Skunk bmps

[trappnman]

the interesting thing I'm waiting for- is how double jaws will fare. Cause in skunks- the double jaws are not to prevent chewing- but to have enough of the leg held BETWEEN the jaws to keep te skunk in the trap. I cannot see how ANY foothold trap, with the exception of a stoploss- will or could pass on skunks. Only animal that chews a foot MORE than coon.

[robertw]

The one trap that has always shined as THE SKUNK TRAP is the 160 & 220 conibear!

Often (maybe 65% of the time) the skunk is dead without having sprayed little or none of his valuable essence and the set can be re-made in a timely fashion, versus the time consuming pole syringe methods.

Ever wonder how all of the drugs (and commonly used lighter fluid) and the "sharps" training (handling needles for the syringes) will all fit into the scheme of things in a Skunk BMP & Trapper Education Manual?

Surely a Skunk BMP WILL NOT RECOMMEND a dispatch by shooting in the animal in the head!!!

Steve, you are right, a Skunk BMP will be something to see!

[robertw]

BTW,
Skunks can be humanely captured and harvested in any well swivels cable restraint (no BS!) or snare. Loops size is about 4-5" and should be set 4-5" off of the ground.

[trappnman]

no- conibears are killing devices- not included in the restraining tests.

snares are a separate issues also.

[robertw]

Sorry Steve but....Cable restraints/ snares are considered a humane live capture device for some species. Why would you not anticipate that the IAFWA will not eventually look at them for other species as well?

[trappincoyotes39]

Tman and Robert why all the fuss over the skunk BMP? If those "dumb" BMP trap testers would just follow and use "MY" techniques we can get any size 3 trap to pass with flying colors :)Sorry Tman couldn't resist!!! Notice zero foot chewing and a dead skunk what could be better?

[trappnman]

I trapped 36 skunks this year in 1.5s, 1.75 and 3. ALL were checked in less than 24 hours and ALL had severe chewing. THats not counting some that probably did chew out before I got there.

btw- that dead skunk would get the ultimate worse score- thats what happens on long extended checks.

[trappincoyotes39]

Long extended checks LOL!!! If you notice the skunk barely moved the trap from the bed!!!! Didn't even move the cow pie up top! It was in jest and I know that the skunk being dead would be a bad score depending if it were trap related!! Which he was LOL!!! Just a perfect way to do away with chewing though!!!!

Fact is if their was money to be made someone would take the encentive and down size a dog proof like the ones made for coons and market it, but skunks are not an intended target for many people, maybe if the fur value and essance value went 3-5 fold you may have someone out their willing to take it on!!!

The skunk BMP I can tell you is at the bottom of the list and I would be surprised if we hear anything on it in the next 2 years!!! Just too much more important studies to be done!

[trappnman]

so why would the skunk not move the trap? Every skunk I have ever taken- digs the set up like a madman.

[jim]

The trap has the skunk by the head right? I had one that way this year in a coyote trap, easiest scent free skunk I ever got. Steve I think our skunks and coon are different critters, my coons chew very bad, most are tangled up in tag alders or other small trees along the stream, every thing is chewed on including their foot that is in the trap. I have had a couple chew off their foot above the trap, leaving bone sticking up out of the trap. Now my skunks don't seem to chew much, but sure clog the swivels up. Jim

[trappincoyotes39]

Tman he was caught by the head I didn't alter the picture at all!!!! He was dead before he new it!!!! No spraying he got caught by the head and the 4 coiled trap did him in!!!!!

I will also say that if you switched to offsets that helps alot on the skunk shewing as the #3 offset still allows feeling in the narrow boned front foot of the skunk, I haven't in the past takin much skunk pics, but as I catch them I'll show you the feet in offset jawed traps, it does help, still get chewing but less than reg jawed traps for sure.

[jim]

My traps are all offset also maybe thats why I don't seem to get much foot damage by the skunks.

Jim

[trappnman]

i didn't see that it was caught by the head.

Noticed no difference in offsets or regular jaws. I have never seen anything that I did- make a difference. This is unlike coon- where MANY things one can do, make a difference in chewing.

Skuynks chew almost 100% of the time. In fact, the DOUBLE JAW was invented as a skunk trap- because of this tendency. The double jaws were not to PREVENT chewing, but were invented to still hold onto the leg AFTER the chewing.

[MChewk]

Interesting post..and neat pic....comment regarding offset traps ...there weren't many offset traps made back when skunks were more attractive to trap...say prior to 1970s.

[trappincoyotes39]

Tman use more offsets, ones with 1/4" or more and I think you'll find less foot chewing on your skunks, I have caught them in sterlings with zero chewing, and others will have some but I do know from years past that reg jaws traps promote more chewing than offsets, I think a 1 1/2 with at least 1/4" offset would work better on a 24 hr check.

[trappnman]

no- I caught at least 15 or so skunks in offsets- ALL chewed. In my smal lsample od 15 or so in each this past season- ALL chewed, ALL on a 24 hour check.

Offsets to reduce damage is a myth.

[jim]

i guess next year I need to take pictures of coon and skunk feet in the trap.
Jim

[trappincoyotes39]

I'll get you some pics of 3 day skunks that have perfect feet and some that don't but I can't 100% chew as that too is a myth, with a skunks narrow leg and decent offset you still get feeling to their feet, if they have feeling they are way less likely to chew on their feet, not a myth.

[MChewk]

We have discussed these injury scores at length here and on other forums...bottom line.. as a trapper and I think I can say this in a broad statement....That we would use the best tools whenever we thought we would be harvesting animals that would self-inflict injuries. However that isn't always possible when working a diverse number of species. To have speciality traps for each animal is out of the question. The use of killing traps as Robert mentioned is a clear answer when dealing with skunks and other animals that self inflict injuries. My opinion....I know it doesn't apply for BMPs by common sense ain't applying anyway.

[Steve Gappa]

I shouldn't have said almost 100% of trapped skunks chew. What I should have said- is I took 37 by actual count- and since I look at those things closely- I noticed that aLL or them, or 100% of the skunks I took this season, had chewed substantially on their foot. These skunks were taken i na rough guess of 50/50 in offsets and non offsets.

I am stating this as a fact and my experience. If you say you have methods that reduce chewing- let me know.

By experiences are with offsets #3, and with 1.5, 1.75 regualr jawsed. Staked and on wooden drags both in cover and in the open. All methods seemed the same to me in that all skunks- no matter what trap or what method- chewed.

I notice the same pattern every year- I'll not say 100% from past years cause I'm sure there have been a couple that didn't chew. But this year- 100% on 37 skunks.