nikto

you can twist a "pigtail" of aluminum wire around a 1/2" steel rod, making it about 5" long. Bend a "t-handle" at the top end and sharpen the bottom end. This set up will hold as a stakedown for a tarp a LOT better than any simple stake and you dont have to make a lot of noise and bust up your hands getting them set-up, and you don't need nearly as deep a covering of dirt (as vs rocks), either. To a certain extent, if you set this holddown in the same line as the tiedown cord, you can tighten the cord simply by screwing the pigtail down deeper into the dirt.

Terry G

Great post in The Big Bore rifle Forum,