I am new to the forum and will be going on my first PD hunt in September. I have done alot of deer hunting, upland game and waterfowl but never PD. I have 2 rifles to choose from in my gun cabinet the first is a Remington model 700 VLS in .223 with 26 inch heavy barrel and a 6.5 - 20 scope the other is a Savage in .22-.250 with a 26 inch stainless fluted barrel redfield scope 6-18 variable scope. I reload for both rifles and have gotten good results with the .223 using a 50gr hp flat based bullet and 60gr hp in the .22-250. My question is what other equipment will I need for the hunt. I have some time as the hunt is not until September but ay advice would be welcomed. Thanks
First Prairie Dog Hunt Advice
- Thread starter titegroup
- Start date
Nodak7mm
Team Lefse
Always a good question that crops up at this time of yr, one that gets us all to thinking again.
My list will be in no specific order as I am winging from my office during lunch.
* Water, water. & water. Stay hydrated. A PowerAid or Gatoraid is a good drink for the day.
* Toilet paper.
* Babywipes for a quick clean.
* Advil or Tylenol..
* Sunscreen & something to protect the back of your neck.
* Bug dope.
* Small first aid kit.
* Shooting mat, one from Midway is a great deal.
* Hearing protection.
* Small daypak or backpak to carry your stuff.
* Small notebook to write ideas and stuff you forgot or wish to have next time.
* Rifle rest or harris bipod.
* Camera.
* Binocs, I have a hi pwr set of astronomy binocs on a tripod for spotting. Alot easier on the eyes.
* Small Toolkit, duct tape.
* Gloves.
* Knee & Elbow pads..
* Granola bars or similar.
* Book to read while taking a break.
Alot depends on your style of shooting: All from bench 10' from the truck or walk and stock for miles by yourself? Other things to consider. Remote location? let someone know where your at & when to expect back. Cell Phone coverage? Enough gas?
I always laugh when I seefolks head out in T-shirt, shorts & tennis shoes.... If you ever find a place that comfy for shooting, let me know.. Consider your terrain and environment..
Gun & Shooting/cleaning stuff. Well thats your call...
I generally have the above stuff with me..
Rod
My list will be in no specific order as I am winging from my office during lunch.
* Water, water. & water. Stay hydrated. A PowerAid or Gatoraid is a good drink for the day.
* Toilet paper.
* Babywipes for a quick clean.
* Advil or Tylenol..
* Sunscreen & something to protect the back of your neck.
* Bug dope.
* Small first aid kit.
* Shooting mat, one from Midway is a great deal.
* Hearing protection.
* Small daypak or backpak to carry your stuff.
* Small notebook to write ideas and stuff you forgot or wish to have next time.
* Rifle rest or harris bipod.
* Camera.
* Binocs, I have a hi pwr set of astronomy binocs on a tripod for spotting. Alot easier on the eyes.
* Small Toolkit, duct tape.
* Gloves.
* Knee & Elbow pads..
* Granola bars or similar.
* Book to read while taking a break.
Alot depends on your style of shooting: All from bench 10' from the truck or walk and stock for miles by yourself? Other things to consider. Remote location? let someone know where your at & when to expect back. Cell Phone coverage? Enough gas?
I always laugh when I seefolks head out in T-shirt, shorts & tennis shoes.... If you ever find a place that comfy for shooting, let me know.. Consider your terrain and environment..
Gun & Shooting/cleaning stuff. Well thats your call...
I generally have the above stuff with me..
