I'm setting up two dozen Duke 550's. My question is should I use Fox Hollow super stakes or Berkshire heavy duty stakes? I'm also debating on using chain instead of cable so if I don't get them drove in completely the cable isn't sticking up out of the ground. Thoughts?
I'll be setting them in mostly no-till soil fields.


Thanks,

JT

Super stakes

I prefer the bullet stakes. Much more. User friendly for putting in and pulling out, if using the retrieval ends.

My only issue with using chain is if you use chain on them, you can't cut and run, you'll need a quick release or bolt cutters to pull your trap.

Cable you can hyperload the cable so it curly Q's and doesn't stick up.

I use 12" of 1/8" cable on the stake end, and 6" of chain on top. No cable end sticking up in the trap bed and I can cut the cable if need be. In this rocky KY soil sometimes there is no getting them back out of the ground, even with a good puller. I use the wolffang stake ends as they aren't a huge loss if I need to cut one and leave it.

X2 with WV soil. More rock than soil.

I like my Super Stakes with 12"-16" of chain and attach it to the trap with a 3/16" quick link. When it comes time to pull, I drill along side my chain and pull it out or disconnect the quick link and go.

Any problem driving them in semi frozen ground?

I use my driver to punch a pilot hole or predrill with a masonry bit in my cordless drill. If too frozen to pull, I undo the quicklink and flag it. Will pull following spring while looking for sheds.

How used to be on here and made them? I think he was building a log cabin at the time.
That’s what I use.

I found that the homemade angled pipe anchor is the best, most durable

I have tried most of the ends commercially available and experimented with a few of my own designs, but I have never looked back after switching to super stakes. Semi frozen ground doesn't seem to be any issue, and the few rocks I have hit they glance off pretty well. I have some that are cut down to about 8" of chain if used in a hard pasture even after multiple catches they've never moved an inch from the depth that they were installed I haven't tried the ones with the retrieval cable, but as others have mentioned, drilling down beside them makes them pretty easy to pull if you carry a drill, otherwise if you carry a pick you can rock them out easy enough, or any of the commercially available pullers work them up also, leverage is the name of the game on removing any.

You're not thinking of the things Miranda made are you?

I use super stakes with 18" of #3 chain. Quick links to attach coyote traps. Double super stakes for wolf traps whenever there is a season.

Wolf fangs w/ 12" of 1/8 cable and 6" of chain for everything else using split rings for attachment.

POGO.

He will be at the NTA in Escanaba

Pogo anchors for me as well MOST times. Then rebar if can't get other in.

Thanks for all of the ideas. I’m going to get super stakes and run chain on them

Double check the Super Stakes to make sure the casting isn't cracked or flawed. I understand there have been some reports of cracked casting on the small loop that attaches to the cable/chain and have been known to snap. Also make sure to weld the chain on using an S hook or something similar as there can be a lot of pressure on that area when pulling up stakes. Other than that I won't use any other method to secure my traps.

20scout thanks for the heads up on the cracks.

20 scout I ordered 24 super stakes and 3 of them were cracked. Called the place I ordered from and they are sending me 3 new ones.

Tooltime

I hope to pick up a few more in at our convention coming up soon. Will be interesting to see how that batch fairs. I just went thought all my Super Steaks a few days ago and they all look good. Good to hear your getting new replacements.