Hunting/Revenge----Part 1, 2, 3, + New Photos

[ajfishfinder]

So we were gone all weekend on a scout camp out and come home sunday afternoon to find 3 of our chickens dead. One is completly eaten except for the wings and feet. The other 2 are still in the hen house with their heads missing and lots of feathers all over inside and outside of their house. I am bummed because this will really cut into the egg sales and one of them was only 3 months old. We have had this happen before but always sort of figured natures critters need to eat also.

Monday morning all is fine so I figure whatever is was had its fill of chicken.

Nope not so fast. I walk out there tuesday morning and find another dead chicken that something has tried to pull through a chain link gate. They gave up and ate about 1/2 the meal and left. I walk out to the hen house and see a trail of feathers heading the opposite direction. I follow the trail and find where the killer has drug a chicken under another gate and polished off another entire chicken. Nothing left except feet and wings. I am thinking I might need to take some sort of action now. I walk back to the hen house and inside I find 4 more dead chickens. Now I am just a little bit PO'ed. This is a total of 9 hens in 3 days so I decide I better wage war.

After calling a few people I give up and head to the store for a baby monitor. This goes inside the hen house. Then I remove the driveway monitor/buzzer and set it up just outside the hen house entrance. I charged up the handheld spotlight and the barrel mounted spotlight and drag out a shotgun.

We are still watching TV around 10:30 when the motion sensor starts dinging. I toss on some shoes, grab the gun and head out just in time to watch a small skunk climb in the hens entrance door. I reach inside and turn on the lights and there is no skunk to be seen. The floor is concrete and the walls are aluminum with one chicken door and 2 regular doors and nothing has come out. So as I get braver I poke a 8 foot garden stake under the nest boxes and sure enough that little stinker is holed up under there. I spent the next 15 minutes poking and jabbing with a sharp stick trying to get the thing out where I might get a shot at it. Of course as I am poking and jabbing it is busy spaying all over inder the hens nest boxes and because of the way the breeze is blowing I don't notice until it is really foul. I contemplate running back inside for a 22 with bird shot instead of a shotgun, but don't want to leave fearing it would escape while I am gone. So I just step back and am trying to think of how I can get it to come out, when here it comes walking straight for the door and me. I backed up and waited for an open shot and proceed to deliver bad news. Of course the slight breeze is blowing right for the house with most of the windows open. Run inside to close windows only to be scolded by the wife that is now burried under the covers and coughing from the stench. For those that have never been up-close and personal with a skunk, the smell is a whole lot more powerful than when you pass one smashed on the pavement. I have had friends and neighbors that get phisically (throwing up) sick from it.

Finally hit the sack about 11:30 only to be startled back awake at 2:15 by the motion sensor going off again and the dog barking. This time it is like a circus throwing on some clothes, grab the shotgun, grab the spotlight, grab the battery for the barrel mounted light, load the shotgun on the way out the door then light up the hen house door area and nothing but silence. I turned on the light and all the hens seem to be sleeping peacfully, except for those that were to scared to come in earlier after the earlier episode and are now roosting on the fence and in the trees.
Well I had a sneeky feeling that this was more carnage than one little skunk could do by itself so I had stratigically places several traps out by where the eaten hen had been drug under the fence. So I was not really surprised to hear the chain link rattling. I walk down to the end out the pasture and sure enough there in one of the traps is a giant fat raccoon. So I proceed to deliver some more bad news and then returned to bed.

4:15am I am once again brought to life by the motion sensor ringing on the headboard and the dark instantly coming to life. Same circus getting clothes on and grabbing the gun and out the door. The culprit this time was one of the area cats. Now I know what your thinking, but hey it is against the law to kill a cat, so this one made a hasty retreat with me hissing at it while staring down the shotgun bead. Perhaps it learned something when it had to slide under the gate and walk right over the top of the dead raccoon.

With any luck this will be the end of the night time excitement, the only problem is that this coon was a big old momma and I am sure dad and a pile of kids are probably still hungry. Guess I will keep the driveway buzzer in the henhouse for a few more night and see what happens.

Oh, I also had to make room in the freexer for the big fat coon. Some time in the future it will become a mantle piece that will have a good story to go along with it.

[earlybird007]

I had major problems with coon when I had chickens. The solution?.....

Chicken wire under the ground attached to a buried pressure treated 2x12, and wire completely over the chicken coop.

Never lost another chicken

[latesvak]

OH MY this one had me rolling . what a great story . and sorry to hear bout the chicken ......



luke

[James in Idaho]

Bet the skunk was after eggs, you might try a live trap baited with eggs or tuna. The coons and cats are most likely the killers, and why is it illegal to shoot a cat eating your chickens? Sounds like a fun night!!!

[Rusty]

Hey AJ!