Rod
Hi Remtrap,
You will need a good shooting table, I prefer one that swivels 360 degrees. If you can't afford one Sam's and Costco have 6foot folding table it works ok, but you will need to adjust chair height to fit. Depending where you are going you may consider an umbrella to keep the sun off you. We hunt West Texas and Oklahoma and there are lots of rattle snakes around the pd burrows. Might consider snake shot in some form, 38 or 410? In September the dogs will have been shot at which may result in longer shots, be prepared to shoot 300+ yards. Lots of ammo, cleaning gear, toilet paper, sunscreen, bug repellent, water to drink and possibly cool down barrels. A wind gauge may be useful, a range finder may be useless depending where you go. Bring both rifles(223,22-250) and a 22 or 17 if you have one for close shots. Oh one more thing, if it very hot where you are going do not load maximum loads, stay under about a grain or more, the heat will raise pressure of your loads and you may have issues with your ammo and rifles. I had that problem with a Savage 22-250 had to beat the bolt open with a hammer, ejector and extractor were toast and I had to put the rifle away(about 115 degrees outside that day). Good luck, have a great hunt.
You will need a good shooting table, I prefer one that swivels 360 degrees. If you can't afford one Sam's and Costco have 6foot folding table it works ok, but you will need to adjust chair height to fit. Depending where you are going you may consider an umbrella to keep the sun off you. We hunt West Texas and Oklahoma and there are lots of rattle snakes around the pd burrows. Might consider snake shot in some form, 38 or 410? In September the dogs will have been shot at which may result in longer shots, be prepared to shoot 300+ yards. Lots of ammo, cleaning gear, toilet paper, sunscreen, bug repellent, water to drink and possibly cool down barrels. A wind gauge may be useful, a range finder may be useless depending where you go. Bring both rifles(223,22-250) and a 22 or 17 if you have one for close shots. Oh one more thing, if it very hot where you are going do not load maximum loads, stay under about a grain or more, the heat will raise pressure of your loads and you may have issues with your ammo and rifles. I had that problem with a Savage 22-250 had to beat the bolt open with a hammer, ejector and extractor were toast and I had to put the rifle away(about 115 degrees outside that day). Good luck, have a great hunt.
All good advice, i will add, a good chair, cooler with food for lunch and drinkl
if there is a lot of heat get youself a couple of neck gators, the kind you soak in cold water and then put around your neck, great for keeping temp down
get hearing protectors that allow a hat, keep your head, neck facecovered,
you gun/ammo sellection is great, suggest zero of 200 on 223 and 300 on 22-250, get a stoney point turrent knob for the elevation knob, print out a trejectory adjustment for distances from zero
Bob
if there is a lot of heat get youself a couple of neck gators, the kind you soak in cold water and then put around your neck, great for keeping temp down
get hearing protectors that allow a hat, keep your head, neck facecovered,
you gun/ammo sellection is great, suggest zero of 200 on 223 and 300 on 22-250, get a stoney point turrent knob for the elevation knob, print out a trejectory adjustment for distances from zero
Bob
I have hunted PD in North Dakota for four years now. I find that the best spots are the ones you have to walk to. I noticed that when you shoot over a town that is right next to the road, once the shooting starts they head down and when they see you most head down and dont come up for a long time.
Some of the towns that I have discovered walking were not really big but you sure got a lot of shooting.
For this kind of hunting you really need to be in great physical shape, and then your limited in what you can carry. I carry a ground pad, water, sunscreen and cleaning equipment. I shoot in a prone position becuause you have a lower profile. With this way of hunting I can usually get into places that offer great shooting with even my 22K Hornet.
Greg
Some of the towns that I have discovered walking were not really big but you sure got a lot of shooting.
For this kind of hunting you really need to be in great physical shape, and then your limited in what you can carry. I carry a ground pad, water, sunscreen and cleaning equipment. I shoot in a prone position becuause you have a lower profile. With this way of hunting I can usually get into places that offer great shooting with even my 22K Hornet.
Greg
Martin -
They weren't like a cement shooting bench but they were not too bad. When a strong wind came up I could feel my whole body, and in turn, the bench move. The reason I like the 3-legged variety is you can level it on any surface. The land out there can be pretty uneven!!
The legs for the table in the picture (3/4 ply) are, I believe, 1/2" inside either a 3/4" or 1". Not sure but I think it's a 1".
