Home

targeting skunks?...

Posted By: berki

targeting skunks?... - 08/11/14 11:23 PM

Thinking about getting some skunks.
how do ypu guys get them without getting coon or some other non target animal?
Posted By: Jim Bethell

Re: targeting skunks?... - 08/11/14 11:44 PM

You don't. Anything a skunk will eat, so will a coon or possum.
Posted By: Kirk De

Re: targeting skunks?... - 08/11/14 11:52 PM

The trap seems to be more effective for me if it has some smell of a previous skunk in it. A tube trap depending on type, size, and how set would have berring.
Posted By: wormbobskey

Re: targeting skunks?... - 08/12/14 12:14 AM

What Jim Bethell said, but I've had pretty good success using imitation vanilla and crumbled vanilla wafers. The trick is to set several cages to up the odds of catching mr.stinky. Another trick is to use smaller 5X5 cages.
Posted By: Eric Arnold

Re: targeting skunks?... - 08/12/14 12:59 AM

First, are you just setting a trap in the middle of the yard hoping to catch a skunk or do you plan to trail set or set on the den site?

This will help determine not only the type of set to make, but also the trap and baiting method to use.

For more "open" sets, using a smaller trap will help keep non targets out of the set. You can use a 5 x 5 (although I feel this is small for an open set), 6 x 6, 7 x 7 or tube style trap baited with a good commercial bait from Jameson, Erickson, or Jones along with a trailing lure. Just remember that the bigger you go, the more opportunity other animals have to enter the trap.

If doing blind trail sets where the skunk is entering the yard go with a double door style trap without bait or lure. Again, if you want to keep out as many non targets as possible, go with smaller sizes or tube style traps although there is nothing wrong with using the larger double door traps. You can choose from several models made by Advanced Trap, Comstock, or Tomahawk for double door traps.

For den sets, you can use either an open approach (similar to the open set I've already discussed) put at 90 degrees to the den or go with nose cones and positive sets. These sets will force the skunk into the trap as it exits the den. Most traps will work in this situation, but I personally don't like anything larger than 7 x 7 x 24 for skunks and prefer even smaller. I'm testing several different styles this year including a 5 x 5 x 36 I've designed along with the AES 6 x 6 x 24 which I think has a lot of promise. I don't feel bait is necessary with these types of sets but you should put another trap facing away from the positive set to catch anything that wasn't in the den when the set was made.
© 2024 Trapperman Forums