Should have set out a Have a Heart Trap and release them back into the wild. You know how I hate to see poor little creatures killed! You are a big bully! LOL!!

OK...just kidding Brian. Give em a whack for me!

Rusty

[ajfishfinder]

I think the buzzards are going to polish off all the dead chickens before the coyotes get to them tonight. 6 of them are working them over right now.

[hunter97051]

Did you recognize the cat??? If so contact the owner and let them know what the cats misfortune will be if it returns... If not shoot the dang thing and bury it under a tree... fertilizer!!!! It is not against the law to kill animals if they are killing farm type animals or damaging crops. Hope you can get in there to retrieve the eggs you might need to burn the hen house down and rebuild....

[ehunter]

Great story I have been sprayed so I know what you mean and we had a raccoon going after our chickens once we shot it after we got closer it had a collar on it we never did find out who might have owned it. Of course this was back in the days when stuff was after your live stock you shot it and asked questions later.. I think people were required to be responsible for their own animals. You know when common sense ruled any way great story...thanks for the laughs

[Erich_870]

Good story and good hunting, but I have one question... Why aren't you shutting your hen house door at night?!

You'll continue to loose birds or become an insomniac when you could just prevent the varmints from getting in at night.

Just a thought

Erich

[ajfishfinder]

In 8 years this is only the second time a varmint has actually gone inside the hen house. The last time was 3 years ago and the culptit also got the hot lead shampoo.. If I had a remote control or daylight sensor on the door I would love to open and close it every night and every morning. The reality is we are just too darn lazy to walk out there and open and close it. These are about the most spoiled chickens that I know of. They have free range of about 3/4 of an acre and go in and out as they please. I just hate to not have them out early when they wake up 2 or more hours before we do.

[Fried Oyster]

Good story.

[Hunt'nFish]

Originally Posted by latesvak

OH MY this one had me rolling . what a great story . and sorry to hear bout the chicken ......
luke

My eyes are watering just thinking of the stench!
Oh man do I have soem skunk stories for you guys!! (I think this deserves a thread all it's own.)
Glad you counted coup on the little theif.
Hunt'nFish

[Cliff D.]

Seems like an especially bad skunk year around my place. My sons lab pup found out about them the hard way !! Unfortunatly it was right outside my bedroom window. the instant he got sprayed it woke me !! The boy was none too pleased when he got home either.

[sandman]

Originally Posted by Cliff D.

Seems like an especially bad skunk year around my place. My sons lab pup found out about them the hard way !! Unfortunatly it was right outside my bedroom window. the instant he got sprayed it woke me !! The boy was none too pleased when he got home either.

Brian.Talk to your taxidermist and make sure the hide is still good this time of year.Mine told me they look good but when they get tanned all the hair falls out

PS,Good story

[ajfishfinder]

So the next couple of nights have been all quiet except for a darn cat that has learned to run when I sneak out the door. Guess I should have taken care of that problem when I had the chance.

The wife keeps asking if I am going to turn it (motion sensor) on again tonight and I just feel the need to. I figure that fat coon momma has at least a couple of babies, not to mention the mister still out roaming for a warm chicken dinner.

So last night around 2---3---4---I can't really remember because I was dead to the world, when out of a sound snooze the motion sensor wakes me. I jump into some sweats and slippers, grab the shotgun and sneak out the door ready for action. The small gel battery that powers the spotlight weighs a few pounds and stuffed into the pocket of my sweats it is pulling them down like a kid from N.E. PDX wears his pants. If I said "plumbers crack" you should get the idea. I get out to the hen house and all is quiet. I am just about to step in the door and flip on the lights when out of the hens door steps a skunk. Now this has got to be a brand spanking new skunk because I have never seen one this small before. I am talking chipmunk size, but still nothing to mess with. It wanders around the chickens small fenced yard then starts heading my way. As soon as it cleared my motion sensor I deliver the number 4 hot lead shampoo that literally rocks his world tossing it at least 5 feet and plastering it up against the fencing. I clear my eyes, pull up my sweats and head back to bed.

So an hour or 2 later rolls around, yep you guessed it the motion sensor goes off again waking me from a dead sleep. This time I am a bit slower climbing out of bed and making my way outside. Scan the area and the little stinker that was hugging the fence is now laying out in front of the hens yard. I do some head scratching wondering how it has peeled itself from the fence and made its way about 10 feet out of the fenced yard??? There is no way it could have survived the hot lead shampoo??? I poke my head inside and all the hens are still asleep on the roost. I wander down past the garden to the raccoons final resting place and sure enough, there is another tiny little skunk stuck in 2 of the 3 traps I have laid out. Yep, this one also got the bad news via special delivery from the trusty 870. Stay tuned for more of the story as it may or may not progress tonight.

The best part about ridding the earth of these 2 little stinkers is that neither one of them had the chance to pollute the air or me.

