Question for you trappers

So has anyone every caught a skunk still alive? What did you do to not get sprayed? I bet some of you have some pretty good stories.

up to 30+ a year, on a good year. Inject them with Acetone, so you can get the good stuff out of them. Walk up to them real slow, talking to them in a CALM manner, and inject them slowly, they are usually dead in seconds. No fuss no muss. Sprayed skunks, aren’t fun to deal with.

.22 rifle bullet to the head from a distance! Then let them air out—never learned how to inject them.

–Whitey

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.22 rifle bullet to the head from a distance! Then let them air out—never learned how to inject them.

–Whitey

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Spray 99% of the time that way. Shoot them through the lungs, with a short, and they will only spray 50% of the time.

WTA

I just caught and released 2 this week
Skunks have a bad rap that really isn’t deserved, IMO.
Talk to them quietly, move slowly, and they are calm animals. Of course mine were caught in Live traps

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Talk to them quietly, move slowly, and they are calm animals

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That just blows me away I had never heard that before, that’s why I love this place I learn something new every day. Do you also inject them with acetone Mike? Have you ever been sprayed?

Luckily, I have not been sprayed….yet. I did have one give just a little spritz, but not enough to cause any concern.
I have not used the “kill pole” technique using acetone. However, it is a widely used practice and is very effective.
I actually like skunks, they are cool looking animals and fun to watch in the wild.

I carry a .22 pistol on the line. I use mostly foot traps and snares, and unless I am trapping beaver I get the occational skunk. I have never felt real good about ending a skunk. Mostly because I want to see them in the wild so I can understand them better. Other than watching them run out of a hay field being mowed I have never seen them outside of the trap line or roadside.

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I have never felt real good about ending a skunk. Mostly because I want to see them in the wild so I can understand them better.

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When I saw one ravage a pheasant nest – I felt I understood them enough. I no longer feel bad about offing one, in fact, I am quite all right with taking one out of commission.

.22 short to the ribs for me – spray or no spray, a set that has caught a skunk is usually good for a fox(or yote) for me.

Tim