[charlie sterner]

Last night sitting in bed watching the tube I thought I smelled skunk. I poked my head outside before bed and yep, no doubt about it. The other day I noticed something was digging in my new lawn I planted. The yard WAS looking fantastic. Now it looks like hill 239 in 'Nam, with craters all over. I first thought it was squirrels but in the back of my head, I knew already... Before I went to bed I threw the plate in the doggie door so the dog wouldn't get sprayed. Good thing I did.

The dog woke me up about 5AM and I figured he needed to go out. I turned on the lights and went out first to have a look. There he is! He was huge for a skunk and almost completely white. DAMN get the GUN! (Dumbass me should have had one in my hands already ) By the time I got the safe open and ammo, he had squeezed thru the fence gate and got away. I searched with a flashlight but nothing. I hope there's no more inside the fence because I just strung chicken wire across the gates in the back yard and put stakes in to hold it and boards in to hold them. Hopefully that keeps him out.

Any ideas besides 12 ga or 17HMR on how to keep skunks away? I need to get some GrubX to take care of the grubs in the yard I guess. That should take care of my mole issue too. What do they do on golf courses? I was thinking of putting a conibear across the opening between the gate and post, but they don't discriminate between cats, rabbits, skunks or dogs.

Charlie

 

[MPC in Ohio]

Hey Charlie, getting rid of the grubs is the only way to rid yourself of the moles and the skunk is a organic cure for grubs. Good Luck Mike

 

[CarlP]

A friend worked at a golf course and he said that a skunk could absolutely destroy a green or fairway in a single night, digging for food. He said the most effective method was a 22LR on a moonlit night. He would actually ride right up behind them on an electric golf cart and hold the muzzle within inches of their head.
He also trapped them in a cage, covered them with a blanket and relocated them.

We don’t see many skunks in my neck of the woods and I’m glad.

 

[Paul Workman]

I've had issues with moles "forever". What sort of insect derives from the grubs anyway?

.

 

[acpchuck]

Woke up last week one morning about 5 am to the dogs barking. Figured I wouldn't get back to sleep so may as well go see what it was, either a feral cat or a skunk. Went outside and immediately knew it was a skunk. Only question is where was it.

Found it in the chicken yard and was able to get around to where I could shoot it with my 300 Blackout without my shop being a backstop. First skunk I have shot and first kill with my Blackout.

Living out of the city, next to a potato field (this is Idaho after all), and the Blackout being suppressed, no neighbors heard the shot. Skunk must have been on "empty" because when I got rid of it there wasn't much of a skunk smell left.

Just hope it is a long time before the next one shows up.

 

[charlie sterner]

I think it's Japanese beetles Paul.

 

[Holedigger]

My grandfather used to live trap em, then very gently either release them or cover the trap w/ a tarp or some such and gently move them to a better place to kill em. He learned how to handle them when there was a Depression era bounty and the dog cornered em at nite, while he circled w/ a carbide lite and picked em up by the tail to kill at home - no joke. He was a VERY patient man! LOL! Sitting the live traps away from your buildings may allow a 22LR CB cap in the skull where the trap sits and let the odor die down for a bit. I've heard of REALLY patient guys who'll live trap em, and cover em and carry em to a pond and throw trap and all into the pond till drowned. Some trappers use an injector (can be homemade) and stab em with a thin needle and a concoction that takes em out pretty quick in the trap w/o spraying if it's done calmly. Conibears work well too away from your regularly used areas if you dont need to protect cats, etc. I had one this summer that my dog finally took care of, then promptly delivered it to me...just like I trained him to do! LOL! In the dark, that can get your hair standing up right quick!! Just washed the dog next day with the peroxide/baking soda internet mix, and problem solved! Good luck!

 

[45TAJ]

Wow, quick enough for skwirls....
Impressive. (I've had a half dozen Shepherds.)

 

[Larry in Bend]

I've trapped dozens in a live trap. No matter with what or where I shot them; they always sprayed.

A fellow told me to gas them. You carefully put the live trap (with Skunk) in an enclosed box and pipe exhaust into the box. I tried it. After the truck had "piped" for 20 minutes or so I lifted the box and looked at the Skunk. He looked back.

I put the box back for an hour (truck is idling all this time) and take the box off. Darn Skunk smiles at me. I shoot him with a 22 short thru both lungs ---- he sprays. I hate Skunks!

 

[damonkeydobad]

We dont kill them on my ranch they dig up and eat the yellow jackets nest at night so send them all my way.

 

[ShaneG.]

Yep dead skunks no matter how they got that way have always sprayed. We took out a 20+ out of my buddy Tony's barn years ago. He though he was onto something with a headshot from a .22lr until he got close maybe 5 minutes later and it let loose and the wind carried it right onto his face. We always wrapped a small piece of tarp around the trap then it was safe to carry...we would ride them about 3 miles in the truck then get them out and Tony would open the trap while I was waiting to blast them as they took off. I made sure I always had the gun.

