Skunk trapping

[jigginjim]

I normally trap water sets, but thinking of trapping coon, mink, and weasels. I'm wondering how people catch skunks this late in the fall or winter?

[WAG416]

skunks seem to find their way into any trap. if you trap for coon long enough, you catch a skunk.

this is a box set for coon.

Dont really know much about catching skunk in the winter time. but I've been told by Hunterlee to set your boxes around abandoned farm steads or old buildings and critters wake up on the warmer winter days.

After snowfall i only take my boxes out for fisher trapping, hopefully someone else has more info.

[panfishpounder00]

yep, any old abandoned building is a good place to start, in the winter skunks tends to stay denned up, as they get slow during the colder weather periods, they dont hibernate, just get lethargic sorta speak. try using some rotten meat or eggs in a typical box, bucket, or even dirthole set.

[HunterLee]

Apparently you don't have any traps out if your not getting skunks. As they find there way into anything if you have them around.

But basically baited boxes are fastest and easiest. Also setting coon trails and culverts will also give you plenty with conibears, or for foothold trapping go with a basic baited dirthole with produce plenty, but for skinning them, i would rather have them dead when i get there. Like I said, if you are not getting them they are not there.

[Tom7227]

I'm curious. Are you doing this to get rid of them or because there is some value? Don't worry about any competition from me.

[HunterLee]

For me they are more of a by product to regular trapping, but i do put some up year. They are worth some but not enough to go after them.

[jigginjim]

I guess my fingers missed a few things. I was wondering if guys catch as many skunks in the winter, as they would in fall. Looking the trap coons and mink for my taxidermy business displays. I have a beaver now, had thought of selling it but not worth it. By the time I drive to New London from Buffalo I would be paying $18 for gas, to get $6.00 if lucky for the beaver. At that rate I'll stuff the thing and sell the mount. Maybe a dreamer rug with beaver, deer, duck and turkey.

[psegriz]

The essence is worth more than the pelt.

I know a couple guys that sell the essence, render the fat, glands, hide well by the time they are done claim they get more for a skunk than a darn good coon. I don't know where they have all there markets so can't help anyone there.

[HunterLee]

with a good warm up they will come out, best is old buildings as you can usually see the muddy trails if they are there. otherwise culvets are good to.

You won't get as many in the winter, but you can get some.

[jigginjim]

Thanks guys, I, like everyone, skunks are the LAST thing we want in our traps. I have had a thought of trying for a bobcat, but don't know where I would start for getting one. I do have access to some land near Park Rapids. anyone get cats up there?

[#fishhunt#]

Saw a skunk bowhunting 12/31/10. 18 degrees out. I thought that would have been in its wintering ground. I guess it was in the 40's a couple day earlier.