I know a lot of guys are using tube traps or other covered traps for skunks. I have always left my cages uncovered, no reason, just have. is there any good reason not to cover my traps.

Never used anything but covered. Not so much for me but to help keep the animals calm. For some if they see it, its too tempting to not go over and see.

Covering them makes the skunks life better, which in turn will make your life better.

The only benefit I can think of in using an uncovered trap is that you will learn how to approach a skunk. You'll see clearly their behaviors, warning signs, etc.

I suppose a covered trap would also be a problem if you intend to use an injection pole to euthanize.

In my area most of my traps are uncovered any more. If you are in a area where a lot of skunks are trapped and released by home owners, a lot of my skunks shy off of covered cages or tube traps. I use a big coon size uncovered trap they go in. 4 or 5 years ago I never set a cage uncovered and never had a problem. note a wooden box trap or a 8 inch or bigger tube does not seem to have any negative on them. Go figure. every week I get countless calls from homeowners that have a skunk in their ground hog trap that has been in the trap for 2 to 3 days because they do not know what to do with it. some have me come and release it like today but most will not pay for us to come. skunks learn also. By the way I would rather have a covered trap. the one thing I have learned in all these years is each area has it's own behaviors in the animal we control. the habits may be the same for the most part but the behaviors are different due to pressures and population densities. just my thoughts

I don't know if our skunks are wised up or will shy away from a covered trap or not since I rely mostly on positive den sets. With the exception of one troublesome skunk, I never had a problem with covered traps, but every area is different like Jonesie says. I like having a solid cover and not using a sheet, just faster and handier. I can pick up the trap with cover and just walk away, that simple and they don't spray. With the solid cover they don't seem that nervous, but each animal has a different personality you have to read. You could try it covered and if it doesn't work, go to uncovered.

As sgs says, you will learn their habits. They have a definite habit of spraying when I move quickly and make a lot of nose or bang the cage around. They can spray a pretty good distance too. I found that if you are going to inject them, wake them up first, from a distance to give them a heads up. The last thing they want to see is some guy really close up in their face with a pole in his hand when they wake up. After I got nailed twice one morning in less than an hour many years ago, Judy was laughing so hard she was crying. At close range you can kinda taste it too.

Another timely subject. I caught a skunk in one of Mr. Comstock's cages yesterday. ( I had already caught two woodchucks with that

cage so it was uncovered ) I had the skunk semi-anesthetized and was trying to drop him into the bucket. It was one of Jim's longer

cages and the skunk hung up right next to my head about two inches from my ear. The customer was watching from a safe distance and

when the skunk finally dropped into the bucket, I'm sure he thought, "This guy is nuts!" He was excited with the fact that there was

no odor and told him that we always attempt to leave a customer's property with a good impression.

I have one tube trap, I can not catch a skunk in it to save my life. I know the benefits of a covered trap, but just will not working for me.
Like in most cases it is the way I am setting the trap. I have tried everything that I can think of. Maybe I need to think more!

I took over a skunk job from another tube trapper a while back. He had about 3 green tube traps. The skunk did not seem to like them as good as my 9x9 Plastic catch traps. I usually set 2-3 plastic catch and an uncovered Williams trap. I don't care which one they like as long as they get caught. That way If a possum plugs 1 or 2 traps up, I have functioning traps.

Woodchucks like the heck out of those 9x9 plastic catch also. They seem real comfortable going into that enclosed, tight space. To bad they get too hot to use them for woodchucks in the summer months.

What size are your tubes? I have some 8 in tubes that work well for skunks. I don't like the 6 in tubes.

Hey Jim, you're over your pm limit.

Jim, mine is 6 inch. I am glad I only have one.

I have and use the 12x12 cage traps and never cover them.
Only when one has been wound up by someone.
Dave

The catch of the day, a pair of "aces" tucked away in covered 18" double door cages in a positive setting scenario. Two traps were used in this case, but one or more, as many as you like, can be arranged to make multiple captures in a single trip, saving time and adding to profit, while making a client happy to see the problems removed quickly. Just pick them and an go, no problem.

