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Crosman140 · Senior Member

So, we just bought a house and I'm smelling residual skunk spray.

I have no problem shooting them, either with a suitable air gun or with a .22 rim fire.

Do any of you have personal experience shooting a skunk?

Do they spray when shot or just drop over dead?

Once dead, can they still spray when picked up for disposal?

I'll be going for head shots.

Thanks

sniper · Silver Status Member

From what I know on another forum they spray 95% of the time when shot. Even with a .223 hollowpoint. Shocked

The guy I'm speaking of has such a bad problem with them
he built a drowning station. Crying or Very sad

The only effective way is drowning. Shocked

congrats on the house!

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I shot one with a 22lr and he sprayed big time. I think that's the way they are born. I did a head shot and he twitched for quite a long time. I know I got the brain.

Crosman140 · Senior Member

Thanks for the reply, oddtodd.

720fly · Veteran Member

Just like dump in our pant they let it go to

cactusrat · Member

I shoot 5 to 10 skunks a year. I used to trap them when I live in town.

When a skunks dies it’s muscles relax thus causing it to leak that wonderful smell. In most cases that a big cloud of stink doesn’t cover the whole yard, the skunk had a empty bladder or a very low one.

Drowning them is not a sure fire way to not have the perfume release. If the spray is released, the water will help keep it from becoming air borne. Now what to do with stinky water? Pour on the ground and release that wonderful smell. I dug a hole in the very back of the yard and slowly poured the water into the hole, making sure not to let the water over flow. Then fill the hole back in when all the water was soaked in.

In town I on a river and started drowning them in the river. Bigger body of water to dilute the smell. No fuss, no mess.

Where I live now I just shoot them where they are. If they are real close to the house I hold fire until they are a ways off.

Two tablespoons of molasses in a gallon of water and spray over the yard where the skunk sprayed will help brake down the skunk spray a little faster, but you will still smell the skunk perfume.

Put a tarp or blanket over the trap while moving a trapped skunk around. Don’t shake or jar the trap to much or the skunk just might say the heck with and gas you anyway. Shocked

Good luck and stay up wind.

Mark5043 · Silver Status Member

I shot a skunk years ago that was hanging out by the side of my Mom's place in the country..I used a 12 gauge,with 3 inch magnum shells.The distance was about 25 feet or so.... Shocked

. I won't be doing that again any time soon,as the pole kitty basically exploded.Smelled the funk for about a month,as I'm pretty sure his entire stink sack was destroyed..I had to get out a pressure washer,and even that didn't work all that well.....it was that bad.

I will never forget that smell..It was an intense acrid smell somewhat like like a big pile of burning tires. Just like others have said,they will usually spray,or at least leak after you dispatch them,no matter what you use.I would take one again but only at distance,and preferably not on my property.

sniper · Silver Status Member

Dude are you serious? Shocked

What shot size? Shocked

Musta' looked like ripe watermelons. Shocked

broommaster2000 · Moderator

Yo, C140, can you take pics of the property? Mr. Green

Mark5043 · Silver Status Member

donec · Senior Member

Maybe you should consider using ultrasonic sound for your yard something like this....
http://www.bugs2020.com/pest-control-outdoor.htm

mch441 · Member

skunks are a huge problem in my area right now seeing them more and more during the day which is a bad sign means rabies or distemper.was talking to a cop friend of mine about a week ago he shot one with his service pistol while on duty he was called out for skunk chasing people trying to bite them.said it was kind of walking sideways like it was drunk says thats a sign of distemper .i saw pictures .40 cal did a pretty good job on it.
anyway i have shot them with my 17 hmr which stops them dead in their tracks.they still stink the place up but thats ok with me better then having to scrub the dog

Crosman140 · Senior Member

domer_pyle · Senior Member

Burning tires is exactly what a close encounter will smell like. You can feel it in your lungs as you breathe too, that's almost the worst part.

Nice view!!!

broommaster2000 · Moderator