Well tomorrow is the end of trapping season for me. And of course we have snow and really cold temps. What do you guys do about the stakes that are frozen solid in the ground? Tried pulling a few today with no luck.

I have a couple stakes that stay year round, I attach to them with a quick link. I use a lot of drags, so I can't say I've experienced that much. I'd think you'll have to cut the chain, or come back for the trap after thaw

Masonry bit comes in handy or a cheater bar on the puller.

I always marked the spot with a ribbon after removing trap and returned in spring to pull anchor or stake before any field work was started.

What do you mean by stakes? Anchors in ground that is frozen deep are best left til spring. Rerod will come out

Pack bolt cutters to cut the chain if you can't get it out. Or you can leave the trap and come back when it thaws. A cheater pipe can help, but not always. Like Tramp I have went to a lot of drags or chaining off to trees to avoid dealing with that.

This. I use a quick link and disconnect from my trap, then tie a ribbon onto the chain stake. I also place a surveyors flag along side making it easier to locate come spring. Might be a bit over kill but winters can be long around here and anything can happen.

We pull them when they thaw out mostly.

A pickaxe, 2 or 3 swings and pull them out
I went to Berkshires a few years ago so now I just cut the cable and move on

I have stakes and MB chain anchors. I'm sure I can get the stakes out some how, but the chain anchors...Well guess I'm waiting a bit. Do I have to remove the trap from the chain or can I leave the trap not set? Private property btw.

THIS^^^

A trap cannot be in left out before or after season set or unset in Illinois.

frozen rebar give it a ew wacks deeper and they usually pull

I would snap it and toss it in the bushes to wait for next year, but sounds like that might not be legal there