From: John De Armond
Newsgroups: misc.rural
Subject: Re: skunk removal
Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:25:32 -0400
Message-ID: <e1p2g3h320kt6onhcodutarvr8ngbkav0r@4ax.com>

On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:24:56 -0000, lwhaley22000@gmail.com wrote:


>Ultimately I chose to shoot them in the cage.  I did use an old quilt
>to protect me from the spray.  I figuered that shooting is more humand
>and less trouble that drowining.  I used the .22 pistol but it took
>more shots than I expected and the blanket did get sprayed and I got
>small amount on me.  The carcasses I took to the landfill and I am
>washing twice the clothes and blanket that were involved.
>
>Do any of yu have and other ideas as to how to kill or remove the
>skunks after they have been trapped?

Ummm, maybe hit 'em with the first shot? :-)

You could suffocate them with CO2.  That's what many professional pest removal
contractors do.  Put a box over the trap and pipe in CO2 from whatever source is most
convenient - fire extinguisher, tank, even baking soda and vinegar mix.  Fast and
painless.

Plan C: suffocate 'em with acetone, lacquer thinner, MEK, etc.  That same cardboard
box over the cage, only this time saturate the atmosphere with the solvent. Kinda the
skunk version of overdosing while huffing glue or paint.

My choice is still the first one.  Hit 'em in the head with the first shot.  I've
killed any number of skunks with head shots and not one has sprayed.

John

From: John De Armond
Newsgroups: misc.rural
Subject: Re: skunk removal
Date: Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:43:15 -0400
Message-ID: <35tcg3le9kasfi9uhschm03ps7ji4rv3kj@4ax.com>

On Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:28:08 -0000, lwhaley22000@gmail.com wrote:

>
>> Jeez, what's with the handguns? Use a .22 long rifle and you can pop the thing
>> from 20 or 30m away, ACCURATELY. And not have to worry about getting any spray
>> on you in a worst case scenario.
>>
>http://www.rrarms.com/
>

>You got me on that one, Pete, perfect advice.  I don't as yet own a ..
>22 rifle but I can now see the wisdom of having one.  I used the
>pistol since I already have it and my only rifle is a .308 for
>whitetails.  A nice little .22 with a low mag scope would be just the
>thing.  I bet I could put that bullet right between the bars of the
>cage from a nice safe distance and zero chance of getting sprayed.
>Thanks for that advice.  Now I will go shopping for .22 rifles.  Try
>this site if you like to look at guns.

If for some reason you don't want the noise, a powerful air rifle would work too.
Last year, on the advice of a friend who's a professional varmint removal specialist,
I purchased a Daisy Powerline Model 1000 air rifle.  About $90 from Wallyworld,
complete with a scope that you'll immediately toss and replace with a good .22 rifle
scope.  Rated at 1100 fps.  Either Winchester or Remington (can't recall which) sells
this same rifle for a LOT more money.  It's turkish made and the finish is a bit
rough but it's a shooter.

My friend said that he uses the rifle to kill birds that get inside big buildings
like Sam's Clubs and on coons that get in people's attics.  I'm using it to decimate
the pest squirrel population around my cabin.  I can reliably do head shots on
squirrels at the top of the 75 ft hickory tree in my front yard.  Even body shots are
reliable kills, though a bit slower.  The rifle is so quiet that my neighbor across
the gravel road can be outside and never notice the shot.

This is mountain territory here so no restriction on noise.  I continue to use the
pellet gun, however, because the low noise doesn't spook the squirrel on the rare
occasion when I miss.  That gives me a second chance.

I've been experimenting with diesel boosting too.  This involves placing a drop of
WD40, 3-in-1 oil or similar volatile fuel in the compression chamber before firing.
The pressure is high enough to diesel ignite the fuel.  The result is a sharp .22
like crack and a velocity over my Oehler chrono in excess of 1400 fps.  I'm
experimenting now with getting consistent, repeatable velocity.

Let me know if you get that gun and I'll relate a little mod that removes a very
annoying safety-nazi-inspired "feature" - forcing the safety on upon each cocking.
With the scope in place the safety is very difficult to manipulate.  I fixed the gun
so that the safety is applied only when I want it applied.

John