[Bull7x6]

I feel your pain!

My neighbor has chickens and keeps us supplied with fresh eggs...most of the time. Last spring and summer I had to set my traps to stop the carnage. Wound up catching 4 small to medium raccoons. This year I picked up a really big live trap and managed to catch one of the biggest coons I have ever seen. It's since been relocated...to my freezer too.

No more chickens have been killed at this time. Hopefully it was the brooder for this area.........(riiigggghht)
Keep up the good work!

[ajfishfinder]

Last night was relatively calm. I baited up the area of the 3 leg traps with some fresh BBQ'ed springer skin and another piece inside the live trap. About 9:30 the motion sensor went off. Sneak out there just in time to watch another baby skunk crawl under the henhouse. The hen house is on a concrete slab but I have/had a digger squirrel doing it's best to build a home under there. He just keeps digging out the gravel to enlarge his living area. So I am pretty sure the little stinker has joined him for a snack. I waited about 15 minutes for him to come back out but he would just not get out far enough for the bad news. I grabbed the live trap from the other end of the pasture and put it real close to where he is going under the hen house. I figured there was no chance that any critter could resist fresh bbq'ed springer skin just dripping with flavor and scent. I was correct because he is in the trap being ridiculed by all the hens this morning.

Now for the results of the leg traps. The triggers were baited with juicy springer salmon fat and a nice piece of skin was laid right in the middle of the 3 traps. Whatever ate here, has some nimble fingers and probably large hardware because they got away with every single crumb without even springing a trap. All 3 of the triggers were dripping with salmon juice and this morning they are cleaned off.

Stay tuned for more of the story as it develops nightly.

[98ramtough]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take pictures of all this! This is the best thread ever!

[ajfishfinder]

Here is the hen house.



Here is last night's visitor from afar.



Here it is close up. Ah, isn't it cute???



What a ferocious beast. It looks pretty massive when you hold the camera right up to the cage.



The gate they seem to be entering under.



The gaunlet they need to pass by. Keep in mind that this was dripping with fresh bbq'ed springer skin and a few scraps. Somehow they or their raccoon friends cleaned up every single drop without getting the cold steel surprise.



I spared you the photos of the hot lead shampoo. No need to upset the squeemish.

Stay tuned for updates as they happen nightly.

[sandman]

I want to see a pic of you getting up at 2am!

[HOGGEMIN]

this is a awesome thread though I wish your chickens were spared.

[ajfishfinder]

Well a bit of left over greasy fried chicken is up for grabs tonight. I have the live trap baited up with a nice juicy thigh. I also hung the skin off it about 20" off the ground in the chainlink right above the traps. Hope to have some more pics tomorrow.

[earlybird007]

From the looks of that last picture.....you've never trapped before have you?

>>>------->

[ajfishfinder]

Not seriously, but with greasy fried chicken skin hanging 20" above these, I figured I would catch something. It has worked the 2 previous nights but now the tall grass is trampled down. This morning one of the 3 was sprung but nothing to show for it.

[Beamerfish]

Originally Posted by sandman

I want to see a pic of you getting up at 2am!

Dude, nobody wants to see that.

[sandman]

It would be kinda cool to have a full-body mount skunk!

[Birdnut]

Originally Posted by sandman

It would be kinda cool to have a full-body mount skunk!

Boy could you have fun with one of those

[huntinfool]

Curious to know if the skunk sprayed when head shot?

[ajfishfinder]

All was calm last night. They must be getting wise to my trapping technique because I don't know how they can resist a nice greasy piece of fried chicken???

Of the 40 to 50 skunks myself or my son have head shot, I have only been sprayed one time. This one was in the live trap and my son had agitated it prior to me getting out there with a gun. It got me on one leg and foot. The slippers were thrown away and the sweat pants lived outside in the rain for a week or 2 before being washed about 3-4 times before they were allowed back in the house. The trick is to approach slow and calm then insert the barrel thru the wire. When they come over to check it out and sniff the end of the barrel---lights out!! They will leak on the ground a bit and once in a whlie you will get one that does the spazz, but they do not have the musle control to squirt. I used to drag the cage to the far corner of the property and judge the breeze but now I just pick up the whole trap and carry it where I need to go.

I seriously thought about keeping all the babies for mounting. I think it would make a neat mount to have a big fat mom with a bunch of babies, but the buzzards were still hungry so they got to enjoy them.

[ajfishfinder]

Add one more medium size skunk to the list. This one finally fell for the greasy chicken thigh in the live trap. The buzzards are already tearing into it and should have it cleaned up in a couple of hours. They sure seem to enjoy the fresh skunk meat.

[Capin' Dan]

Use tin foil on your trap primer's If it is a curious animal they will trip it. Racoons can't lay off of them.

[Charlie Storey]

I love this thread. Hunting season never closes.