another option is to place a wooden block on the birfield then hammer on with a BFH.
same thing. you release the birfield.
the BEST way and most expensive, is use a PROPER tool to release it. a long time ago, marlin (of marlin crawler fame) was working on my truck and he saw my front outer joint was leaking. he asked if i wanted it fixed (not free but heck... it was MARLIN working on my truck).
i said yes and he got the axle out in minutes. then he whips out this tool.
it's hard to describe. but like in that video and using the pipe. but the piece that sits on the STAR part of the birfield is connected to an offset bar. so you side the tool over the axle and let it sit on the STAR.
then you hammer on the offset bar. it popped out in 2-3 wacks...