Skunk troubles

[drine]

I won't make a voting poll out of this one but I need input!
Seems I have a skunk that likes dry cat food. My wife's two cats stay outside and of course so does their feed. I'll be buying a sealable tote tomorrow. Here's the question: Do I whack this critter or let him be and assume he won't come back after the food is gone? Being an engineer-type and former soldier eliminating the root cause...THE CATS.. is not possible or I'd be "cut-off". I tracked him off of the front porch and to the backyard where a creek seperates my property from another man's. My Mossberg Turkey hunter, full choke would shred the byatch from my high back porch and not go into my neighbor's house like my rifle. If I were a real "man" using my pistol to dispatch him on the front porch would be the only way to go. Wife says NO she ain't smellin' skunk for a week. The cats just lay around as he walks past no more than a foot away. I don't have a dog at the moment.
Head shot close? Shotgun at 30 yds? Let him be?

[weasel_master]

We had a family under the steps. I took a live trap and got one every day for a little over a week. As I got them, I took them across the portage and released them in the woods away from here. They won't spray as long as you cover them up.

[hunter_la5]

I'd say shoot it but maybe I'm a little trigger happy....

[drine]

They won't spray as long as you cover them up.

Alrighty then! I left that option off...live trap and release. This covering up business sounds like snipe hunting to me!:icon_biggrin: I'll take your word for it....you being the "Weasle-Master"!!:icon_biggrin: I like pushing the envelope and haven't done so in a while so that option sounds best!

The shoot first ask questions later was what I expected. Hunter, would I use my CETME, AR, 10-22, or .40 pistol?

[renegade]

Heck where I live, most people run over them with their car or truck...

[weasel_master]

I had a trap with the door being just mesh. When I went to put them in the bed of the truck to drive across the portage, I just put a paper bag over the front. They wouldn't spray as long as you weren't up in their face. Our neighbor took the first one and drowned it while it was in the trap. I wasn't a huge fan of making it suffer. We would just open up the trap and dump it out. Once it waddled away a little bit, we'd rattle off a few shots to scare it off.

[hunter_la5]

The shoot first ask questions later was what I expected. Hunter, would I use my CETME, AR, 10-22, or .40 pistol?

all of the above :2pistol:

[Otis61]

I think I'd try eliminating the food first, then take other measures if that dos'nt work.

[nalioth]

I think I'd try eliminating the food first, then take other measures if that dos'nt work..... and hope there is no cat door. :eek:

[Norton]

my vote is let him be

[nevada]

10-22 or trap and release. England let Germany be. The problem - skunk - needs to be removed. IMHO

[AK AJ]

Cut off the food and he will leave, Skunks are opportunists without food they have no reason to be there.

AJ

[ctdemolay0405]

try head shot with the pistol at 30 yards, prove to us all how good u are

[oilhead]

my vote is let him be

Skunks is God's critters too. Folks put out food and then expect that the only ones that'll enjoy it is their own? This ain't reasonable! Enjoy watching them and send them on their merry way.

There is more to life than bullets, people.

Dave:nonono:

[xernex]

If you could find a way to move the food to a location the skunk can't access but the cats can it might just drive him away, like AK AJ said skunks are opportunists, and they often look for the easy meal. Having the food at a higher location that the cats can jump to would prove a little more difficult for the skunk, and you'd probably be fairly suprised how easily it will give up. Getting the skunk off the cat food will be better for both of you, as cat food is naturally horrible for skunks.

I've got a couple of friends that have pet (read descented) skunks. They are actually awesome little guys that are very intelligent and loving animals. If it wasn't for my Australian Shepherd in the house I'd probably buy one myself

[Phirebug]

i say use this as an excuse to buy a new gun.