Praire Dog Hunting Why do you shoot them?
- Thread starter markT
- Start date
Because it is the most efficient way to get good at shooting long range in different wind conditions there is. I never have to go down-range and re-paint, and I can pick the wind angle I want to work on simply by rotating my table, usually.
I don't have anything against the "rats" themselves -- they are just ground squirrels trying to make a living. In seeing many thousands shot I have never seen them "cannibalize" the dead ones. I have seen them get very concerned over a shot one, and come in to investigate, maybe try to drag a mate to the safety of the hole, but never to eat one another. They are vegetarians. But they are likely to get wiped out by the plague sooner or later, regardless of whether I use them for target practice or not. And if they are harming farm land the farmer certainly has the right to eliminate them.
However, there is no need to unnecessarily accelerate elimination generally, and anyone who treats them as something needing eradication from the planet is a fool working to eliminate the best long range practice there is. If you can't refrain from shooting the very close ones you probably aren't going to get invited back by me. Far better to shoot them as good targets when you relocate, or save them for breeding.
To me it is very sad to shoot a big, thriving town for years and then come back ater a few months absence and see that every, single one of them has been killed, either by plague or poisoning, or perhaps even by shooting pressure. I could certainly eliminate an entire, isolated town in a few days of work if I put my mind to it. Why work to eliminate such great targets? They are disappearing from many areas as it is.
I don't have anything against the "rats" themselves -- they are just ground squirrels trying to make a living. In seeing many thousands shot I have never seen them "cannibalize" the dead ones. I have seen them get very concerned over a shot one, and come in to investigate, maybe try to drag a mate to the safety of the hole, but never to eat one another. They are vegetarians. But they are likely to get wiped out by the plague sooner or later, regardless of whether I use them for target practice or not. And if they are harming farm land the farmer certainly has the right to eliminate them.
However, there is no need to unnecessarily accelerate elimination generally, and anyone who treats them as something needing eradication from the planet is a fool working to eliminate the best long range practice there is. If you can't refrain from shooting the very close ones you probably aren't going to get invited back by me. Far better to shoot them as good targets when you relocate, or save them for breeding.
To me it is very sad to shoot a big, thriving town for years and then come back ater a few months absence and see that every, single one of them has been killed, either by plague or poisoning, or perhaps even by shooting pressure. I could certainly eliminate an entire, isolated town in a few days of work if I put my mind to it. Why work to eliminate such great targets? They are disappearing from many areas as it is.
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Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Shot a great ranch a few years ago, apparently didn't kill enough. A little spring rain, ranch manager thought there would be good haying. Poisoning started to protect the hay plans. Hoping this year a good shoot will be possible again.
The vegetarian thing simply isn’t so. I’ve witnessed prairie dog cannibalism many, many times. Mama eating her pup’s leg, pup eating Mama’s foot. Matter of fact (depending on environmental conditions) approximately 40% of prairie dog pups die by infanticide. When times get tough the babies turn into dinner.
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bobm
Silver $$ Contributor
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That is interesting, but I don't know what goes on in the burrows. I said I have never seen them eat the dead ones. The coyotes, owls, hawks, eagles, snakes, weasles and badgers sure do.
And while I have watched little ones come out in the spring I have never seen them get attacked by any adult p-dog. That doesn't mean it never happens, but it does tell me it does not happen often, at least above ground, or I would have seen it at least once.
And while I have watched little ones come out in the spring I have never seen them get attacked by any adult p-dog. That doesn't mean it never happens, but it does tell me it does not happen often, at least above ground, or I would have seen it at least once.
I know it probably seems like we’re piling on. Here’s the thing: prairie dogs feasting on dead carcasses is so common that I think the rest of us are amazed that you’ve never witnessed it. They do it above ground in plain sight. Sometimes in a matter of seconds after one has been zapped. Parent eating the baby or baby eating the parent. They are rodents, after all, and are opportunistic feeders.
BS. I spend a week in the spring and a week in the fall shooting and watching p-dogs from early morning to sundown. If it were at all common for them to eat the dead I would have seen it at least once. And, hearing all you yeti-spotters talking about it I have watched for it for years, keeping careful track of my dead ones. It never happens, period. The dead bodies do not ever get touched by another p-dog. They never disappear when I am looking away.
But of course, you're also the clown who once said there is never any mirage on the prairie because the wind blows too hard, which is also ridiculous to anyone who has spent any actual time out there. Sure, there are wind days, but there are just as many days when it is calm or certainly calm enough that I am reading mirage with every shot if the sun is beating down.
I think we have some guys here who are living in mom's basement and pretending to be big p-dog shooters, when you have never even done it.
But of course, you're also the clown who once said there is never any mirage on the prairie because the wind blows too hard, which is also ridiculous to anyone who has spent any actual time out there. Sure, there are wind days, but there are just as many days when it is calm or certainly calm enough that I am reading mirage with every shot if the sun is beating down.
I think we have some guys here who are living in mom's basement and pretending to be big p-dog shooters, when you have never even done it.
ONE guy says he never saw it guys!!!! So it must be true. Orrrrr....
Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
I've been shooting ground squirrels for all my adult life (73 yrs old). In that time, I've witnessed this cannibalism of ground squirrels the entire time, eating wounded and/or dead rats.
I've also seen this with PD's, but not as often. But it DOES happen, seen it myself. Just because you have not seen something, doesn't mean it does not exist.
Oh, and I DO NOT live in mom's basement!
Matter of fact, I'm staging gear right now for a full week in the rat patch. Maybe I'll witness more squirrel cannibalism that never happens! 
I've also seen this with PD's, but not as often. But it DOES happen, seen it myself. Just because you have not seen something, doesn't mean it does not exist.
Oh, and I DO NOT live in mom's basement!
Matter of fact, I'm staging gear right now for a full week in the rat patch. Maybe I'll witness more squirrel cannibalism that never happens! 
Stork and others are SPOT ON.....Cannibalize....ABSOLUTELY
We see it every year during the week we spend in North Dakota.
We average around a 1000 dogs shot during that time.
Fun to shoot them while they are snacking on their "buddy"..
They usually don't snack for long.....LOL
Just as there are psychopathic humans there are probably sick p-dogs. Or rabid ones. I didn't say no one has ever seen it, I said if it were at all common I would have seen it.
Some of you guys obviously need much better scopes. I have hundreds of times seen p-dogs run over and sniff the one that just got blown to pieces, but they are merely trying to figure out "what is wrong with Fred -- he was fine just a minute ago." Never once have I seen one "nibble" on the dearly departed, or lap up blood.
I guess it is just too much fun to live in a fantasy world of demon targets!
Some of you guys obviously need much better scopes. I have hundreds of times seen p-dogs run over and sniff the one that just got blown to pieces, but they are merely trying to figure out "what is wrong with Fred -- he was fine just a minute ago." Never once have I seen one "nibble" on the dearly departed, or lap up blood.
I guess it is just too much fun to live in a fantasy world of demon targets!
GENTLEMEN. Can we get back to praire dogs and why you shoot them?
Not “rats” (ground squirrels) not whether they cannibalize, etc, etc.
Ever heard the expression “same fleas different dog?” Applies...
Maybe something like this: I enjoy a first timer and the expression on your their face when they see "red mist" for the first time. I like to hear experienced shooters say things like “ that’s a prairie rose.”
Not “rats” (ground squirrels) not whether they cannibalize, etc, etc.
Ever heard the expression “same fleas different dog?” Applies...
Maybe something like this: I enjoy a first timer and the expression on your their face when they see "red mist" for the first time. I like to hear experienced shooters say things like “ that’s a prairie rose.”
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