I am a new ADC trapper and I have just been doing small jobs, but demand is there so I'm gonna hit it hard for awhile and see what turns up. My question is which spray proof trap do you guys use. I would also like to see a price list for services so I can have a starting point. I really appreciate this site and the help I receive during the season. I am thanking you all ahead of time for this help!
Josh

For someone starting out with skunks, ( And lately it seems we are always having someone new starting out ) I would suggest the Tomahawk plastic trap. It's fully enclosed and I just added three more to our collection for our new guys.

P.S. They are, by no means, limited to skunks.

There's still skunks in Ohio maybe there's hope

I would say any good quality enclosed trap. I use 6" tube traps if I know all I have to deal with is skunks. I go bigger if there is the chance of a coon or???

Could buy reg 8x8 then just cover it with metal or tarp it after . Open trap seemed good better back when we still had skunks . Did catch one the other day in a fox set With Canned cheap dog food

I use tube traps, but the best trap I have for skunks is a safeguard raccoon trap with the cover. Tube traps work ok, but they will choose the safeguard trap 9/10 times. Why waste the time on a tube trap when the raccoon trap can do the job? If cost is a concern go with the tube, but for $30 for the cover your raccoon traps can do the job well. Safeguards work fine for our CT raccoons, but according to Paul Wisconsin raccoons destroy safeguards. Comstock's work great for both and woodchucks with the cover, if you have the funds I would look at his traps. Pricing I would not know I charge what works for me, I have no Idea what my competition charges.

I use tube traps. The 6 in. ones are not big enough in my view. I made some 8 in. ones that work great. Price list is a hard one. The cost of living is so much different in different areas. Have to charge enough to pay the bills and make a living. $50.00 a trip or animal is not going to cut it.

Thanks guys! I think I will get a couple tubes and try them out. I guess I will just start making some calculations and come up with a price list. I am just not sure how to start the price list.
Josh

Thanks guys! I think I will get a couple tubes and try them out. I guess I will just start making some calculations and come up with a price list. I am just not sure how to start the price list.
Josh

The reason I want a "spray proof" trap is that I have had 2 skunks let go in front of a customer so far. I feel that by reducing the chance of that can only be a selling point, as well as a more professional appearance. But I don't know jack......that's why I'm bumming info on here lol.
Thanks again.
Josh

This works for me. Not sure about others. I started by figuring out what my truck cost to drive per mile. Some where around $.75 a mile. Gas is not the only cost. Then figure in what you have to have to live on. Also are the other expenses. Traps, bait, insurance, training, paper work, computers, cell phone, time doing paper work and many others. Helps greatly if the wife has a background in business admistration. A lot of guys are usingt $80.00 to $100.00 per hour for their time on the job as a starting point. To low and you get a hobby that you pay the customer to let you do. Like fur trapping most years.

My best money maker for skunks are the tomahawk 7x7x30. They love going into those. Best craigslist find ever. 4 for $100. I pre cover the top and sides with a cut to fit tarp zip tied to cage.
Safeguards have lost my business. I showed up to a job today to find the whole door five feet away from the trap. Seems the coon didn't want to be in there.

I use the tube traps also and like them, however I have started going more and more to the Comstock double doored traps with a cover and love them. A little pricey at first but will pay for themselves with the first call.

Covering all your traps regardless of type/mfg with some type of durable cover on each set up and developing some bedside manners will go a long ways to basically eliminating the concern of a skunk spraying.Covering protects the animal from heat/weather concerns, viewing eyes and keeps the animal calmer no doubt.

I rarely use any poly enclosed or tube type traps particularly in the summer months. An animal can get heat exhaustion in those style of traps as they have very little air flow. Many customers dont do a good job at checking traps early when instructed and agreeing to do so.Identifying a capture or comfirming a catch isnt easy either if the customer is doing the checks which can result in wasted trips at times with missed fired traps for one reason or another.

What are you using to cover in the hot months? I'm new to trapping and am thinking burlap but I'm concerned about the scent of the burlap spooking animals.

Baxter, I finally quit laughing long enough to type. I've done my share of belittling Safeguards but your door lying five feet away beats anything I could ever put into print.

Burlap wouldnt last but one catch for coon or skunk. Covers need to be rigid materials for the most part or heavy vinyl. Something that can't be pulled thru the wire grid.

Paul I was pretty upset, hope i catch that coon. Bucket set here I come.
As far as the cover goes make sure it is pulled tight to the corners, harder for animals to grab it.

HutHunter,

Appreciate the desire for professional appearance.

Like the other guys have said-whatever trap you are using-cover it; this does not have to be expensive at all. Be creative. No problem investing in "spray proof" traps, there are fine products. But the traps you've already proven you can catch skunks with can be "spray proofed" fairly easily.

Additionally, get to the skunk pick-ups in the AM, nice and early. This cuts down on customer, neighborhood dog, and nosy neighbor /skunk interactions. If you don't euthanize it onsite, cover the already covered trap some more (blanket) before transporting.

Reason I prefer tube traps as opposed to a cage trap with a cover is all it takes is a dog to flip a cage and you have a mess!