For you folks that routinely trap and finish skunks:

Are you dipping the entire skunk in the 3-ingredient solution to de-odorize before skinning or after?

I try to kill them without spray. Remove the pods. A little smell doesn't bother me.

P.S. my bride doesn't like it to good. I save the skunk deicer for me. Mac the Diver told me of a method he uses. I have not tried it. Maybe we will get lucky and he will post on destinking skunks.

Like Danny mine don’t spray.

I plan to if I get one! I got a big bag of baking soda, big dawn and a gallon of peroxide waitin in the shed. And the skunk sleeper. Now if I only had the nerve and the chance!!

I just use a few shots of Skunk Off or a similar product. Or, if it’s fun fooling around with the home remedies and washing skunks have at er, they work too.

Get a bottle of Poopf and soak her down. Most I handle have been handled without any discharge, then I cut the pods out prior to skinning.

X2 on the Poopf

Like said use the pole method remove the pods first thing then the bomb is defused if by chance you get one that sprays the 3 mix dip worked when I tried it. If your using cages make your life easier by giving yourself room to work a place to get the pole into the cage easily and use the available wind in your favor if one does spray any.

Move slow and deliberate making as little noise as possible moving around they don’t see well that makes them hyper if there’s a lot of noise.

X3 on poof

Thanks Danny for the vote of confidence.
While i do a lot of things the same as many others. I got my share of stunk up learning the hard way.. Most all my skunks were incidental to trapping other critters.
For the most part I do things pretty much as Law Dog does. I haven't handle nearly the numbers he has and I only occasionally used cages.
So I would say for the beginers do as Law Dog does and you should come out ok.
Main point of his I agree with.. Don't be in a rush. If you have to hurry your going to make mess. Easier to go slow and keep the genie in the bottle as they say.


Mac

i have never trapped a skunk may i ask how you kill it without it spraying

The baking soda mix didn't work for me gonna get the poof stuff to try.

PM sent

No washing a skunk for me. They don't smell much once skinned. Wife thinks the mink smell, and I don't wash them either. Sometimes I will wash a coyote though

Poopf does not work, Skunk off is the best. Home made version is second best. I sell all mine taxidermy so they need to be as scent free as possible. No spray, still have to wash them. If I was shipping to the fur market I probably wouldn't bother.

I have tried tow or three of the pre-mix products with poor results. I have used the tried and true peroxide, baking soda, dawn liquid mix with good results. I have had to mix a 2nd batch a few times but one washing usually does the trick.

Prevention is the best case scenario but sometimes that option is already gone before you get there. Anytime I have land sets out, I have the ingredients and a plastic bucket in the truck just in case I need to give one a bath.

I had an accident in the fur shed a couple years ago and had essence dripping off my face. The peroxide, baking soda, dish soap does work or I promise you my wife wouldn't have let me sleep in the house let alone in the same bed with her. You can't pre mix the stuff or save it for next time though.

That is awful I’m surprised you didn’t get sick
I got it all up my arm twenty years ago stripping out a tail bone

Step one remove pods first.

That's what i was doing also just leaning over way to close. I was surprised myself I didnt get sick. Really didn't have any affects on me other than just stinking

I've used the 3 ingredient solution before with good results. Don't target skunks on purpose.

The directions for mixing state not to reuse it. Do all my fleshing in the basement. If they have any odor they're not going there.

About twenty years or so back my ex brother in law was over. Got bad drunk and passed out in the front yard. Was winter time or would have left him there. His wife could not get him into their car. I put some juice in his mustache. He rolled around and puked all over his self but he did manage to get in his car. They are both still mad about it.

Seem most every trapper that has caught skunk or two has a stink story. One of the better hits I took I was only about 3 stops in on my daily run. Nice big double stripper shot me point blank. Straight up right arm and across my face. Good thing I wear glasses or would have been in my eyes. I was cussing myself of course right away in morning snd hurrying.. I carry baby wipes in my truck so cleaned myself up and carried on. I did wear that all day as I was running sun up to sun down. I've gotten little nose blind to skunk but anyone you have to interact with on a day like that, they can have some strange reactions. To many funny stories to type it all here. Makes for some laughs sitting around campfire.

Mac

If your handling skunk never try to do volume it’s not profitable for to do that. In the early days I tried it. Trying to pour off a large bottle creates a lot of “drift” that gets to you it feels like a toilet brush was in your throat, eyes water uncontrollably and your nose runs constantly like tear gas. You would be surprised how much loss there is poring from bottle to bottle.

I go from the pods to 4oz bottles that’s topped off and the cap gets tightened with pliers. My buyer wants it that way plus that limits loss if any breakage happens. The pre measured 4oz bottle reduces more handling and being pre measured if used in lure you know what amount you’re dealing with. If he’s selling it 4oz bottles work well for resale.

Theres too many things to list that make the essence collection more efficient and profitable if your going to stink get paid to do it.

Another skunk call today 4th one in a week not a big one but lots of white on it.

Seen one hit on road other day looked about like that. Not all mashed didnt smell none going by. Felt like I was driving by at least $20 bill. But was going to fast and in to much traffic to stop.


Mac

The old trapping book by Stanley Hawbaker had a chapter on skunks and back then it looked like LESS white stripes are preferred. Like mostly all black skunks

That was how it was long ago. In my dad's day, they didn't want the stripes.

I like the stripes! I feel it is what makes a skunk a skunk, besides the stink of course!

I believe that was because they were selling skunk as sables and making full coats. Truth in labeling killed the skunk market.

Back then it was all out for skunks every way imaginable trapping and gassing culverts was very popular back then mink were fine wages also, nobody taught anyone it was dog eat dog big time.

I had an old timer tell me they would den hunt skunks. Run some barbed wire contraption they made down hole like drain snake. Twisted it around until figured had good hold drag skunk out. Some times end up actually digging them out. Was worth enough to make it worth the work.

Mac

had two brothers that I worked with, one bet the other 100 dollars that he could let a skunk out of a foot hold, without getting sprayed, he did it, skunk walked two feet and spray him, he stunk for weeks