What is the shortest stake length when using rebar to cross stake. I have been using 24 inch stakes but it is a pain to pull out. TIA

I use 16" stakes when I cross stake.

If it's a PIA to pull then it's right. Any easier and the critter can pull it.

But actually length depends on ground conditions. I've mostly clay where 18 works fine and shorter or even single would probably work as well. BUT I've hit pockets of sand or back fill where crossed 24 come up with just a pull.

Mostly sod here if that tells you anything. All black dirt.

Stick with 24" when you get tired of it you'll save up for some earth anchors.

I have used 1 -18" and 1 - 24" in most cases. But as stated it will depend upon the ground conditions. I have 24" and 30" to use if needed. I put a slight bend in my longer stakes to help them hold better. I use straight cable stakes now for 98% of my trap staking.

LOTS of us started of with rebar stakes. I remember in the 90s having several 5 gallon buckets of rebar stakes in back of truck running 100s of coyote sets. One day. Was moving bucket of rebar from porch to truck bed or vs versa. Bottom fell through. All that rebar broke my big toe! LoL!

Your saying two stakes, one 18" and one 24"? That makes sense because once you pull the 18", than you can use the trap to pull the next.

The area I trapped in central TX one year I used 2 12" stakes to cross stake. Never had a problem.

Coyotes?

I use 2 18". Those hold in most soil. If I get into sand or real loose soil I use a wolf fang or super stake.

Mostly clay around here but I cross stake with 18s or single stake with a 30.

ttt

It's a good habit to check the anchor
after a catch, a monsoon, or a thaw.

As Roy D Mercer would say, How big a boy are you? The test of any stake system is to give it a good hard pull when you set it and after every catch. It should not move at all.

With that feel free to experiment until you find something that works for you. Most of us ended up going to earth anchors that way. I prefer wolf fang but still got some superstakes and even a few still set up for rebar.

One I'd like to try is a 30" dog knot. With a slick rod and an S-hook they shouldn't be able to pump the stake and 30 should hold in clay.

I use 1 18 inch 1/2 inch rebar and 1 16-17 inch 3/8 inch rebar cross staked. We have mostly clay here. I have nuts welded on the ends and twist them with a vice grip and pull them out. I use 2 16-17 inch rebar stakes for my DPs for coon as well.

Bryce

I chopped a bunch of my 30” stakes in half a few years ago so use a lot of 15” for cross staking. 18” cross stakes are overkill in most of my ground.

But in a lot of my ground you have no worries with a single 24” with all but the shortest chain setups.

Last couple years I’ve been giving serious thought to canning cable stakes and just going back to rebar alltogether.






You have to find out what works on YOUR ground. No matter what staking system you use.

If you have black dirt I’d start getting a dozen chained super stakes every birthday and Christmas. I’d start out pounding them close to all the way in and see what happens after a catch. In good dirt I might go 12-15” and it holds everything I’ve caught. In bad dirt I’ve gone to drags.
When pulling earth anchors in good dirt I’ll use a hammer drill with an auger and have them up quicker than it takes to get out of the truck and grab the drill. Accidentally put one in clay and I’ll be there 5-10min. If I hit clay while pounding them in I only go 8-10” maybe.

What have coyotes done to what you’re using now??

LOL, Wanna Be. I am a beginner so I haven't caught anything yet. But between all the coons, possums, a skunk, and vacation is probably why I haven't. I've had coyotes come to sets but not get caught because they came from the back. And warrior, I have spent 30 minutes on those stakes, vice grip, pry bar and all. I use the wench on my side be side to pull them up 10 inches at least so its easier then.

Pofarmer10. Maybe at your age and physical strengths at this time. You should be using drags ? Swing set chain and some heavy metal OR even an old time wooden clog or big rock would work. We snare lots of coyotes on = Drag logs with very little vegetation to hand on here in West Texas. So think on = Drag Log see if that will work for you