Talk to just about any trapper and ask him or her what their favorite animal is to trap. Nine times out of 10 you will not hear the word skunk. Most trappers will target high-dollar animals, such as coyotes or bobcats. Others will go after raccoons to help the groundnesting birds. Some might go after the beavers and muskrats causing damage to the water systems. Rarely skunks though. For those of you who avoid skunks like the plague, you are missing out on a highdollar item.
Skunk pelts alone might be worth $10 or so for the absolute best. But when you add in the value of skunk essence combined with the pelt, you are talking about a surprisingly good price.
Skunks are stinky critters that I once was aggravated to see in my traps. But with fur prices at what they are today, it is an added bonus to see these striped animals in my traps. Not only am I getting paid for their glossy black fur with its telltale white stripe, but also for their essence.
Skunks are a nocturnal animal, roaming their territory at night and