The last 3 pictures are for a table twice as thick and I wanted stiffer legs. The outside are 1-1/4" and I think the inside are 1". Used a quick release pin this time. Too much machining with the toggle clamp method, especially when the mill is someone else's.
Showing adjustment notches -
Toggle clamp -
Toggle clamp engaged in notch -
Pipe cap turned down to reduce slop on the inside -
All the notches -
5/16" quick release pin -
Staggered adjustment holes -
Not enough room for a turned down pipe cap so I made an aluminum plug -
When I first put the larger table together, there was too much slop in the legs. So I added the aluminum plug. I've been waiting for machine access to finish the other 2. Maybe this weekend. I'll see if I need to make any more "adjustments".
I used a folding captain's chair and my son used the cooler for a seat.
They weren't like a cement shooting bench but they were not too bad. When a strong wind came up I could feel my whole body, and in turn, the bench move. The reason I like the 3-legged variety is you can level it on any surface. The land out there can be pretty uneven!!
The legs for the table in the picture (3/4 ply) are, I believe, 1/2" inside either a 3/4" or 1". Not sure but I think it's a 1".
The last 3 pictures are for a table twice as thick and I wanted stiffer legs. The outside are 1-1/4" and I think the inside are 1". Used a quick release pin this time. Too much machining with the toggle clamp method, especially when the mill is someone else's.
Showing adjustment notches -
Toggle clamp -
Toggle clamp engaged in notch -
Pipe cap turned down to reduce slop on the inside -
All the notches -
5/16" quick release pin -
Staggered adjustment holes -
Not enough room for a turned down pipe cap so I made an aluminum plug -
When I first put the larger table together, there was too much slop in the legs. So I added the aluminum plug. I've been waiting for machine access to finish the other 2. Maybe this weekend. I'll see if I need to make any more "adjustments".
I used a folding captain's chair and my son used the cooler for a seat.
Sun protection is almost a "must." You can beat yourself up if you don't have a tarp, canopy, umbrella, etc., to keep the sun off your back and help prevent sunburn/dehydration.
Also, I usually take along some wooden stakes with the bright orange surveyor's tape tacked to the end with a tacker (which can also be used to tack up sight-in targets on a pre-made wooden backstop that you can pound into the ground). I construct mine with a piece of plywood (1/2- 5/8 inch works fine), with stakes nailed to each end. If you use only one stake in the middle, you risk having the backstop flutter or twist around if it gets windy.
You can choose your own distances, but I place single stakes (with surveyor's tape attached) at 50 yards, one at 100, 150 and 200 yards, etc., as a quick way to know what my ball-park ranges are. The surveyor's tape also shows wind direction at each distance. You should be able to buy it on the cheap at places like Harbor Freight. Remember to take a hammer to pound the stakes into the ground. It's a lot easier than using a rock. I usually use just one string of stakes, but you can use as many as you want; it just takes more walking and pounding.
Tacker
Sight-in targets
Surveyor's tape
Hammer
Stakes: 2 feet long
Plywood target backstop for sighting-in
I misplaced my old range-finder several years ago, using it only to range back to the pickup truck. I found that 60 paces=50 yards, and since my rangefinder wasn't sensitive enough to range small animals like ground squirrels, I never replaced it with another one. Maybe the newer more-expensive rangefinders have the required sensitivity for picking up PDs or ground squirrels, but I now just walk off the distances, pound in some stakes and that's that.
Also, I usually take along some wooden stakes with the bright orange surveyor's tape tacked to the end with a tacker (which can also be used to tack up sight-in targets on a pre-made wooden backstop that you can pound into the ground). I construct mine with a piece of plywood (1/2- 5/8 inch works fine), with stakes nailed to each end. If you use only one stake in the middle, you risk having the backstop flutter or twist around if it gets windy.
