Duke's DP trap modification / Skunkproofing

[quigley257]

I asked this question in the "I caught a raccoon & another & another" thread but figured I would ask in a separate thread to see if anyone has any ideas. Yesterday I caught a skunk in one of my Duke's DP style traps. Fortunately I was able to dispatch with a .22 head shot without it spraying. Still, they are stinky beasts to deal with. I got to thinking about how to make the traps more critter specific. I have only ever caught coons, possums, and skunks in the DP style traps. Basic pest anatomy suggests that if a person were to lengthen or put an extension on the top of the trap where they reach in to get the bait you could decrease or eliminate the possibility of ever catching a skunk. Coons have much longer, more nimble forearms than skunks do. I'm thinking a 6" or 8" tube of steel or PVC to make them have to reach almost to their armpits to activate the trap. Has anyone done this before? Thoughts?

I prefer to shoot skunks instead of having to deal with them stuck in a trap.