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