Jeff, (in my best professor from Rodney Dangerfield's "Back to School" movie voice) I like the way you think!
That story reminds me of my exciting adventures in nighttime varmint dessimation at the bequest of my wife and daughters due to the ever present threat of catfood stealing varmints on our back deck inches from our sliding glass door! It always starts with a scream from my youngest daughter followed by a "dad get your gun". This is followed by me loading up the 12 ga pump w/ cobbed on mag light and heading out the front door whilst my wife and or daughters prepare to turn on the back light and jiggle the door after seeeing my flashlight signal on the tree out back.
When possum and raccoons are the offending varmints the end comes quickly w/ the daughters often coming out to deliver the MardiGras finishing touch. Now the skunks, they sometimes prove to be worthy adversaries as they must be carefully stalked around the house and bushes until they can be coaxed to make a
run for the road (that conveniently has a deep ditch on the other side of it). Once they cross the road, a well placed 12 ga blast often will propel them thru the air to their eternal watery grave thus eliminating the vile job of carcass disposal! Oh the joys of living in a rural area!