Skunks - Polecats (this not a politcal post!)

[JimT]

Yep .. I am still around. Mostly lurking.

For some reason the J Bar T has become infested with skunks. I have been taking care of them as fast as possible ... the neighbor has been putting out traps and catching them .. but there are still a lot of them. In nearly 20 years here we have never had a problem with them like this year.

Not only skunks, the racoons seem to be in a "high" cycle also.

The Ithaca Model 49 in .22 Magnum has proven quite effective at predator control .. from coyotes and foxes to feral cats and dogs. I have always liked the round but used it a lot in the handgun. Out of the rifle it is much more effective ... the effect on target is multiplied by quite a bit.

I have been using a number of different brands ... kept over from the "old days" ... and any hollowpoint seems to work well from the little carbine.

The only real problem I have had with the skunk critters - beside scaring the heck out of me when I walk out on the porch at night - is the durn dog keeps getting into them. You would think he would learn ... but no .. he got into it with one night before last. This time we got him before he got into the house ......

-sigh-

The upside of it is we are kinda used to the smell now. And people don't visit near as much!

[Hobie]

We have a skunk which passes by the back door nearly every night. I have to watch Bailey very closely as she's pretty stubborn and will try to send it on its way without regard to the consequences. Mrs. Hobie can't stand the smell as it is. I can't imagine how she would feel if we got sprayed!

However, I have Havaharted 'em and toted them out in the country. Can't shoot them in town.

[mescalero1]

Jim,
I have a Ithaca 49 repeater in .22 long rifle, I did not know they made them in .22 magnum.

[JimT]

Mine is a single-shot. Looks like a repeater ... but works quite well for farm/ranch gun as I don't shoot real fast anyhow.

[mescalero1]

OK, I understand.

[JimT]

I don't think they made the 22 Magnum in the repeater. I can't say for sure .. but I have never seen one. All the 22 magums I have seen have been the single-shot version.

[Old Ironsights]

You been pulling the scent out of the gland sacs from the ones in traps?

Used to be you could make good money selling syringes of the stuff ...

[86er]

That sound like a problem that is interesting to deal with. Not fun, but interesting. Let us know how it goes!

[FWiedner]

Wierd increases in pest populations have always intrigued me. I'm always fascinated by things like huge increases in rodent populations. Ever see file footage of huge mouse invasions of agricultural areas from foreign lands? Just freaky.

Was there an unusual increase in the amount of forage or smaller rodents populations or whatever these critters eat recently? A particularly wet spring or something?

[JimT]

I have not trapped any. The scent glands have all been empty by the time I get to the ones I have delt with personally ...


Some photos of the Model 49 .. too large for these pages ..

http://www.leverguns.com/web/49_1.jpg

http://www.leverguns.com/web/49_2.jpg

http://www.leverguns.com/web/49_3.jpg

http://www.leverguns.com/web/49_4.jpg

http://www.leverguns.com/web/49_5.jpg

[Blaine]

I smell a good story from all this......maybe on aroma therapy....

[BigSky56]

Skunk smell remover kills the smell chemically 1 quart hydrogen peroxide 1/4 cup baking soda 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap can be cut in half if you dont need a big dose works on dogs and anything sprayed. danny

[JimT]

Skunk smell remover kills the smell chemically 1 quart hydrogen peroxide 1/4 cup baking soda 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap can be cut in half if you dont need a big dose works on dogs and anything sprayed. danny

We have used that and it works quite well. Also use a scent-killer called ODOR-CIDE made down in Tulsa. Works pretty well ... does not "hide" the scent .. actually absorbs it.

I am not sure about "why" we have seen the increase ... you see population swings in the animal world if you watch long enough ...

[piller]

Population swings and natural cycles, say it ain't so. Why that goes against all I have been taught in school. I thought we humans were responsible for all that. Sorry, I couldn't stop myself. I seriously hope that you don't get a rabies epidemic running through your area. With a peak cycle that could be really a difficult problem.