You can choose your own distances, but I place single stakes (with surveyor's tape attached) at 50 yards, one at 100, 150 and 200 yards, etc., as a quick way to know what my ball-park ranges are. The surveyor's tape also shows wind direction at each distance. You should be able to buy it on the cheap at places like Harbor Freight. Remember to take a hammer to pound the stakes into the ground. It's a lot easier than using a rock. I usually use just one string of stakes, but you can use as many as you want; it just takes more walking and pounding.
Tacker
Sight-in targets
Surveyor's tape
Hammer
Stakes: 2 feet long
Plywood target backstop for sighting-in
I misplaced my old range-finder several years ago, using it only to range back to the pickup truck. I found that 60 paces=50 yards, and since my rangefinder wasn't sensitive enough to range small animals like ground squirrels, I never replaced it with another one. Maybe the newer more-expensive rangefinders have the required sensitivity for picking up PDs or ground squirrels, but I now just walk off the distances, pound in some stakes and that's that.
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
I am an old p-dwg shooter.. Been shootin em all my life.. All I ever take is a rifle, lots of ammo, water etc... No table, just a bipod these days.. I don't need flags, a table, or a seat.. All that stuff won't fit in my Jeep anyhow..
I use one of these: http://www.inventivetechnology.com/shooting_benches_specs.php
It's light weight & folds down to nothing for easy transport yet I'll be darned if wind ever messes with my aim. Center post features a big machined nylon bushing so the top rotates back and forth as if it's greased. I'd buy another in a heart beat.
Here it is in Idaho last year.
It's light weight & folds down to nothing for easy transport yet I'll be darned if wind ever messes with my aim. Center post features a big machined nylon bushing so the top rotates back and forth as if it's greased. I'd buy another in a heart beat.
Here it is in Idaho last year.
Bring as much ammo as you can. It is easy to bring it home but it truly sucks when you run out early. I have had many days with over 1,000rds being shot. That is all center fire ammo. Some days they just want to die.
I always bring a shovel, rope and wire. Then the standard tool box.
Wire is in all of my shooting bags and in the stocks of my rifles. I have shot so many fences it is not funny. It is poor form to leave shot up fences.
Other than that lots of water as others have said.
I made up some barrel jackets with old towels. Just dip them in water and slip them on. They help keep the heat down on those really hot days.
I always bring a shovel, rope and wire. Then the standard tool box.
Wire is in all of my shooting bags and in the stocks of my rifles. I have shot so many fences it is not funny. It is poor form to leave shot up fences.
Other than that lots of water as others have said.
I made up some barrel jackets with old towels. Just dip them in water and slip them on. They help keep the heat down on those really hot days.
Nodak7mm said:
Rod has a very comprehensive list and the only item I would add is a snake bite kit to the first aid kit. Last year in the western Dakota's I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake. A young one too. The young ones are the worst because when they bite they do so aggresively, transfering venom more quickly than a larger snake. Definitely bring a snake bite kit and carry it in your backpack.
Water, water, water..... cannot be overemphasized.
As for which rifle, bring both! Sounds like they both shoot. That way you will know which to bring the following year.
Don't worry about bringing a shooting table. Just a waste of time and energy. Do bring a quality bipod (aka Harris, ATLAS Accushot, etc.). Keep it simple your first time and enjoy!
Shoot 'em up and make sure to give us a full report (but not your hunting location
) When you return.Jason
I might disagree about the shooting table being a waste of time and energy. If the vegetation is high where you're shooting, you might end up having to use the sitting position just to see over it. That would have been the case with my son & I last year if we didn't have tables. Glad we had 'em. Sitting means a higher bi-pod and, at least for me, not as steady. Especially for the long shots.
itchyTF said:
ItchTF,
In your case, instead of using a shooting bench, why not just shoot over the hood of your truck, out of the box bed, etc.? Where we hunt, the vegetation is generally low enough, or we can climb up on the face of a butte, low rise, etc. to get into position with bipods. The net result is a lower profile and, we believe, more shooting. It may be the case where vegetation is too high, but then I'd just as soon shoot off the truck then. Beside's being less expensive, what's the practical difference?
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