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Outdoor topics => The Outdoor Board => Topic started by: indiaxman1 on October 14, 2010, 07:35:11 PM

Title: skunks and squirrels
Post by: indiaxman1 on October 14, 2010, 07:35:11 PM
Small game reports:....the bad...skunks have moved in my front field...while getting out of truck (6:00 am) at end of road...two striped critters stood between me and garbage cans...didn't empty truck that morning...next day...got home late...holler smelled....dog nailed...spent evening (had to be our anniversary!) scrubbing...any good hints out there for removing scent?  we use peroxide and baking soda mix..
The good:....great year for squirrels...big old mast crop...ten gray and fox squirrels just last week...hunting (and eating) small game is overlooked, I think, by a lot of hunters...
The ugly:..me after being smacked in face by limb while on atv... ::)
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: sandhills on October 15, 2010, 12:28:26 AM
The night before our wedding (Sept. 3) my wife pulled into the driveway with my daughters in the car to see Zodie our white pyranese dog struttin through the yard violently shaking a skunk in her mouth.  She got Zodie to drop it, couldn't get the kids out of the car, and by the time I got the gun and got out there the skunk was all nestled up to our landlords stock trailer tire.  Why it never sprayed the dog is beyond me just thought it was kinda funny that it happened to you on your aniversary and we almost went to our wedding smelling like your dog.  I've heard myths about tomato juice getting the smell out but never had first hand experience thankfully. :)
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: SwampDonkey on October 15, 2010, 05:00:56 AM
I get along with the skunks, but every once in awhile I have to clear out the squirrels.  ;D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: chevytaHOE5674 on October 15, 2010, 06:28:30 AM
This year was terrible around here for skunks. I "disposed" of 12 of the smelly suckers from around the farm here this summer. Hope to not see another one for a couple of years now.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Piston on October 15, 2010, 06:51:10 AM
Last year after a great day on the lake with the wife and dogs, we got back to the house, got all cleaned up, showered, cooked some dinner on the grill, relaxin drinking a beer and decided to let the dog out one more time.  Sure enough I heard some commotion up near the barn and the dog came running back to me, YUP, sprayed by a skunk.  I could smell it immediately, the night air was as still as could be and that skunk smell lingered there for hours!  Even the house stunk of skunk! 
I used the baking soda/peroxide/soap trick too.  After 3 baths he really didn't smell too bad, that trick works really well.

 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17127/1748/Boat_Trips_246.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17127/1748/Boat_Trips_252.JPG)
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Burlkraft on October 15, 2010, 07:00:08 AM
Our neighbor's dog came home shakin' a dead skunk 2 days ago.
He got him in our woods and dragged him home to Dave  :D  :D  :D

Peroxide and bakin' soda and soap for 2 days and Rascal still smells pretty bad  ::)  ::)

The skunk was huge and was a beauty too. If it didn't smell so bad I wudda made Jill sumpthin' out of it 

My Grandfather told me of trappin' coon and havin' to remove a skunk from a trap just before school  :D  :D  :D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Piston on October 15, 2010, 07:15:27 AM
Oh ya, You have to wash them very recently after getting sprayed, otherwise it's darn near impossible to get that horrid smell out  :D

I'm glad it was your neighbors dog and not yours  :D
Title: "March of the skunks"
Post by: SwampDonkey on October 15, 2010, 07:40:07 AM
Mom's uncle used to trap about 20 skunks in the yard every fall.

"March of the skunks" :D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Raider Bill on October 15, 2010, 09:54:14 AM
My little guy got skunked a few years ago. I used Tomato juice seemed to work pertty good.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: thecfarm on October 15, 2010, 01:12:22 PM
We use the peroxide,baking soda and whatever liquid dish soap we have.The wife mixes up a coffee cup of this mix and it does wonders on Boo-Boo.One morning.,5:30,I'm going to work and he comes to say good bye to me with that smell.I open up the door and tell the wife YOUR boy needs a bath.She answers back,Why? You'll found out why.Bye,I'm going to work.  ;D He does not learn about them skunks. I've seen him just about plow the ground up from running his head on the ground.Kinda thinks it stings his eyes a bit when he gets sprayed in the face.  ;)
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Warren on October 18, 2010, 09:35:19 PM
Hey Piston,

Nice puppy !   What's he gonna be when he grows up ?

:D :D :D

-w-
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Piston on October 19, 2010, 09:30:52 AM
Your right, he was 1 yr old in that pic, my wife and I got him on our honeymoon the year before that.  he just turned 3 this year.  That was his only run in with a skunk so far  8)
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: submarinesailor on October 19, 2010, 12:20:17 PM
This week end, I FINALLY got the ground hog that was living under the deck.  Been trying to get him all summer.

