trapping gear questions

[dakota954]

i was looking through some trapping stuff and i found some cool stuff. i found these things called earth anchors. do these things work and how do they work? im using rebar stakes now and would like something more secure. i was also looking at a fleshing tool. is it worth buying one or should i just keep using a knife?

[Bogmaster]

 I sell Berkshires(which is a type of earth anchor) and yes they will hold about anything,
 A fleshing knife is easier than a knife for putting up fur.You should also use a fleshing beam ,when using a fleshing knife,
 Tom

[dakota954]

Awesome thanks. Do you have to use the special driver or could I make my own with rebar?

[Bogmaster]

 Yes,with Berkshires you can make a driver from 3/8 inch rebar.If you get standard , the end of the rebar is just cut at an angle.If you get heavy duty ones, the end is ground into a pencil like point.
 Tom

[dakota954]

How much do you charge for a dozen and how do I get em outta the ground?

[trappnman]

I like and use berkshires-

but a tip- get the old style, not the "heavy duty" ones that have the little cup at the end- the hinge on those is very weak, and bends on a whim it seems, making drivng tuff.

I tried them (the h-d) ones out west in hard packed sage type sand, and they were worthless- figured might work better in loam dirt of home, but not much better.

I like 15" cables for most work.

[fishdaddy]

you can dig them out..i have used the berkshires but this season i switched to mostly the super stakes with chain on them if you cant get it all the way in the cable sticks up but with chain it lays flat

[dakota954]

thanks

[Macthediver]

I've found the best way for me to pull a cable stake is to stomp my tile spade down along the cable. Then hook the top chain with my pick and pull it towards the spade cut. Most the anchors will pop right out unless they've gotten under a root or larger rock. In lighter ground I just hook them with the pick and pull them up. I trap out of the truck or my boat so hauling a tile spade and pick isn't a problem, would be a hassel on foot.

Mac

[fishdaddy]

i can pull the berkshires by hand most of the time cause they will bend but our ground is real rocky have to dig the super stakes out

[trappnman]

best way we found to pull, is we made a "loop" out of cable, with a 3 in piece of flat stock on one end. this can be put through any link of chain, and then a pick axe is inserted into the loop, and rocked back on the curve of the pick, pulling the cable very readily- occassionally a block needs to be placed under the pick head for leverage

very back friendly

[dakota954]

I was just going to tie it to the quad and floor it =) that'd get it out

[fishdaddy]

I was just going to tie it to the quad and floor it =) that'd get it out

if you do that please be kind enough to get a video of it and post it

[dakota954]

Well ofcourse, what kinda redneck would I be if I didn't?

[Macthediver]

dakota
One of the first demo's I ever saw at NTA for a cable stake, (don't recall which brand) they had a quad runner hooked to the cable. I have to say the quad just set there and burried it's self. Now knowing what I do now about cables and how they work. My guess is that the same amount of pull striaght up would have probably popped the anchor out. A lot of what give cables their holding power is the fact critters can't get a good straight up pull on them.
I use almost all 14 to 16 inch  3/4 angle iron stakes on my line. But when I get in the light sand ground we have here in places. I can step an angle iron in with my foot and it comes back out just as easy by hand pulling up. There is no way I could use my normal stake in that ground critters jack them right out. If I shove in a 14 or 16 inch cable many times pushing the driver by hand . They manage to hold every big coon that comes along no problem. Most times all it takes for me to pull the cables in that light ground is a straight up pull by hand. If you need more hold in the light ground go to a bigger anchor or longer cable.

Mac