Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Lifelong trapper, ask me anything

Point duly noted! Hadn't thought about bears up there, which are extremely scarce down here.
Still, all of the trappers from whom I learned the trade back in the 60s/70s never condoned stake-downs on the basis that a stake-anchor gives the critter leverage to pull out - although usually absent a digit.
Staked trap-sets also increase the risk of a coyote's "liberation by teeth" (a trait that prompted the phrase "coyote-ugly", in reference to waking up in the morning after a night of heavy drinking, with your arm pinned beneath a homely stranger ).
To each their own, but it's always good to know the merits and drawbacks of various options.