Skunked........Literally

jamesh76 · November 14, 2011, 02:43:00 PM

There I was this morning crawing through the fence at the fence corner. As I crawed through the hole I took 2 steps an put my bow on top of a very large osage blowdown that had been there for many years and served as a great ground blind. I could see a deer off in the distance of the winter wheat field to the south of me on the skyline with the bright moon shining. This is when it happened.

I seen 2 white stripes in the shape of a "V" coming at me through the treeline. I knew what it was. It was at 10 yards and was way too close. I turned and thought about going through the fence.........Not enough time, as I reached for my bow I could see the skunk turning and before I knew it.........It was over i had been sprayed. Not real bad but bad enough I will not use cover scent for the rest of the year.

I think that the majority of it was on my boots and pant leg. The boots are on the porch hopefully air drying out. The pants went through the was a couple times and seem to be ok.

Being the first and hopefully last time I get sprayed. I figured that it would smell the same as it does when you are driving down the road, but up close and personal it is a undescribable different smell.

All in all it stinks, but honestly it was not that bad of an experiance.

James

Looper · November 14, 2011, 03:06:00 PM

Yeah, I bet it stinks. I hope you stripped down before you got in your vehicle. I have been through that myself. I got squirted walking in to a stand in the dark. If you see one that close, don't move a muscle.

Stumpkiller · November 14, 2011, 03:08:00 PM

I'm not laughing at you . . . well, maybe just a little bit.

I raise chickens and skunks LOVE eggs, and cracked corn, layer mash, and small chicks as well. Any number of times I have slid the barn door open and a little black and white feller was on the other side. Believe it or not, I have found talking to them in a soft, soothing voice and just slowly backing away works 100% of the time in diffusing the situation.

And by the time they have decided it's safe to leave the barn I am on the house porch with my pump .22LR to make sure they don't come back . . . once they get about 60 feet away from anything that might absorb the odor.

Up close and now skunk is definately different from residual skunk. It's got a burning rubber overtone and stings your eyes for certain. I shot one in the coop once and that was a huge mistake.

I have also relocated dozens in a Hav-a-hart live trap . . . about 60 feet away from anything that smells. Just talking low and calm and carrying the trap - at arms length - and opening the far end to prop it open with a stick. Haven't been sprayed yet.

Jmatt1957 · November 14, 2011, 03:40:00 PM

My dog got sprayed last spring. He was wearing a shock collar at the time . the spray caused the plastic on the colar to melt. must be some strong acid envolved here.

Bill Kissner · November 14, 2011, 05:44:00 PM

Back in the sixties we used that stuff for cover scent. I used it so much I actually got to where I liked the smell.

jamesh76 · November 14, 2011, 07:14:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Kissner:
Back in the sixties we used that stuff for cover scent. I used it so much I actually got to where I liked the smell.

Yes for some reason it got on my grunt call that was in my cargo pocket. I seemed to keep wanting to smell it from the stand tonight.

buckracks7 · November 14, 2011, 07:32:00 PM

A skunk cost me what would have been the biggest buck of my career. I came out of a corn field, and there was a huge buck in a field with those big round bales. I started sneaking from bale to bale to get in shooting range. On the way to the last bale I notice there was a skunk in my path. I tried to move around to the right without going too wide, and spooking the buck. Up came the tail on the skunk, so I backed up. I tried to go left, and up came the tail. I knew it would be a mistake to shoot the skunk, but I sure wanted to. Finally another buck came out of the corn behind me, snorted, and that was the end of my stalk. Have a nice day...

TxAg · November 14, 2011, 07:44:00 PM

X2 on the burnt rubber overtones and eye stinging. My dog got sprayed last spring about 40 yds from camp. Nasty nasty nasty

MCNSC · November 14, 2011, 08:20:00 PM

My dog got sprayed not long ago. I did a search on the Internet and came up with a recipe for scent killer that worked pretty good on skunk. It is almost like the home made scent killer that many on this site make and use, but a more concentrated solution. I believe it was one bottle of peroxide a cup of baking soda and some dish detergent. Washed him with this he still had a slight odor but not too bad.

greg fields · November 14, 2011, 08:23:00 PM

Here's a recipe that is supposed to kill the smell of skunk.

