I trap a lot of coal strip pits and in the old haul roads that were compacted with heavy equipment travel. Does anyone trap this type ground and cross stake with 3/8 15 inch stakes? A single 18 holds if you can get it in and wolf fangs and cable stakes are iffy getting in and often times the ground is so hard they won’t turn in the hole and set. Looking for another option that’ll work most of the time. I trap off a UTV so weight of the stakes is not a problem.

Ever consider drags?

I use drags a lot. A lot of times the entanglement is not there and I need to stake at the spot.

24" x 1/2 rebar single stake is about all I ever used for any K9 sets when the ground is frozen solid here. They don't budge. Use a longer chain so they can't jack the stake and they hold in unfrozen ground good too.

Have you tried carrying a hammer drill and pre drilling your holes maybe use a drill bit a size smaller so they are pretty tight when they are drove in.I am interested in how you bed and cover your trap in that type of ground.I have an old dummy line that run thru a place I trap . Coyotes run this area pretty regular but I have not figured out how to bed and cover in gravel.

Smooth rod might be an option.

Get a hold of some beet (potato) chain.



I stake a LOT of traps with one 24” piece of 1/2” rebar. But I also run longer chains.

If your ground is that hard. I wouldn't worry about cross staking. One 18 - 24" stake should be enough in my opinion.

Thank you for the replies. Yes, it’s hard. I’ve seen cable stakes come right back straight up out of the hole. Won’t turn at all. Those big trucks with 50 tons in them really compact the ground but ten years later the animals are running the roads.