small cage for skunk
#4312975
02/14/14 12:53 AM
02/14/14 12:53 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 504 kentucky,usa
wacotrapr
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 504
kentucky,usa
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hey trappers, ive caught a lot of skunks in 10x10 traps,, ive never tried using a smaller trap. how well would a 7x7 work on skunks?
AKA "Stoney"
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Re: small cage for skunk
[Re: wacotrapr]
#4313237
02/14/14 09:26 AM
02/14/14 09:26 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,452 Monroeville NJ
Jonesie
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,452
Monroeville NJ
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Depends on the skunk and the mind set it has at that time. The smaller the cage trap, the better it is for the person handling the trapped skunk. but that skunk may not want to go into a small area. but just like people, skunks has things they do not want to do. I wrote an article for trappers post I believe it was back in the fall, talking about this stuff. I use a lot of 10 x 12 x 30 or even 36 on a lot of my skunk jobs, if I go there and see that the customer or another company has been trying to catch it or them and have had no success, I go right to a big trap. if I go to a job that the skunks has been spraying every night for the past 3 or more nights I will go to a bigger trap, most likely the female has been dogged by the males and she may not want to be in a confined area with those males still there. I also have learned that grubbing skunks in the wide open lawns with no fences or edges, that a big trap placed with the door facing the direction at which the skunk is coming from and at the back end of the latest digging that the skunks will go in faster if the baiting strategy is right and the bait is good tasting. This goes back to what I said yesterday in another post about folks doing control work in a rut, they do what they feel like instead of doing what is the best for that job. Based on habits and behavior. We all try to make the animal do what we want it to do instead of catching the animals by letting it do what it wants to do.
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Re: small cage for skunk
[Re: wacotrapr]
#4313243
02/14/14 09:30 AM
02/14/14 09:30 AM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,748 Nevada
Andrew N.
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,748
Nevada
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I've had the 7x7 set and baited next to a 10x12 trap. The bigger trap always outdid the little trap so I decided all my skunk traps will be the same I use for coon. Meaning I buy one trap for 90% of my nuisance trapping
Last edited by Livetrap; 02/14/14 09:30 AM.
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Re: small cage for skunk
[Re: wacotrapr]
#4314365
02/14/14 07:54 PM
02/14/14 07:54 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 14 SW Missouri
Mike K.
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 14
SW Missouri
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I like using 7x7s and I use the tube traps as well, especially when it's colder. I try not to use the tube traps in July and August unless it is in a cool and shady area.
Last edited by Mike K.; 02/15/14 12:24 AM.
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Re: small cage for skunk
[Re: wacotrapr]
#4316224
02/15/14 08:25 PM
02/15/14 08:25 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 504 kentucky,usa
wacotrapr
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 504
kentucky,usa
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thats for everyones veiw on this,,i went ahead and used the bigger trap,,i just want to avoid the house cats in the area,,
Terry,
AKA "Stoney"
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Re: small cage for skunk
[Re: wacotrapr]
#4319552
02/17/14 11:28 AM
02/17/14 11:28 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 32 OH
Eric Arnold
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 32
OH
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A factor with this question depends on how you are making the set. I've caught skunks in 5 x 5 x 18 traps set on the ground for squirrels and a 5 x 5 x 24 trap I built myself. I hope to be testing a 5 x 5 x 36 multi-catch this year I've had made to see what happens.
My standard skunk trap is 7 x 7 x 24 and I've not had any issues getting stripped skunks to enter them. Normally, I'll do a positive set which should eliminate most of the trap size issues. When I've done baited sets I've not seen any difference between using the smaller taps versus the "coon" size one. I generally don't take those jobs as most of the time the skunk has never been seen and the "...damage/odor occurred for a couple nights before we call but now we don't notice anything."
I've also caught my only cat in a cage trap that was 7 x 7 x 24 baited with a fish bait. Ever since, I won't use fish for bait when I'm around structures.
Eric Arnold Publishing Editor W.C.T. Magazine Editor The Fur Taker Magazine
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Re: small cage for skunk
[Re: wacotrapr]
#4320048
02/17/14 03:08 PM
02/17/14 03:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,191 Mt. Olive, IL
Ron Scheller
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,191
Mt. Olive, IL
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I find it odd that so many WCO's seem to have skunks refuse to enter smaller traps. I still use the 6" tube traps for 95% of skunk work. I've had 6 skunks in a single night, all in tubes set in a large horse barn.
And NO, I'm not setting mouse traps next to them so they can "choose" the bigger trap. I do about 50/50 posi-set verses open areas.
Ron Scheller
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Re: small cage for skunk
[Re: Ron Scheller]
#4320199
02/17/14 03:59 PM
02/17/14 03:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 322 Sacramento Mountains NM
mtncat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 322
Sacramento Mountains NM
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I find it odd that so many WCO's seem to have skunks refuse to enter smaller traps. I still use the 6" tube traps for 95% of skunk work. I've had 6 skunks in a single night, all in tubes set in a large horse barn.
And NO, I'm not setting mouse traps next to them so they can "choose" the bigger trap. I do about 50/50 posi-set verses open areas. Almost all of my skunk traps are now the 6" tube.
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Re: small cage for skunk
[Re: wacotrapr]
#4320854
02/17/14 07:57 PM
02/17/14 07:57 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,452 Monroeville NJ
Jonesie
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,452
Monroeville NJ
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All depends on your area, and what others are doing. I like the 7x8 safeguards, and Jim wants me to try his, But being a bait and lure maker, I just can't go in that direction LOL Jim ready for another show? But will not hesitate for a bigger trap if I think I need one based on behaviour. I have caught 4 to 6 little ones in a bigger trap. in a state like NJ home owners trap as many animals as the control guys, heck even the control guys, half are animal lovers. there is a lot of relocation from 300 feet to 20 miles. when I come into a yard and see cage traps sitting there well I know what I am up against. lol let me say here and now, for the most part skunks are easy, no brainers, but 10 % will give me a problem. and before some of you think that I don't know how to catch skunks! heck I have caught maybe at least 10 in all the years of wildlife control, don't that make me an expert LOL
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