The mid-October snow was spitting from the leaden sky. The previous afternoon I had set out the first trapline of the fall, hoping that a predicted snowstorm would leave my home area alone. No dice. As I parked my truck to check to the second portion of the line, the smell hit me. Lightly wafting up from a dry creek bed was the smell of Mephitis mephitis, the striped skunk.
Most skunks are incidental catches for trappers, and unless they are prepared for dealing with them, result in a stinky skunk and trapper. For that reason, skunks are rarely targeted, and when caught, are cursed by the trapper. That is a shame, as skunk fur is beautiful and has value.
I tan all of the fur that I catch and craft it into hats, mittens, scarves and headbands. Demand stays consistent for my mainstays of beaver, raccoon and coyote, but it pales in comparison to skunk. I barely have a chance to tan the striped fur before crafting it into a garment. Each time I wear my
