DIY Prairie Dog Hunt

[spencerhenry]

I don't get out for prairie dogs all that often. But, if I was not killing 100 a day I would think it was ok, but not great.
I flew my kit plane up to wyoming last year on july 1, landed on a dirt road and set up camp. Within 30 yards of the plane I shot one with my pistol. A buddy drove up in his car, so we had wheels. Within 2 miles of camp, I shot 76 and he shot 39. I thought that was an ok day.
It didn't look all that great for prairie dogs, but the numbers add up. Shoot 15 or 20 and move a quarter mile and do it again.

 

[Damon555]

I don't get out for prairie dogs all that often. But, if I was not killing 100 a day I would think it was ok, but not great.
I flew my kit plane up to wyoming last year on july 1, landed on a dirt road and set up camp. Within 30 yards of the plane I shot one with my pistol. A buddy drove up in his car, so we had wheels. Within 2 miles of camp, I shot 76 and he shot 39. I thought that was an ok day.
It didn't look all that great for prairie dogs, but the numbers add up. Shoot 15 or 20 and move a quarter mile and do it again.

I agree with you......for me it's not as much about volume as it is about just being there. I grew up on the prairie and miss it dearly living here in the SE. It's almost zen-like for me just to take it all in....Where we go there are a few herds of wild horses and to see them crest a hill and run like hell back over the horizon for what apparently is just for fun makes it all worthwhile. Not to mention the buffalo, burrowing owls, beautiful prairie flowers and buttes. It's a much more rustic part of the country. I can't imagine how brutal it was to be an early pioneer in those areas. Modern conveniences certainly make it much more appealing to visit in these modern times.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

It's a much more rustic part of the country. I can't imagine how brutal it was to be an early pioneer in those areas. Modern conveniences certainly make it much more appealing to visit in these modern times.

Funny you should mention that exact thing, as last week my wife and I had that conversation while traveling across eastern Orygun. We live smack dab right on the Old Oregon Trail, and many times we've pondered just how rough it must have been traveling in a wagon, horse or on foot across the open western desert....sagebrush, junipers, lava rock, snakes all there to impede progress.

One thing for certain, those folks were a mite tougher than the snowflakes coming up through the ranks now.

But to be OT.....the weather is crap at present here, but as soon as it breaks, there's rifles and lots of ammo staged just waiting to get out and warm up those barrels! Oh how I love living here!

 

[CT10ring]

I agree with you......for me it's not as much about volume as it is about just being there. I grew up on the prairie and miss it dearly living here in the SE. It's almost zen-like for me just to take it all in....Where we go there are a few herds of wild horses and to see them crest a hill and run like hell back over the horizon for what apparently is just for fun makes it all worthwhile. Not to mention the buffalo, burrowing owls, beautiful prairie flowers and buttes. It's a much more rustic part of the country. I can't imagine how brutal it was to be an early pioneer in those areas. Modern conveniences certainly make it much more appealing to visit in these modern times.

I'm with you on no need for high volume PD shooting. I'm glad just to be out west-it's awesome & rugged open country. Most days I hike a few miles thru towns w/ only 100 rounds in a backback, rifle, bipod & mat. After I shoot that, I'm done. If I really want to keep shooting, break out the .22 at my camp.

 

[Randall Hardy]

The first couple years we went to south dakota with guides, were asked by rancher to come back on our own. Has been our destination for last five years. One of those years we stayed in Murdo sd and hunted south in white river area, guides name was Chris, he put us on some great shooting. Sorry I cant remember his last name. Old age thing I think.
Be careful what started with matts and bipods has grown to toy haulers, quads, and sizable investments in rifles etc. Very addicting

 

[DHuffman]

There is decent PD shooting where I live but to have consistent targets it's a 400+ yards deal.

 

[Damon555]

Be careful what started with matts and bipods has grown to toy haulers, quads, and sizable investments in rifles etc. Very addicting

Truer words have never been typed!

 

[amboy49]

I live and shoot in SE Colorado and we have had the plague move through here the last 2 years and I have lost a few towns to it. I still have a few towns to shoot (I hope) and if we get some moisture this year they can come back in a year or 2. A friend up in NE Colorado said the dogs were still good up there as far as he could tell. Another friend up north goes across the border to some Indian reservations and does well up there. Hope you find some good shooting wherever you go!

Two years ago a friend and I traveled from the Midwest to Northeast Colorado for an archery antelope hunt. The hunt occurred as a result of starting a thread on an entirely different forum than here and we got a surprising but great response from a very generous rancher who offered o let us come out to his ranch and hunt for free. Turns out the antelope hunting was poor but the prairie dog population was booming. My friend and I didn’t work too hard at it but we probably shot over a hundred dogs.

Last year was our second year to go out and the antelope population was even scarcer but the prairie dogs had apparently been busy making little prairie dogs . This time we were a little better prepared and brought different rifles and more ammo. There were three of us this time and we easily killed a hundred dogs each over intermittent shooting throughout the week.

We’re going back again this year and although antelope season will be open we will be concentrating on helping to reduce the dog populations.