[BigSky56]

Its been a bumper crop for hornets too found a baldface hornets nest in the yard tonight little buggers have been running the hummers off the feeder I believe they are born with their switch in the pissedoff position. danny

[JerryB]

Jim, that is some good looking walnut on that little Ithaca.

[.45colt]

When I was about five (wasn't in school yet) I spied a Skunk in the Farmers pumpkin patch. I watched it all morning and then hiked across My Uncles yard to get a good look. It wasn't afraid and didn't run away. just as I started to chunk dirt clods at it, here comes Mom flying out of the house. She calls the Police. A young Cop shows up just like Barney from Mayberry.He says it's sick and needs to be destroyed.
After He missed the third or fourth shot with His revolver I reminded Him He needed to practice. I will never forget the look on His face and Him telling Me to get home and leave Him be. Priceless.

[dbateman]

skunks that is a bit of a problem....
that is a very interesting single shot you have there Jim

[Dastook]

My Dad always said, a high skunk population meant a hard long winter was coming. That was in Idaho. I don't know about anywhere else.

[BenT]

They like eating cat food out of the barn. They come in a dusk. They seem to like to leave a vapor trail. The dog doesn't bother them , he thinks they are just another barn cat, plus he's a bird dog and doesn't deal with fury critters. But if I get a whiff after dark I head out with the 20 guage and flashlight. I paste them in the head and then paste them again. Then I shovel. Kind of like in the movie "Caddy shack."

[Sixgun]

Jimbo,
Tomato juice works great in removing the smell. An old head from lower Delaware turned me on to this and it must be the acid that kills the smell. I don't know, I only have a HS education.

Even good people have other people on their "do not like list". I suggest keeping one of those skunks in a plastic bag and having "it fall in the back seat" of one of your adversarie's cars. Just make sure you don't include the plastic bag. -----------Sixgun

[JimT]

Sixgun .. remind me to keep you happy.

[J Miller]

Jimbo,
Tomato juice works great in removing the smell. An old head from lower Delaware turned me on to this and it must be the acid that kills the smell. I don't know, I only have a HS education.

Even good people have other people on their "do not like list". I suggest keeping one of those skunks in a plastic bag and having "it fall in the back seat" of one of your adversarie's cars. Just make sure you don't include the plastic bag. -----------Sixgun

I have a couple neighbors I'd like to give a couple to.

Joe

[Bullard4075]

Having never shot a skunk, do they "spray" when they die?

BigSky56: Interesting that you should say that,(hornets) down here in Billings I have seen very few
Yellowjackets this year where in the last couple years I was destroying 2-3 nests a week!!

[mescalero1]

Not scientific, but everyone I have shot has.

[BigSky56]

Not if you heart/lung shoot them, if I trap them I use a 22 short or CB cap they just laydown. danny

[mescalero1]

I have heard that.

[Sixgun]

Not scientific, but EVERYONE I have shot has.

You shoot people?

[JimT]

Not scientific, but EVERYONE I have shot has.

You shoot people?

Only when they are in a trap.

[Nath]

Howdy Jim

Two words;














GLOBAL WARMING!!!!!

Nath.

[madman4570]

A Home Made Skunk Repellant!
Supposedly if you mix the miture of 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 teaspoon dish soap and spray this around areas where you would like skunks to stear clear of such as garbage cans/steps/porches etc. Don't get too of this stuff on the foliage though!

[mod71alaska]

The vet I use, who also has Lab Retrievers, recommends washing a skunked dog using the premixed Massengill Douche that you can buy in most any drug or grocery store. He says it's the best product he's found for "re-freshing" your dog after a skunk encounter, and you can bring your dog inside odor free right after the washing. For some reason it has to be the premixed Massengill solution, NOT the powder. Personally, I've never had the honor and hope never to have to deal with it. However, I had a skunk stink up the yard just a couple of nights ago, and there are plenty around. On our nightly walk my lab always is in a leash. I carry a 6v Flashlight and pan the area as we walk to avoid a surprise encounter. So far, so good!!!

[mescalero1]

Oh boy,
If the feminists see this we'll all be in the soup!