I have decided that I wasted too many skunks this year. I am going to build a dispatch pole. I have to admit I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to getting 5 feet within spraying distance. I've gotta have at least 10 feet.
My ? is , is there any way of just freezing the glands and selling them without extracting? I have to admit I'm a bit chicken when it comes to puncturing that thing.
Thanks,
Bill

im sure you can in a jar ,but essence does not freeze

Ok thanks... shoul I layer it in Sodium Benzoate?

Also, is there a market for full glands?

PRACTICE PRACTICE!

and, go outside of town and away from your house to extract the glands. i did these at a buddys father in laws field entrance.

You also used your teeth. That's why you're my spiritual mentor.

yup. they are alot tougher than you think they are. also, theres two little tubular things along the side of them...those are just muscles..safe to cut, they aint essence pipelines!

Sucking the essence out with a syringe isn't that bad. Nothing to get worried about anyhow. Theres alot more worry getting up to that point, IMO.

Think Bob Jameson has a way he/ll take the glands whole, however.

freeze without extracting?

yes you could/can ... no doubt someone will buy them ... expect less due to the fact the amount of essence to be extracted will be unknown ... also someone will have to take time to extract

you can remove the scent glands like this:

So the glands are above the rectum?

more to the SIDES...cut strait across from the middle of the rectum.

I cut above the rectum to allow a litte wiggle room...but I/m a novice. Someone uses a metal stationary clip to keep the anus closed, too. Thought that was a good idea and might try it. Had some leakage on a couple that I got in a hurry on. Doesn't take much pressure to force the essence out, I/ve found.

when your cutting, cut the FAT take all the fat you want..makes it a little safer.

i use a scapel.

Go to mother in laws to do this

Thanks Guys and gals.

huntngolf, your advice is the exception. lol.

Skinner,

In the pic, are you pinching the (what ya call it..squirter end) closed while you extract?

I cut across at the base of the tail with a sharp knife/scapel/razor and continue until I can see the top of the pods. Then work your cuts until you have exposed both of them then detach cut from the intestine.Once you have done a few its quite routine. Just try not to squeeze or put pressure on the pods when cutting. Some can really be primed full especially in late Jan and Feb.

Freezing of the pods and essence is common with some trappers. I get alot of those each year. The only problem is leakage can occur once the tissue hardens and several are placed in a jar they tend to bleed. Then they must be thoroughly thawed prior to extraction or the gland wont collapse fully.

Only use sharp needles during extraction and you will have few problems. Its a good practice to hold a piece of loose/fat tissue on the pods with a pair of needle nose pliers while inserting the syringe into the pods.Each pod is independent and each must be entered into for full essence extraction.

Then once you have it in the needle then what? Store it in a glass jar or???

Place your essence container in a secure position like in a tomato paste can that is screwed down onto an object so as not to knock it over in the transfer process.Glass with polyseal caps is the best storage method.Metal will corrode in time. Tape seal the lid and place in a shaded cool place until use or sale. It is a good practice to mark the ounce levels on any glass bottle you are using to determine how much you have. Then you will know pretty close as to the volume for sale purposes.

In a video I recently watched the guy said that cork worked well to plug the top of the jar with and the he claimed to insert the needle through the cork to empty his syringe. I haven't tried it but I guess it would prevent a person from spilling the essence.

Experience is your best teacher. Cork is not easy to penetrate if using a wine bottle thickness/depth. The repeated insertions will cause an odor leak and evaporation in the long term. Not to mention the dulling effect on the needle from repeated use.Skunk is very difficult to contain with anything remotely pourous.It even bleeds from good closures so I wouldnt recommend cork.

The method of transfer I suggest is as foolproof as I have found.I have worked a few thousand ounces over the last 30 some years and had my accidents now and then.Holding your transfer bottle in a secure base is highly recommended.

Thanks Bob, I have no expierience with handling skunks at all. I end up catching several each year and I am considering putting them up next year. Just kind of hesitant to do so. Once little mistake on a skunk and I will be in rough shape. Like you said expierience is the best thing, but I am still questioning myself if I want to get the expierience or not.

You are a trapper aintcha... LOL What makes you so special that you think you shouldnt stink once in a while like the rest of us.

lol ... speak for yourself ... I'm 24/7 when it comes to stink ... reckon I'm special

I dont know possum skinner I think I take the first prize for stinkiest man alive 365 plus.I get to stand alone in line at McDonalds most of the time.:)I guess that isnt very amusing to some.

I agree with keeping the bottle of essence upwright. I used a clean Heinze 57 bottle last year (plastic cap) and kept it in my truck within a larger container filled with sawdust so-as to keep the bottle of essence upwright. After I was done with skunk season I took this bottle out of my truck and placed it on my kitchen counter for 2 weeks without a smell... or a peep out of the Mrs..(just alittle test ya know).But I then turned the bottle over to dip the cap in melted wax:causing the essence to meet the cap threads...Then I could smell the essence even through the wax seal. Lesson learned. Keeping the essence away from the top of the bottle (cap and threads) is the way to go.

OK Bob the honor is all yours

Include me in the top 100 though ... lol

Know what ya mean about standing in lines ... grown ups scrunch their faces and whisper ... while kids let loose with the truth ... gotta love that

Oh, even plastic caps will turn black ... doesnt have to come in contact with it the vapor will do it also

Coffee cans with sand around the bottles works good too

So what do you use the drained pods for after you extract the eseence?

you can just grind them along wit your other bait meat ... or ya can just seperate them afterwards and toss one down a dirt hole for a extra kick

Won't that add some skunk essence to the bait? Seems to be some residue left in mine and the still smell skunky.

I use a couple last season in some hay pile sets and got no takers.

yes, it'll add a lil skunk to your bait ... that's the intent

I cant really add much to what everyone above has said about cutting out the glands, extracting and storing the essence. I do just what they have already described. Here is a vid I made couple years back dispatching a skunk in a trap with acetone. Here are pics of the dispatch pole I made as well. Its a collapsible painter pole. I wrapped athletic tape around the end threads. Cut off the top portion of a plastic pop bottle and pushed this on over the tape. The lid screws on and off. I drilled out a hole thru the platic lid and inserted the syringe plunger thru this. This is then screwed on to the painter pole, the syringe is put on the plunger, put the needle on and you are ready to go. I use a 20cc syringe and a 1" 16 ga needle to administer the acetone. I fill the syringe with 12cc of acetone and try and inject either right behind the shoulder in the rib cage or right under the throat face on above the collar bone of the skunk. First time is the worst, gets easier each time. Been sprayed before too, its your badge of skunk trapping....LOL.
Hope this helps you out.