Bruce
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: nas on October 21, 2010, 07:35:34 AM
Sent my oldest son out to shoot squirrels because they are chewing on my maple sap lines.  He didn't find any, but found this. 8)  He was quite proud of himself ;D


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/16789/Oct12_0001.jpg)

Nick
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: northwoods1 on October 21, 2010, 09:18:04 AM
I was married to a veterinarian for 13 years and we had a full service clinic, the skunk thing was a regular occurrence but not quite as common as the porcupine thing. Most vets carry a product called SKUNK-OFF and it actually works. Nothing else in my experience will get that smell out, you might think you washed it off with tomato juice and all that other stuff but it isn't so in most cases you'll be smelling it every time the dog gets wet for weeks.
I don't have much of a skunk squirrel or rabbit problem around these parts all the *&%$ coyotes keep everything pretty well cleaned out.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: SwampDonkey on October 21, 2010, 06:01:25 PM
Rabbit stew isn't bad.  :)
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: nas on October 22, 2010, 08:04:19 PM
Mmmm Hasenpfeffer digin1 musteat_1
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Bill Gaiche on October 22, 2010, 10:16:15 PM
Got squirted back as a teenager in the face and all over my front side. That stuff also has a slight sting to it. Neighbor lady filled the bathtub and added a bunch of vinegar. If I remember right it worked pretty good. bg
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Burlkraft on October 23, 2010, 08:52:21 AM
Wow Bill.......

That musta been bad.... :-\ :-\

Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: SwampDonkey on October 23, 2010, 10:20:15 AM
Just like learning a stove can burn. Will only do it once, if by choice. ;D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Bill Gaiche on October 23, 2010, 02:39:17 PM
You got that right. Been clean of skunks ever sence. bg
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: RynSmith on October 23, 2010, 03:22:59 PM
Do we get to hear the first part of the story?   ;D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Bill Gaiche on October 23, 2010, 09:25:20 PM
RynSmith ,just chased a couple of skunks out from and old basement and they had enough being chased and they opened fire at me and neighbor kid. Chase was over quick. Dont know why we were chasing them the start with. bg
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: SwampDonkey on October 24, 2010, 04:39:53 AM
Skunks are usually pretty brave and turn on you quick. They know they pack a nasty stench.  ;D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: RPF2509 on December 06, 2010, 03:58:43 PM
Our dog taught us this trick to get rid of skunk smell.  Plaster affected animal with fine mud - like from a pond - let dry and the smell comes off with the mud.  Our heeler was sprayed one morning and I refused to let her come to work with me like she usually did.  When I came home she was scent free.  I asked the wife what she did to clean the dog and she said nothing but the dog disappeared shortly after I left and came home an hour later covered head to toe in black mud.  The dog stayed outside for the day and dried out.  When the mud came off so did the stink and as a bonus, the dogs fur was as shiny and fluffy as if we'd given her a bath. We figured she ran to a half dried stock pond behind the house and rolled in it trying to get the stink off.  I've tried this as well with other dogs and it worked somewhat but I don't think I used enough mud -put it on thick and get it all the way to the skin and yes wear old clothes because you will get as much mud on you as the dog
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: TimRB on December 06, 2010, 04:24:29 PM
Saw a TV documentary once about a couple who "rescued" wild skunks.  They were crazy about the things, and would let them run loose INSIDE their house.  They said (in a completely matter-of-fact kind of way) that once in a while a skunk would spray a wall or something, and that they would just clean it up as best they could.  I am not making this up. 

Tim
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Ron Scott on December 06, 2010, 08:44:03 PM
A tough smell to live with. :D. One of my clients lost the use of one of their deer blinds this past season after a skunk took revenge on the blind for some reason. No one would hunt from the blind all season. :D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: SwampDonkey on December 07, 2010, 07:05:39 AM
I saw a wildlife show , Nature, I like it was. They were showing the life of the skunk. Had the camera pretty close to the stink hole sometimes. :D :D

I like skunks out in their element, but not as a pet or in the buildings. Petty animal and  good to clean up the lawn grubs, but that's where it ends. ;)

One winter we had one make it's home under the cement steps of the front door. He was almost all white. But, every thaw in the winter there was a strong skunk smell lingering in the air. :D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: northwoods1 on December 07, 2010, 10:12:12 AM
I had a pet skunk when I was a kid. My dad found several young ones on the road the old one had been run over. Took one and got it de-scented they are kind of like a cat in there habits and they are intelligent make a good pet. Along with the skunk was a coon, possum, redtailed hawk ,grey owl, woodchuck, flying squirrels, 2 crows that learned to talk by themsleves mostly from hearing us kids hollering back and forth all the time. This was all before the day a person would get thrown in jail for having wildlife in captivity.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: doctorb on December 07, 2010, 12:43:54 PM
Northwoods1 - I am jealous of your childhood
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: chain on December 08, 2010, 01:55:28 PM
From my old trapper days: the old trappers say when confronted with a threatening skunk is to talk softly to it. The skunk will soon 'let down his guard' and go off or if caught in cage will calm and allow you to cover the trap until disposal.