Great pictures Jim! In our absolute best year, there were skunks everywhere. All of us caught over one hundred apiece and we ended up

with 525 skunks, I believe. The best part was, we were so used to catching and dealing with them that we really never had a full

blown spray. Your pictures are great.

If you saved the essence. You probably could of had a few grand worth. It is wholesaling for about $25 per ounce.

If you are talking to me, I think I fixed it.

Thanks Paul. Talked with a guy who was buying skunks in the round, hundreds of them, years ago and sold essence by the gallon! Anybody know who is paying $25? Got back into extracting. These two fat ones should be loaded.

I do love skunks as most home owners will not haul them in the suburban like they will a chuck or squirrel. They won't touch a skunk and quibble over a charge. 525 for skunks in one year is a pile. I surely don't do those numbers, but would love to.

One trapper removed some baby ones in a couple of minutes and the lady started to complain that the charge was too high. He was good at what he did and so got it done quickly, skillfully without incident. The trapper said, "if it's too much, I can put them back without charging."

Jim, WCS is paying even more than that for essence. Neighbors were freaking out on me, so now I just give Allan the whole skunk. Give him a call.

Thanks very much for that info. I got far less for mine earlier.

Ogorman's is paying $25.00 per ounce.

I am kicking myself this year I didn't milk. I will next year.

My wife is paying me $50 an ounce to not even think about trying to milk a live skunk.

Probably have to wait for spring. I would imagine they are all dried up by now. Man I couldn't resist that one.

And Travis, you don't even need to explain that one to me. ( But I do wonder what a row of skunk stanchions must look like )

Travis, noticed you said they were probably all dried up by now, so I guess I just learned something. Never paying attention to them in the fall I just got two fat ones that should have been loaded, but remembered what you said and was wondering what I would find, nearly nothing! So, I guess October they are out of juice. Never had tried to extract this time of year so this is new to me. Assume this always happens to all of them this time of year?

Well Jim, just bad luck I guess. I was giving Paul a hard time , I was actually talking about milking them literally. Actual milk, not essence.

Skunks have essence in their gland pods year round. As far as volume in each pod that can vary due to several circumstances. As they approach breeding season Mid to late Jan. thru Feb. their glands become more active and produce more essence.Sort of their own stinky testosterone.

This is a naturally occuring biological condition that is triggered so they have what is needed to attract/locate each other when they are both in the mood.

If they havent havent had too many encounters while out and about during the summer and fall months then they will be running about 60 to 70% of the glands capacity in volume.

Essence is used as a defensive mechanism and as an attractant when they feel froggy.

Travis, when was the last time that you felt froggy enough to be attracted to skunk essence?

Guess I was too literal. Thanks Bob. I just had a couple without essence for some reason. I will continue to check them. I thought I remembered getting some essence in the fall in the past, but been a while. I have noticed over the years the small ones, about like beaver, are often not worth fooling with, maybe a quarter ounce or less. Have had some nice big fat ones with nearly 2 ounces a time or two.

If you try to extract essence thru the skin/hair of a carcass animal you can miss some essence or not even hit the right spot collecting little to no essence thinking the glands were empty.

I always remove the gland pods prior to essence drawing.That way you can ensure the gland collapses as it should via a vacuum process.It also helps to facilitate the draw by squeezing the pod while extracting to force any pockets of essence and mustard into the syringe.

I'm married with children Paul, froggy doesn't hit me too much anymore lol. Now don't get me wrong I'm no Al Bundy complaining about having to climb that mountain once a year or anything but with 3 kids under 7 froggy is much less frequent than it used to be.

I'll be 72 in December and I'm trying really hard to remember what "froggy" was. This 'dirty old man' thing is vastly over-rated.

Nice Sneakers Jim!!,,,,,

Never knew my sneaks would garner that kind of attention, second time today. When I go to the store I buy the most "old man" looking sneaks I can get and that's them. You should see what I passed on, some really wild lizards that only the blind would go for. Nice to see you out and about.