One quart of hydrogen peroxide; 1/4 cup of baking soda; and two tablespoons of dish soap.

I couldn't imagine a direct hit..... Good luck

Read more: How to Make a Homemade Formula to Remove Skunk Odor from a Pet's Fur | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4513420_make-skunk-odor-pets-fur.html#ixzz1djUwpcCe

Big Ed · November 14, 2011, 08:51:00 PM

Been there!! I was about 9 years old and was checking a trapline with my Dad. He said he shot the skunk and wanted me to go get it out of the trap. Needless to say my Dad was a better trapper than a shooter. I was about 5 foot away when it let loose.
I still remember riding in the back out the truck in the middle of January. I don't remember if I was crying from being cold or the stench. Good time,
Ed

TooManyHobbies · November 14, 2011, 09:16:00 PM

Being a wildlife control operator, I get nailed from 1-6 times a year, and come home smelling of them even more. I'm a slow learner, lol. I almost never cover them up with anything. Anyway, like said above, move very slowly and talk in a low tone, they are usually fine. I handle from 75-100 skunks a year. I could do it odor free, but that would be no fun.

If you're sitting in your blind, just freeze. They only react to your movement or noise. They are a very docile animal. But, they are also very unpredictable.

November 14, 2011, 09:19:00 PM

Well they say skunk cover scent is good so you should be OK for a while.

Bisch

Tom · November 14, 2011, 11:42:00 PM

Must be mating season here as I've had 4 close encounters this year but fortunately no spraying-yet. Learned a long time ago to move very slowly and give them a wide berth.

DaleinOhio · November 15, 2011, 01:19:00 AM

The best thing I have found for removing skunk scent is some stuff called Tecnu. You find it at the pharmacy as a poison ivy treatment. It works great...a bit expensive but great stuff. Google it.

Mark 507 · November 15, 2011, 01:57:00 AM

When I was a kid I also used skunk scent as a cover scent. The first few times out for the year the smell would make me sick to my stomach, but as the season continued you got used to it. To this day whenever I smell a skunk it brings me back to those early days.

waknstak IL · November 15, 2011, 03:04:00 AM

One of the areas I hunt frequently has a ton of skunks. I have had several close calls with them. Every time I sit out in the milo in my ghillie it makes me nervous.

Sixby · November 15, 2011, 03:34:00 AM

I know a lady that hand catches skunks and raises baby skunks and has them de scented to sell. She has done it for many years and says she has only been sprayed a couple of times when she first started doing it. Crazy but true,. I guess even the wild ones tame really easy. She does wear leather gloves to keep from being bit. The big welding gloves.
The only time I have ever personally had a problem was a dog that kept getting sprayed and a son that decided to use one for bow practice. It sprayed all over the place when he shot it. He got to ride home in the back of the truck LOL.

God bless you all, Steve

Looper · November 15, 2011, 04:15:00 AM

All I know is that I never want to get sprayed again. I was 2 hours from home when I got it good from about 10 feet. I stripped down to my drawers, threw my clothes in the bed of the truck, and drove home. I almost made it, but had to stop for fuel. I'll never forget the moment when I realized my predicament. Picture this, now. It was 7:30 in the morning, freezing cold, I was wearing nothing but my underwear, my boots and my hat, and my face was painted up. This was before the pay at the pump, so I had to go inside to pay. The gas station guy wouldn't come out to take my money, and when I went inside, I got cussed out for stinking up the place. It was not a good start to the day. Dang a skunk.

buckracks7 · November 15, 2011, 05:37:00 AM

Good story looper. I thought stuff like that only happened to me.