I know alot of people use drags. Mine happen to be in a different state till spring. Don't really want to spend the $ on more drags.. Do you guys think #5 chain around a tree with a wolf swivel & heavy duty split ring would hold a wolf?
Thanks

I would not trust a split ring on wolf. But a 3/16” or 1/4” quick link will work just fine. If you want to use a drag a 7-8 foot long willow or birch about 2 1/2” to 3” in diameter will work just fine.

I wouldn't trust a split ring on a coyote, let alone a wolf.

Thanks. I'm also still trying to figure out other than snares what to use the split rings for..

I started using 1/4” shackles. Found them to be much faster and easier to use than quick links. The ends of my chains have a large lap link, welded shut and often I will anchor by going around a tree/ log dropping a loop of chain through that lap link and then pass the trap through the loop. Hard to picture, perhaps. It is depicted in the Alaska Wolf Trapping Manual from the Alaska Trappers Association.
I also use 1/8” 7x7 cable anchors with a tree lock set up and a simple loop at the other end. I will shackle or quick link that loop to the lap link. If available I prefer to anchor to a springy alder of wrist thickness that provides a bit of bounce. Those cables work past 50 plus foot length with no evidence of coming close to failing, in my experience.

My reason for anchoring solid vs. using drags is we can receive large dumps of snow that would hide any sign of where a drag may have gone.

Thanks mad_mike. I also get good amount of snow, the only thing I wasn't sure about the cable is I was wondering about them chewing threw it like some coyotes do.

Just my experience, but never had one even work on the cable. Other folks that trap wolves may have had different experiences.

Mad_mike- when you say "never had one work on the cable" do mean never had one chew on the cable? Just double checking from your earlier post that you use a cable with a tree lock.. I happen to have some of them too so I'd love to give them a shot other than just on my snares.

Correct, jnsff66. Haven’t had the cable chewed on, yet.

Keep in mind he doesn't say he cables directly to the trap. I have trapped with mad_mike, and he knows what he's doing catching wolves. He uses the best wolf traps out there, (think Alaska #9 and Koro #9), and has chain and welded swivels, (10' ?), from the trap base to any cable. The wolves work the chain.

Mad_mike & alaska viking
Thank you both

Spit rings are pretty cheap, when I use them, I always double them up no matter the target.

i have use cinder blocks for drags and work really well

I would NOT use cinder blocks for a drag! A wolf can haul you-know-what, and the first rock that cinder block hits will break it apart.

Do you guys think 5 foot of chain then cabled to a tree would suffice or should I do the 10 foot?

The right size, made in America, are surprisingly strong. This is a very determined wolverine caught in one of my traps in Alaska, and that split ring was used to join #5 chain to 1/8" cable.
http://www.trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2013/10/full-6202-171619-ph_gulo2_2.jpg

That pic is bad azzza. He looks kinda mad

I know of a guy who had a wolf open up a 3/16" quick link. He'd held quite a few with them and then had a big male open that one up,, luckily he was still there but it was opened up in a C shape. 1/4" work well however, just remember to tighten them with a wrench. I didnt think it necessary until I caught a double one day when they were finger tightened and BOTH of them were unthreaded partway.

Does anybody use wolffang or super stakes for wolf or just chain & drags?

I use wolf fang for coyotes in WI and have caught and held more than 20 wolves. Some other wolves have pulled out of the traps, but none have pulled the stakes. Our great lakes wolves might be smaller than Montana wolves but I havent had a problem with the stakes being pulled out. I use cable attached to the stakes with ferules.

I’ve thought about it, but worried about the cable rubbing against the edge of the frozen ground/ice. On my line, most of the main travel routes are along the beaver creeks & ponds so there’s no shortage of ice. I might try making my own. For ice I just drilled a hole, pounded a chain through and it freezes in short order. The last loop of chain has a bolt through it to ram through the hole down to the water, then grabs the ice when pulled. I’m thinking them ice anchors for mountain climbing would be nice but they’re bloody expensive, but I guess nothings cheap when it comes to wolves…..lol. I know guys use them to anchor a come along to when pulling out frozen in/stuck snowmobiles in the middle of the lake.

I have yet to lose a coyote out of a split ring (swivel attached to cable stake with the split ring). Far faster to change out a trap if I want to. Threaded quick links are a pain in the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) comparitively.

I guess I should specify, I've always used chained super stakes, I've never used the cable ones.

Thank you