Or just have Jr give them skunks some of the wood he gave that beaver....it looked pretty dead.

 

[nhoj-008]

I usually live trap em then a simple shot to head with 17 hmr puts em down quick. They don't spray, but the gland does release a little at death. Peroxide/baking soda mix makes it ready for next day.

 

[CarlP]

Peroxide and baking soda

John brings up a good point. A mixture of peroxide and baking soda doesn’t just wash the “stuff” off or mask the smell. It actually breaks it down at the molecular level so it is completely GONE.

 

[Markbo]

I always wanted a stuffed skunk. Just never been close to a dead one that didn t smell too bad to transport.

 

[Kentucky Fisherman]

Whatever you do, Charlie, make sure they can't get in the boat!

 

[charlie sterner]

I always wanted a stuffed skunk. Just never been close to a dead one that didn t smell too bad to transport.

This one is nearly all white from my brief encounter. Would be pretty to at least have tanned. I briefly gave that a thought...

IF I get it and IF it doesn't spray I might try to skin it. But I'm told the anal glands where the nasty stuff is might pop at the wrong time and POW!!! Yeah, I don't know.

 

[T.D.C.]

Charlie, if you do decide to skin the skunk, make a video. We will enjoy it over and over.

 

[llg]

Daddy always said

Shoot them in the gut and they will not spray. Covering the cage with a blanket or tarp will also keep from getting sprayed during transportation. Just can't see how to get them out of the cage alive and unsented.

 

[toiville2feathers]

We put out ethylene glycol (anti-frezze) it sweet tasting. They drink it up and it takes about 3 days and they are dead. It stops their heart. Just be careful about your pet cats or dogs. We keep them locked up when we have the anti freeze out.

 

[charlie sterner]

Successful night...

I got some grubex and put down after I got home from work. I'm sure it got rained in nicely. Food source should be taken care of. I also picked up a hav-a-hart trap and a can of cat food. Set it out back by the fence where I thought they were getting in and waited.

About 10PM I go to the back door and scan with the flashlight and I spot one INSIDE the damn yard. I thought I had all the entry points blocked off. So I ran inside, grabbed the gun and ran up to the loft. As I ease out onto the balcony, he's gone. I slowly scan the yard and see one outside of the yard. It heads for the weeds as the light hits it, so I scramble to get the 17HMR on it. It stopped briefly before disappearing into the weeds and as I get on it and take the slack out of the trigger, it quickly turns right and out of my sight picture. Not sure if I hit or not??? I'm in my skivvies so I run downstairs and throw on a pair of crocs and my rain coat and head out to look. Out into the darkness I go, in an absolute DRIVING rain. I mean, it's putting it down in buckets. As I ease up to the edge of the yard, I get a little uneasy feeling. Maybe this is not the smartest thing to do? My mind wonders "Is this how Karamojo Bell might have felt as he tracked a wounded leopard or buffalo?" I decided to wait for daylight and went back inside.

About 11:30 PM I go upstairs again, flip on the light and the skunk is inside the yard! I had the rifle sitting next to the door this time. I looked away for like 2 seconds to grab the gun and when I turned back, it was gone. I scanned around for 10-15 minutes and said the heck with it. Fog was rolling in and I couldn't see 20 yards. I tried to go to sleep, but was restless. About 1PM the dog woke me up as I was almost out. I give it one more chance. This time, the fog had lifted and there was enough of the moon behind the clouds that I could see somewhat without the light. HE'S BACK! I put my red light filter on the light and ease out. As it hits him, he looks right at me and is on the move. I can't believe it...my light is not very bright at all with the filter on it??? Skunks are supposed to have poor vision??? He's quickly making his way toward me and I'm trying to lead him for a running shot, while holding the light, offhand, and trying to find the crosshairs in the dark (need a lighted dot reticle). Just before he gets to the large bush that would block my shot, he stops. I didn't hesitate and drilled him right thru the shoulder. He laid there for about 20-30 seconds, then flopped over and sprayed just a little bit. Since it's pouring, and he's stone dead now, I decide to just leave it until the morning.

I couldn't believe this morning the yard didn't stink to high heaven. In fact, it didn't really stink until I rolled it over, but even then it wasn't that bad. I guess the rain washed it away? Or I got nose blind. I put it in a Walmart bag, without touching it, set it on top of the tonneau cover and dumped it down the road on my way to work. When I got to work, my co-workers certainly knew I wasn't making anything up about what happened. I also checked the trap and caught a damcat. Just opened the door and left it loose. He shot out of that cage like a rocket. I think when my neighbor died, they left all 5 of her cats out, plus the 2 outside cats she had. I'm not real happy about that, but I hope the damcats take care of my mole problem.

Here's a pick of stinky. Just a little kit. I think he was small enough to fit thru the chain link fence, or he was living under my deck. Either way, glad he's gone. I can't tell for sure, but I think the one I saw the night before last was the one I missed, and was an adult. I guess I'll stay on skunk patrol another night or two to be sure.

and TDC...ain't now way in HELL I'm skinning one out.