I have broodmares and am in fescue city so I have dry lots. I actually really like my dry lots. However, I’m in a mountainous area and I have a ton of small rocks. Most are about 1-2 inches big. I’d like to remove them but I’m trying to brainstorm the best way. I’d really like to avoid hand raking as it’s a large area. I’ve thought about a landscape rake but a lot of them seem flimsy. I’m even open to making something. Would like to spend less than 1k on this thing. Any suggestions?
Do you have a tractor or skidsteer? There are rock-rake buckets designed exactly for your problem. They are very easy to swap with a regular bucket, and are the most efficient method of removing rocks. You can find one for less than $1000 and they come in different sizes/options. You can also get “landscape rake”, which is an attachment versus a bucket.
If you’re in an area with a lot of ledge and/or rocky substrate, it might be a Sisphyean task. Every summer I pick out rocks and every fall they’re back again. I have so many small rocks that we’ve built a tiny stone wall perimeter around the pasture.
Unfortunately, I really need a tow behind option. The lots are long but not exceptional wide. I wouldn’t be able to maneuver a tractor the way I need to to get to all the spaces with rock. I’m thinking about a landscape rake because I could get a tow behind for a quad but not sure if those would hold up to the rock.
Yea, I agree, this feels like a Sisphyean task. 
I thought about hand raking but they will return, so I thought a tow behind would be better because of that. So sick of looking at all the rock. I wish I could find a rock catcher drag type of thing.
Homemade rock picker This person built one, but it runs off of a PTO on a tractor.
Not much help for you but might be for someone else with a similar problem.
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Very cool. Wish I was smart enough to build that!
