Stake Pullers
Stake pullers are tools that enhance one’s ability to remove stakes and/or earth anchors from the soil. Trappers, wildlife control operators (WCO) and others use stakes and earth anchors to secure traps and other equipment to the ground. Sometimes, getting the stakes or anchors out of the ground can be quite a challenge, particularly when the soil is dense (such as clay) or frozen.

My Need for the Tool
Due to a back injury, I have to be careful about how much effort I exert when pulling. So I became quite interested in stake pullers as they would allow me to pull stakes with less effort and thereby save my back. The challenge with stake pullers is they are awkward, heavy, and take up lots of valuable space. And anyone who understands the complexities of WCO work knows that truck space is at a premium. Would it be possible to have a stake puller that would both work and not take up much space?
Stake Puller Design

I contacted a local welder and discussed my need for a stake puller. He came up with an ingenious idea. He modified a pipe bender. It could be used to pull stakes and earth anchors. It could be disassembled and was relatively light weight. I had some made and brought them to the Fur Takers of America Trapper’s College in Indiana to have the trappers there test them out.
I gave them to the expert class of trappers and asked the instructor to give them a good try out. He was keen on doing so. After a few days of trapping, he returned the pullers and said they didn’t do that well. I was disappointed but knew that before I began selling this item that I wanted to be sure it could pass muster. I should note that the testing took place in September, when the ground was not frozen. So I suspect the product would not do as well with stakes in frozen ground.
Bottom Line
Is the stake puller useless? No. It is just not capable of handling heavy duty work. Could it be used in a pinch, certainly. But to have something that would last years on the trapline, this product, unfortunately isn’t it.
Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. Copyright All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.