Skunk trapping advice

[runamuk]

So it seems I have some skunks and last thing I want us my dog tangling with them.  If a person were gonna tackle eradicating them how would you go about it? I have a couple live traps.  I have an aversion to getting sprayed so specific advice on avoiding that would be great.

prepares for the inevitable slew of ridiculousness

[huntandjeep]

Live trap and a .22 to the back of the head.

[Woodchuck]

Step 1: Have a friend with a camera hold your beer...

[DOUBLELUNG]

Set the live trap inside a burlap sack, pillowcase or other porous cover.  They won't spray if enclosed.  I'm confident enough in that, I've transported numerous live-trapped skunks in the trap inside the sack in the backseat of my car (I did my early control work out of a 1980 VW Rabbit).  Take them somewhere quiet, open the trap and let them wander out on their own time.  Once they are 20 yards or so hit them with a load of fours.

[runamuk]

Live trap and a .22 to the back of the head.

Umm the back of a skunks head aligns kinda directly with its but and where the stink comes from.

[runamuk]

Step 1: Have a friend with a camera hold your beer...

Volunteering for the job there Commodore?

[jackelope]

Step 1: Have a friend with a camera hold your beer...

Volunteering for the job there Commodore?

[Woodchuck]

Step 1: Have a friend with a camera hold your beer...

Volunteering for the job there Commodore?

Rain check. 

[runamuk]

Set the live trap inside a burlap sack, pillowcase or other porous cover.  They won't spray if enclosed.  I'm confident enough in that, I've transported numerous live-trapped skunks in the trap inside the sack in the backseat of my car (I did my early control work out of a 1980 VW Rabbit).  Take them somewhere quiet, open the trap and let them wander out on their own time.  Once they are 20 yards or so hit them with a load of fours.

I have a rather abundant water situation thought swimming might be more convienent.

[idaho guy]

totally enclose the live trap with carboard or something. if they cant see out they wont spray.(would work the same as the burlap sack idea)This sounds cruel and you can let em out and shoot them if you want but best thing is to put the cage in a horse trough or something and drown them. FYI I got sprayed and my truck stunk for a week after shooting one in the head in the live cage. Works sometimes but that method is definitely not fool proof 

[Bofire]

I have always been told set the trap, leave it, when you come back to trap throw a cover over it and they will not spray, just like a sheet or something.  Let me know if it works??
Carl

[runamuk]

Any reason a black trash bag wouldn't work?  Have lots of those. 

OK so best bait options?  I can't run to the store so kinda need to find something I have here.

[idaho guy]

I have had issues trying to cover a live trap after the fact. I have done it but a lot of times a person coming at them with  a big sack or something gets them spraying. I like sardines for bait because they send a lot of stink out!

[DOUBLELUNG]

Any reason a black trash bag wouldn't work?  Have lots of those. 

OK so best bait options?  I can't run to the store so kinda need to find something I have here.

I don't know that a trash bag won't work, give it a try.  Canned catfood, sardines, tuna, bacon, scrambled eggs, peanut butter all work - my go-to was sardines.

[runamuk]

I have had issues trying to cover a live trap after the fact. I have done it but a lot of times a person coming at them with  a big sack or something gets them spraying. I like sardines for bait because they send a lot of stink out!

Yeah no desire to create more stress to the animal or risk to me.
I have wet dog food, chicken bones, cans of skipjack tuna.