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Stake Puller Failure

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.

Stake puller, disassembled. Left object is the rocker to pull the stake. The Blue item is the handle and the silver ring is used for pulling earth anchors.
Metal bender modified into a stake puller. The stake puller (pictured in disassembled form) shows the rocker to pull stakes (left). The grooved portion is for your foot. The blue item is the handle and the silver ring is used for pulling earth anchors.

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

Stake puller failure as noted by the bent hooks.
Stake puller failure as noted by the bent hooks.

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 (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel) along with several books (https://wildlifecontrolconsultant.com/store-2/). Listen to his podcast at PestGeek Podcast (https://pestgeekpodcast.com/). 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.

 

 

 

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Fur Takers of America Trapper’s College

Fur Takers of America Trapper’s College

Stephen M. Vantassel with his first snared animal.
Stephen M. Vantassel with his first snared animal.

The Fur Takers of America is an association of trappers dedicated to protecting the sport of fur harvesting through education, training, and grass roots lobbying. I had the pleasure of attending the Fur Takers Trapping College LaGrange, Indiana in 2010. It was an incredible learning experience, but very tiring as breakfast opens at 6:30 AM and the last class ends at 9:00 PM. If you attend the optional class then the day ends at 10:00 PM. Despite the physical rigors of the program, the training it provides is without peer. Attendees learn from some of the best trappers in the United States.

I, however, am doubly blessed, because I was offered the opportunity to attend the 2013 Trapper’s College September 8-14. I can tell you that the second time is more meaningful than the first. The reason is simply that you more background which allows you to grasp the volume of information more readily. This is particularly true if you have some trapping experience before attending.

So is the College worth the $1,200 price tag? Absolutely. Where else can you get fed, housed, and trained by industry experts for 7 days for only $1,200? The Trapper’s College is no death by PowerPoint Program. You will be setting traps in the morning, watching demonstrations in the afternoon, and listening to talks in the evening. If that isn’t enough, you can eat with the instructors and continue to talk trapping.

Students are placed into one of five groups to ensure that your training is geared toward your experience level. The first time I attended, I was placed in the beginner’s class. I already had some water trapping experience, so I was most interested in learning about setting footholds, body-grips, and snares on land. During my second visit, I was placed in the advanced class where I focused on learning how to read the landscape and set snares. I was proud of the fact that I snared my first animal on a cross over at a dam.

Bottom Line: If you want to improve your trapping skills, meet some of the legends of American Trapping, or just looking for the experience of a lifetime, then you should make plans to attend.

Disclosure: I am a book/video reviewer for Fur Taker Magazine (The official magazine of the Fur Takers of America) and a member of the Fur Takers of America.

About the Author

Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator who helps individuals, businesses, and agencies resolve wildlife damage issues through training, writing, expert witness, and research. His latest books are the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd edition and The Practical Guide to the Control of Feral Cats. He can be contacted at wildlifecontrolconsultant at gmail dot com.

If you would like your publication, video, or product reviewed, please contact the author at the e-mail above.

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.

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Fur Takers of America–Trapper’s College

I finally made it to the Fur Takers of America’s Trapper’s College in Indiana this past September. I can only say, “WOW”. In brief, it is like a crash course of non-stop information on trapping and wildlife damage management. It was truly amazing how the instructors and program developers could put so much information into a week’s time.

Day’s start with breakfast at 6:30 A.M. and end at 9:00 P.M. only if you don’t want to listen to Rick Shadel’s presentation on wildlife damage management from 9:00 PM to 10:00 P.M.

In an age of Death by PowerPoint teaching, the Trapper’s College is nothing short of a full experiential learning. The training is straight forward. First the instructors show you, then you go out into the field and actually put into practice what you were taught. Add up the experience of the instructors and the number will be over 800 years of trapping expertise. Let me be clear. If you need something caught, these guys are the people to contact.

How much does it cost? Only $950.00 and that covers food, training, and lodging. If you want to learn about fur trapping this is the place to go.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP and graduate of the 2010 Trapper’s College.

Stephen M. Vantassel is an expert in wildlife damage management and nationally known writer on wildlife damage control and animal rights issues. His latest book is Dominion over Wildlife? An Environmental-Theology of Human-Wildlife Relations (Wipf and Stock 2009).

About Stephen M. Vantassel

Stephen M. Vantassel, MNI, CNI, CWCP, ACP, ACE Stephen M. Vantassel's Bio Stephen M. Vantassel is the Vertebrate Pest Specialist for the Montana Department of Agriculture (2015-present). Formerly, Stephen M. Vantassel was the Program Coordinator of Distance Education-Wildlife Damage Management for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources from 2004-2014. Stephen filled … Learn More

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