"Dispatching" Skunks

[Dive Bar Casanova]

I used to trap them in a cage then one way or another, one reason or another they manage to unload their spray.
Shooting them they unload and once when I was gone wife called a relocation service and that was $250, and it unloaded.
Smelled bad by the gardening shed for a very long time.

Never got me but reminded me I never want to get spray'd.

These circular skunk traps work well. Skunks can't raise their tail to spray and as claimed it works.
Submerging, good to go. No spray, no smell.

I've learned skunks are pretty strong animals for their size.
Secure the trap so they can't roll it and weasel the door open. It's happened. They can be clever.

Best baits have been Honey and molasses on bread and what really works are those cheap large vanilla flavored marshmallows. You can smell those marshmallows from 100 feet away.
I set the trap if we knew one was around,, 15 minutes later I 'd catch one.

Never let the neighbors know what you are up to. They won't do it nor help, but all have a different screwball way they want you to do it.
Stealth, no odor trapping and submerged "dispatching",, good to go.

 

[mike243]

Folks that trap to make $ say to shoot in stomach, head shots always caused spray.

 

[Smoke-Chem BBQ]

I worked on a ranch growing up. One day the foreman, out baling hay, ran a skunk through the baler. Apparently it had been hiding in the windrow and got picked up by the machine.

We had to park that baler out away from the shop and barns for the rest of the summer.

 

[Fueling Around]

Friends that trap polecats swear by the round traps too. Quick diving lesson and start over.
Most of them use cat food as bait.

I had one that died on my electric fence years ago. Luckily it did not spray.

 

[normanaj]

A good quality high powered pellet rifle.Done.

 

[DougE]

Killing it, if it's a problem animal is the way to go. It's actually illegal to trap and relocate wildlife in my state.

I generally let wildlife be unless they are invading my space, or doing damage to my farming operations.

 

[gmc2003]

It's actually illegal to trap and relocate wildlife in my state.

Same here.

Chris

 

[DougE]

As far as skunks go, I sprayed trees as part of my former job as an arborist. One day, I was on a horse farm in early spring applying dormant oil to their pine trees.

I dragged the hose out to this thicket of white pines, turned around to start spraying my way back to the truck.

As soon as I turned around, I see this skunk with its ass pointed my way, tail all peeled back like it was fixing to spray me. I cut my loose on it with my spray gun figuring I had more pressure behind my sprayer. Never did see it again.

 

[whistlepig]

We have more than our fair share of skunks here. We don't bother them and they don't bother us. We have to make sure we don't walk around our yard after dark without a flashlight so we don't trip over them.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Killing it, if it's a problem animal is the way to go. It's actually illegal to trap and relocate wildlife in my state.

I generally let wildlife be unless they are invading my space, or doing damage to my farming operations.

Yup

Leave em alone unless they are getting the chickens.

 

[JIMSMOKES]

Occasionally have a skunk smell around here. I have a allergic reaction to it in my eyes.

 

[Fueling Around]

We have more than our fair share of skunks here. We don't bother them and they don't bother us. We have to make sure we don't walk around our yard after dark without a flashlight so we don't trip over them.

Only had the 1 skunk in my yard, but I have to do the same in the fall for fear of kicking a raccoon. Living in town means they have little fear of humans.

 

[whistlepig]

I don't think skunks have much fear wherever they live. We had a mother skunk burrow under the side walk to our covered front porch. We had a major downpour one afternoon and the mother and all 3 soaked kits where standing under the roof on our front porch. They looked pretty miserable. I'm not a skunk lover but tolerate them. Raccoons are by far the worst pests we have here.

 

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

Where did you get the round trap? They like canned dog food. One of my dogs loves to chase them out of the yard. Has been sprayed several times.

 

[DougE]

I worked on a ranch growing up. One day the foreman, out baling hay, ran a skunk through the baler. Apparently it had been hiding in the windrow and got picked up by the machine.

We had to park that baler out away from the shop and barns for the rest of the summer.

Yeah, I'd imagine so lmao

 

[Chris_in_SoCal]

Only had the 1 skunk in my yard, but I have to do the same in the fall for fear of kicking a raccoon. Living in town means they have little fear of humans.

11 years ago a large family of masked bandits tore up my neighbors new lawn digging up grubs. The next night I caught them on camera prowling around my front lawn. After this they never came back. You can skip to 2:28 to see why.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Where did you get the round trap? They like canned dog food. One of my dogs loves to chase them out of the yard. Has been sprayed several times.

Amazon and it has earned it's cost.
It's caught at least 12 Norwegian Roof rats since the cat tapped out.
$75 now:

Skunks are one animal I don't want to spray the dog, or me accidently startle it and get sprayed. They have to go.

We have a couple Racoons in the area too. They are very fast and can be very dangerous with those front sharp Talons.
Neighbors dog lost an eye to them.

 

[radioguy]

I've had some major skunk problems due to housing growth in my neighborhood. With no habitat they have come to my property. It's a problem when I can't walk across the yard to the shop/smoker area without running into a skunk. One year I got 8 of them the next 10 that was about 4 years ago. Now it's maybe 1 or 2 a summer. #4 shot in the Browning Auto5 velcro a flashlight to the barrel. Head shot at about 5-6 yards never had one spray.
Worse thing to happen was I wounded one good but he crawled off and into my neighbors junk pile. I let the neighbor know there was a wounded skunk there and I'd take care of it in the morning. I found him and just put him over on my property and left for work. When I returned the buzzards had gotten to him. Nasty I buried him on the spot.

RG

 

[Cattoon]

I’m sure that trap is a lot like I feel about a dog proof coon trap. Worth every penny.

 

[DougE]

I’m sure that trap is a lot like I feel about a dog proof coon trap. Worth every penny.

They work good and aren't what I'd call expensive. Duke's dog proof coon traps. Best bait I've found to use in them is a hostess chocolate cupcake.

Break it up and pack it around the trigger mechanism with a stick once set. The coon will trip the trap trying to get the goodies out.

Be aware that this is a leg trap so you have to dispatch the trapped animal once caught.