Another thing, a skunk cannot spray so long as his tail is down, some live-trappers now use a stove pipe or box to disallow the skunk from raising his tail when alarmed.

Finally, when shooting a skunk try to shoot in the heart area same as a deer behind-the-shoulder shot. This, they say, is better than a head shot. ???
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Magicman on December 08, 2010, 04:28:54 PM
My Dad confronted a skunk under his carport once.  What did he do?  Hit it with his walking stick.   :o

I still giggle thinking about a nekkid 80+ year old man trying to get my Mom to finally let him into the house.

I think that she finally agreed to take tomato sauce and the garden hose and try to wash some of the stink off.  :D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: doctorb on December 08, 2010, 05:54:44 PM
How old does a skunk have to be before he can use his defensive weapon?  Newborn?  First year?  When is it no longer safe to pick-up a young skunk?
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: SwampDonkey on December 08, 2010, 06:19:36 PM
It's a scent gland, so I would assume when ever a skunk matures. Red foxes and silver foxes will smell like skunk from their glands as well during the mating season. Not as strong, but my uncle used to raise them, and it was skunky around the pens at times. :D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: sandhills on December 08, 2010, 09:49:16 PM
My old college roommate had a litter? if thats the right word, of babies from an old barn they tore down.  One of them sprayed his mom while she was trying to get them out of her garden, can't remember for sure how old they were but they weren't very big.  Oh and he didn't have the skunks after that :D.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: treefarmer87 on December 18, 2010, 12:01:11 AM
we used to have a bad problem with skunks, coons, and opossums. my mom raises guineas @ the farm, they used to try to get them @ night, so i would get in the truck with the spotlight and take care of em with the rem 700 VLS .204 ruger or Ruger laminate/stainless 10/22 international :)
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Troublermaker on March 08, 2011, 08:54:54 AM
 I don't know if it will work or not but I though I throw it out there.

SKUNK SCENT REMOVER SHAMPOO: 32 ounces hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid. Mix ingredients together in large bottle with cap. Use as shampoo on pets, children and spouses. Rinse well.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: trapper on March 08, 2011, 03:44:41 PM
My wife made me strip once before coming in to the house
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: ely on March 08, 2011, 04:51:33 PM
i seem to have the rsident expert on skunks residing at my house. he must know alot about them or like the smell. he has stunk like one for about 2 weeks, about the time it gets ok he hits another one.

the not so bright animal is half rat terrier and half airedale.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Woodcarver on March 08, 2011, 05:10:00 PM
Half rat terrier and half airedale.  Probably bright enough to know better but too terrier to resist.  :D

I had an airedale years ago. He would tackle anything, including, unfortunately, porcupines.  The first couple of times I was able to remove the quills.  The third time he was a real mess and I took him to the vet.  I commented to the vet "you would think he would learn".  The vets response was, "he has, he's learned to hate porcupines.  The third time was charmed. He never had a quill problem after that.  He did have more than one run in with a skunk, though.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: ely on March 09, 2011, 09:11:18 AM
he came in after the first skunk episode, with big holes tore into his back. coyote probably maybe just another dog.

he is larger than a rat terrier but not near as big as his airedale attitude.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: clww on March 10, 2011, 07:03:21 PM
Quote from: doctorb on December 08, 2010, 05:54:44 PM
How old does a skunk have to be before he can use his defensive weapon?  Newborn?  First year?  When is it no longer safe to pick-up a young skunk?
I got sprayed by one that was about two months old! :o Worked at Boy Scout Camp years ago. We were moving tent platforms and there was a family of them under it. The platform got dropped in a panic, killing the mother skunk. Two of us went and rounded up the 4 little ones. I got sprayed by one. They ended up being fairly good semi-tame pets around camp. As long as the tail is held down they can't spray, and you hold their neck so they won't bite. As long as they don't feel threatened, they will not spray.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: ely on March 11, 2011, 08:52:34 AM
well,.... its been a few days and the little black dog has done it again. phewwww cant stand to be around him now.
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: laffs on March 11, 2011, 07:31:23 PM
i  have a brotherinlaw says he uses douche on his dogs. mine always stayed out till the smell was gone
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: Burlkraft on March 12, 2011, 07:38:03 AM
Quote from: trapper on March 08, 2011, 03:44:41 PM
My wife made me strip once before coming in to the house

My wife does that almost every day!  :D :D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: SwampDonkey on March 12, 2011, 07:43:10 AM
I was thinking of you guys that got skunked when I saw the little skunk making his rounds in the yard in the rain this morning.  :D
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: beenthere on March 12, 2011, 10:30:27 AM
Quote from: Burlkraft on March 12, 2011, 07:38:03 AM
Quote from: trapper on March 08, 2011, 03:44:41 PM
My wife made me strip once before coming in to the house

My wife does that almost every day!  :D :D

Then what?
Title: Re: skunks and squirrels
Post by: trapper on March 12, 2011, 04:56:42 PM
Do you realy want to  know.   Jeff says this is a family site. :o