drags from JC Conner and the ones on the far left of OP’s post. All hang up pretty quickly with 8ft. of chain. I have a pile of the old original cheap coyote size drags you see in the catalogs. Something I’d use on mink traps. But, what kind of drag do you think they’d make with and 18” piece of 1/2 inch rebar laid on top, heavy nails added to the points and then a D ring welded on the terminal end? I’m thinking in a lot of my places they’d work good. Lots of old grown up strip mine type areas. Also, have a dog that rides along that’s pretty good at going straight to them.
Also curious, I have a good friend that caught a lot of animals in his almost 90 years, suggested 1/8 cable. He’s had good luck using it. It would be quite a lighter load in back of UTV with cables instead of chains.

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654474
08/21/22 08:13 AM
08/21/22 08:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,384
Pennsylvania
H
Hern Offline
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Hern  Offline
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H

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,384
Pennsylvania
Anyone use a cable 'bow tie'?
Fix around rock, pull to tighten...

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654482
08/21/22 08:20 AM
08/21/22 08:20 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,590
SW Pa
B
Bob Jameson Offline
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Bob Jameson  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,590
SW Pa
Now that Hern that is a sweet idea and invention. Did you develop that?

Do the loops ever relax once placed or are you depending on the applied resistance to keep the loops taut. I could see where multiple loops would provide the better grip and insurance to hold fast. What are the nut sizes you found best to use?

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654599
08/21/22 11:21 AM
08/21/22 11:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3,842
Pennsylvania
The hammer Offline
trapper
The hammer  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3,842
Pennsylvania
[Linked Image]
These weigh 3.5lb and work really well in multiple situations. Brush areas or tall over grown grass edges they don’t get far at all. Rocky or hard pack dirt road or ground in general they leave a very noticeable gouged in trail to track. I don’t pre wrap drags seems like a waste of a drag and is defeating the purpose of a drag.

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: The hammer] #7654607
08/21/22 11:28 AM
08/21/22 11:28 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 8,294
Louisiana
Aix sponsa Offline
trapper
Aix sponsa  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 8,294
Louisiana
Originally Posted by The hammer
[Linked Image]
These weigh 3.5lb and work really well in multiple situations. Brush areas or tall over grown grass edges they don’t get far at all. Rocky or hard pack dirt road or ground in general they leave a very noticeable gouged in trail to track. I don’t pre wrap drags seems like a waste of a drag and is defeating the purpose of a drag.



I Don’t use drags much, but when I do, these are the type and it works well for me.

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: The hammer] #7654626
08/21/22 11:45 AM
08/21/22 11:45 AM
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 236
Texas
Sharkhunter Offline
trapper
Sharkhunter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 236
Texas
Originally Posted by The hammer
[Linked Image]
These weigh 3.5lb and work really well in multiple situations. Brush areas or tall over grown grass edges they don’t get far at all. Rocky or hard pack dirt road or ground in general they leave a very noticeable gouged in trail to track. I don’t pre wrap drags seems like a waste of a drag and is defeating the purpose of a drag.



Hammer is there an advantage to a wedge type digging spike vs a plain pointed round bar spike?

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654729
08/21/22 02:58 PM
08/21/22 02:58 PM
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3,842
Pennsylvania
The hammer Offline
trapper
The hammer  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3,842
Pennsylvania
Shark, in my experience yes there is a big difference. The wedging action you get from the triangle drag is designed for just that the smallest sapling’s will get wedged between point and frame of trap. Where using a rounded spike style drag if that point isn’t dug into the ground when it hangs up on a sapling the open trap frame can ride up and bend over the sapling and animals goes a little further. But it’s Chevy or ford between the two styles both work very very well if the user is using it responsibly. If I was in strippings and nothing in site and ground was rock solid the drill would come out idc how much someone said to me oh my drag will dig in and hold assuming and trapping never work well together.

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654773
08/21/22 04:18 PM
08/21/22 04:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,425
Georgia
warrior Offline
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warrior  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,425
Georgia
How do they do with lots of ground duff like pine needles and leaves?


[Linked Image]
Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654879
08/21/22 06:36 PM
08/21/22 06:36 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
B
bearcat2 Offline
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bearcat2  Offline
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B

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
[Linked Image]
OK. I think this is a great thread. Went out to the shop and took a picture of one of my new drags I made. Swivel isn't welded on it yet but otherwise ready to go. I will probably dye them after I boil traps though. 16" shank and with 8' of #5 chain it weighs 8.2 pounds.

