Hitting the water trapping hard this season. I have mostly been a land trapper. I going after mink and muskrat. I won't be supprised if I catch a coon as well. I wouldn't want to loose the coon or my trap ovously. I am using wolf fang stakes but want your opinions on wire gauge. ALSO and tips on muskrat or mink we would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I've always used 14 gauge wire for coon. Don't leave any slack in it they can twist.

Keith

If you just rely on single strand wire you will eventually lose an animal or two. Other than traps set exclusively for 'rats, I'd consider a better anchoring system.

When I started trapping in the 70's all I had to use was wire and homemade stakes. Didnt have extra swivels, cable or chain. Just what the trap came with. Also tied off to a lot of clogs, roots, trees,cinder blocks.
All I had was 14ga. Wire. Caught hundreds of animals.

Thanks guys.

But, how many did you lose?

Can't remember losing them to broken wire but may have a couple. Dont remember it being a thing. Wire didn't fail that I can remember. Toe catch pull outs with coon more than anything. .
24 hour checks. But we were young. We ran traps in morning went to school and work. Then reset at the evening. Most animals spent 10 hours max in a trap.

Did you have many break your wire?

I've never had anything break 14 gauge wire. I did often use 2 loops. I used both 14 gauge baling wire and 14 gauge bag ties. Bag ties with a rebar twist tire are super quick to use. I would usually put two on and crank them down to hold the ring to the rebar I used as stakes. I did walls and footers for 3 1/2 years and tied tens of thousands of pieces of rebar together.

Keith