Are you currently interested in hunting small game animals such as raccoon, muskrat, or skunk? These animals all have a wonderful pelt and can become some of the most amazing examples of mounts available. Perhaps these animals are a nuisance in your community and you are looking for a safe and effective way to reduce or even eliminate their population from your area.
Skunk hunting is one of the easiest forms of hunting available today. If you know that you have a skunk in the vicinity of your home, then why risk the hassle of you or a pet walking up on it unexpectedly in the early hours when you want to be on your way to work? Instead follow this proven step by step method for trapping and eradicating them without fail.
Items You Will Need
Bait
Anything with a strong odor will work. Things like sardines and cat food are popular options for use as skunk bait.
Traps
There are many types of traps available today. Two of the most common are:
- Live: a trap intended to secure an animal without killing it. Good if you intend to relocate an animal or to hinder its ability to escape until your return
- Kill: a trap intended to kill an animal either through suffocation or grievous bodily harm
Tarp
Even with the most carefully placed shot, some skunks still have a potential to spray even after death. It is best to wrap them up prior to movement in order to avoid any accidents.
Best Weapons and Ammo for a Perfect Skunk Fur
Skunk fur is one of the most prized furs in the world, and hunting them can be quite a challenge. If you want to bag a skunk with your firearm, make sure to choose the right weapon and ammo. Here are four tips that will help you get ready for battle:
1. Choose a small caliber weapon – this will give you better accuracy when shooting at close range. Your weapon of choice can be anything small caliber. Remember that skunks are only a few pounds fully grown and the larger the caliber, the more damage to the animal as a whole.
2. Make sure your ammunition is specifically designed for skunks – bullets that are too big or too powerful may not kill them effectively and destroy the pelt.
3. Choose your spot carefully – knowledge of where skunks live is key to success when hunting them down! Plan your attack well in advance so there’s no chance of being surprised by the furry critters!
4. Once you’ve located the skunk, stay calm and take a careful shot. Be prepared for the animal to bolt if it feels threatened!
Step One: Location, Location, Location!
One of the greatest aspects of hunting skunks is that most times you almost certainly know where to look for them. Skunks are generally a nocturnal animal and can be fairly active from dusk until dawn. They prefer to live in underground burrows and many times can be found underneath sheds or other outbuildings.
If you cannot see any possible holes that could be hiding a skunk, you might want to test the air. This is one of the best ways to know for certain whether you have a skunk in the area or not. Their smell is very distinct and can travel a long way on the wind.
Step Two: Be Determined
Once you know of a skunk in the area, you must next decide on your preferred method of encounter. If your intention is to shoot them, a simple bait and wait strategy will be highly effective. Most skunks are attracted to the smell of things like cat food, fish, or road kill. Use whatever you may have on hand and be patient.
Standard hunting practices apply for skunks the same as they do for coyotes or deer. Be mindful of your presence in the area and do your best to blend in with your surroundings. The more noise you make, the farther wildlife will be from you. So do your best to stay silent and be prepared.
To learn more about hunting, this article will show you how to hunting your favorite game in 3 easy steps
Step Three: Traps Optional
Before your hunt comes to an end, there is a further option to use traps when hunting skunks. The use of traps employs its own series of challenges. You need to be aware of the traps placement, bait, and location relative to the animal in question.
If you choose to employ traps in your pursuit of skunks, decide which type using the descriptions above. If you are using a kill trap, then the skunk will already be dispatched before you return. If you are using a live trap, there will still be work to be done when you return to check.
This video will show you how the pros use traps to catch skunks.
Step Four: Be Aware
Whether you are hunting skunks on a bait pile or are using a live trap, you will eventually come to a point where you need to dispatch them. It is of great importance here to point out a crucial fact regarding a skunk’s ability to spray. The fact of the matter is that a skunk can spray fairly accurately up to 10 feet, more if spraying in favor of the wind. When approaching a skunk, be mindful of this fact.
Step Five: The Finale
There are a number of opinions regarding the proper place to shoot a skunk. Some say that the best place to shoot one is directly in back of the head at the juncture of the skull and spine. Others claim that a well placed shot to the spine where the hips come together is the better place for a shot. And still others will argue that putting a shot straight through the lungs is best.
The goal here is to kill the skunk as humanely as possible while also reducing the chance for the skunk to spray prior to or after it has been shot. If you are engaged in the act of hunting a skunk, you need to be in acceptance that you will likely have to deal with the spray before long.
In Conclusion
Now that you have read this tutorial, how ready do you feel to go after your local skunk population? Hunting skunks isn’t one of the most challenging hunts you can attempt, though it is by no means easy. You need to remember your position in relation to the skunk and to always be mindful of their potential to spray.
If you found this description of skunk hunting to be of value to you, do us a favor and let us know about it. It is always a plus to share the experience of others and to see some of the other methods people use when hunting. And, if after reading this, you know of a friend who would greatly appreciate the advice here, feel free to share away!