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7654903
08/21/22 07:02 PM
08/21/22 07:02 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
B
bearcat2 Offline
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bearcat2  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
First dozen I made I welded quick links to the base so I could just attach them to the chain at the site. This worked good on the traps I had that already had long chains on them, but I had to carry a bunch of lengths of chain to attach them to my other traps (I will continue to carry some lengths of chain for when I want a double length chain in open ground or a little extra chain to attach a trap to a tree or log) and I had the threads strip on a couple of the quick links after continued usage so I ended up welding those ones shut anyways. Also I didn't like the attachment being on one side of the shank instead of straight off the end, although it probably makes no difference.

A piece of advice, always use a wrench or pliers to tighten quick links (probably how I stripped out the threads on a couple) while I've never had a coyote spin one loose, I had a double on wolves one day when I had just finger tightened them and after dispatching them I discovered BOTH of them had managed to unscrew the quick links partway, one far enough I was able to pull the chain out without turning the nut any farther.

This is one of the drags with approximately 11-12' of chain on it that I had a wolf take over 400 yards this winter, trapping Taximan's country pictured I would always stake or use a heavy weight with the drag strictly as a backup. Likely with an extra length of chain attached if I didn't think the stake would hold.

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: The hammer] #7673846
09/18/22 09:05 AM
09/18/22 09:05 AM
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 6
WI
W
Wistrap81 Offline
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Wistrap81  Offline
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W

Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 6
WI
Would you mind sharing the dimensions of your drags...and material thickness? I plan on using half inch thick material.

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: bearcat2] #7673928
09/18/22 10:56 AM
09/18/22 10:56 AM
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 236
Texas
Sharkhunter Offline
trapper
Sharkhunter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 236
Texas
Originally Posted by bearcat2
This is one of the drags with approximately 11-12' of chain on it that I had a wolf take over 400 yards this winter, trapping Taximan's country pictured I would always stake or use a heavy weight with the drag strictly as a backup. Likely with an extra length of chain attached if I didn't think the stake would hold.


I would love the opportunity to trap wolves and big cats ! Bearcat2 what is the weight range of the wolves you have trapped ?

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7674368
09/19/22 12:52 AM
09/19/22 12:52 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
B
bearcat2 Offline
trapper
bearcat2  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
70-110. I've heard of bigger, but most don't ever see a set of scales. First and still the biggest I've caught weighed 110. I'm estimating on the 70. I've never weighed another because I've never caught one bigger than my first.

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: Wolfdog91] #7674377
09/19/22 02:25 AM
09/19/22 02:25 AM
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1,363
Custer Co, Idaho
S
sneaky Offline
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sneaky  Offline
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S

Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1,363
Custer Co, Idaho
Sounds about right. Mine was 93lbs and people's guesses were all over the place when they saw pics of it. Jumper makes boat anchors. I think I can carry one at a time on my little wheeler laugh


Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand
Re: Drag design and usage [Re: sneaky] #7684498
10/03/22 02:22 PM
10/03/22 02:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,004
alabama
steeltraps Offline
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steeltraps  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,004
alabama
Originally Posted by sneaky
Sounds about right. Mine was 93lbs and people's guesses were all over the place when they saw pics of it. Jumper makes boat anchors. I think I can carry one at a time on my little wheeler laugh

What is the average = lbs drag a guy from Idaho uses for wolf? IF you had say = 2o ft of chain. Is a Saber Tooth drag at about 3 lbs enough?? What should be used ?

Re: Drag design and usage [Re: steeltraps] #7684646
10/03/22 06:59 PM
10/03/22 06:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1,363
Custer Co, Idaho
S
sneaky Offline
trapper
sneaky  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1,363
Custer Co, Idaho
Originally Posted by steeltraps
Originally Posted by sneaky
Sounds about right. Mine was 93lbs and people's guesses were all over the place when they saw pics of it. Jumper makes boat anchors. I think I can carry one at a time on my little wheeler laugh

What is the average = lbs drag a guy from Idaho uses for wolf? IF you had say = 2o ft of chain. Is a Saber Tooth drag at about 3 lbs enough?? What should be used ?

Heavier the better. Jumper makes his in the 8-8.5lb range. Those on ten feet of number 7 chain don't make it far. In the thick stuff a sabertooth would hook up regardless of weight in the brush. Lots of guys using the MB750s from MTP with their drag, and it's only 3.5lbs or so.


Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand
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