Paying $$$ for a Prairie Dog Hunt
- Thread starter centershot
- Start date
Born and Raised in that region of the USA I have real hard time paying someone to shoot these Rat's. I think It helps for me at least, that I am not the "out of State hunter". Gets me onto land a lot easier and I don't have to spend the money to do so.
THough I do understand some of the issues you all bring up like time vs money. Mist likely your vacation time being used. I get that.
THough I do understand some of the issues you all bring up like time vs money. Mist likely your vacation time being used. I get that.
I don't know what he had to pay, but this is the way to go. This is from Chris Long's (aka techshooter) website:
http://www.the-long-family.com/hunting_trips.htm
He has writeups and pictures of all his trips on that page.
http://www.the-long-family.com/hunting_trips.htm
He has writeups and pictures of all his trips on that page.
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
I think if the shooting is really hot - the lodging close to the shooting and the lodging nice, clean and comfortable, that is probably reasonable. I go lots of places where the access fees (no lodging) are $100.00 per day per shooter and they couldn't have better shooting. From what I have found with a lot of places offering lodging- a Motel 6, while not really my idea of a nice place - is better than a lot of places I have stayed. I'm not the kind of guy who needs to stay in a 4-or 5-star place - but a lot of times, I really wish I'd had them send me pictures of the actual bed and bathroom. Ha!
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
nmkid
Gold $$ Contributor
Wait a minute! I had been waiting for you to chime in. I thought you had taken care of the coyote problem?
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
Actually I suck at coyote killin.. But p-dawgs are another story
It's exactly what I do in Ohio. Go have breakfast in a local diner after a fall bowhunt( since I'm there anyway). Ask about ground hogs( obviously were talking different animals but same idea). Be surprised how many people hate em. Then the door is open. That a great recommendation. One that many are a bit intimidated by.
“Guided” trips always sound crazy to people who know the area. For folks who must plan a year ahead and travel hundreds of miles it makes all kinds of sense.
My area is a trout fishing mecca. The river is there all day long but thousands of people hire guides. They want to show up, catch a bunch of fish, have a great time and go back home. Possible but not probable without hiring a local guide.
My area is a trout fishing mecca. The river is there all day long but thousands of people hire guides. They want to show up, catch a bunch of fish, have a great time and go back home. Possible but not probable without hiring a local guide.
Yes really makes no sense heading out West to sit in a diner HOPING to find someone willing to let you hunt there land. 18-20 hours on the road only for a big Zero. Helps if you make trips to an area for a different reason and can do your homework. Definitely hiring a guide does make the most sense in many cases. Also helps to still do your homework looking and shopping for the best prices also get references. That helps alot.
I was a career Corporate pilot for a large chemical company that had mines near you. Twice a month my co-pilot and I (Also a shooter and reloader) would take a 3 or 4 day trip to Rock Springs and we would shoot mega dogs. I wore out a few barrels up there.
I've done it both ways; paid a guide and have shot on my own with my own planning on the National Grasslands. Time is money to me and I only have so much time off to get from the Southeast out to the Western states. The guiding services vary and sometimes, high rates aren't what they are cracked up to be. The first guiding service we used, his rates were on the high side and he put us up in a local mom and pop motel. He would cover our dinner in a local restaurant and sandwiches were provided in the field. Shooting was OK but everything else was hum ho.
The second guiding service we used, we stayed at the ranch's guest house which was a renovated homestead home. That was a treat. We were on the ranch with the rancher's family providing dinner in their home but when finished, we had our own house to use and relax. They also provided EXCELLENT access to some of the best shooting in the area with access to multiple ranches. Rates were $300+ a day but well worth it. The guide was the father of the rancher and he used his own vehicle and sat with us all day spotting. We weren't a picky group and we enjoyed his company. Some of the stories he told us of some clients made us cringe.
Lastly, I've done it on my own by shooting in the SD National Grasslands and planned ahead before going. I called the local Ranger offices which helped me in a planning. They were excellent to deal with. The shooting was slow and the dogs were weary. However, it was a scouting mission to determine if I wanted to come back on an on my own hunt. The verdict? I'll pay a guide as they have the better knowledge and access and my time is valuable due to the logistics of getting out there.
The second guiding service we used, we stayed at the ranch's guest house which was a renovated homestead home. That was a treat. We were on the ranch with the rancher's family providing dinner in their home but when finished, we had our own house to use and relax. They also provided EXCELLENT access to some of the best shooting in the area with access to multiple ranches. Rates were $300+ a day but well worth it. The guide was the father of the rancher and he used his own vehicle and sat with us all day spotting. We weren't a picky group and we enjoyed his company. Some of the stories he told us of some clients made us cringe.
Lastly, I've done it on my own by shooting in the SD National Grasslands and planned ahead before going. I called the local Ranger offices which helped me in a planning. They were excellent to deal with. The shooting was slow and the dogs were weary. However, it was a scouting mission to determine if I wanted to come back on an on my own hunt. The verdict? I'll pay a guide as they have the better knowledge and access and my time is valuable due to the logistics of getting out there.
Do you have any contact info for this (or another ) place. Would like to plan something for next year.
I'll get you a contact number where I shot dogs back some years ago. Great guy, great time but I think the dogs were poisoned a few years after I shot out there. May be that they repopulated and they are huntable again.
Here you go Sir. Dave TenBrooke is his name. He owns a ranch and house on that ranch where his guests stay. It's an inclusive deal in his rate. You need only bring food and shooting gear. He supplies bedding, pots, pans, etc. Fully equipped home ready to go. Good luck and let me know if he still hosts prairie dog shooting. I've been planning on doing a whitetail hunt with him eventually.
Attachments
fantastic. I'm sure if I contact them, they'll be able to give me the lay of the land.
8300 acre working cattle ranch. He will escort you out daily to shooting locations and leave you there until evening or whatever you discuss. You just follow him to the locations and back out when the day is done. Again, not sure the prairie dog population today. I think I paid 125.00 per day with lodging to shoot prairie dogs.
Kurz
Silver $$ Contributor
I have a different viewpoint of shooting prairie dogs. But I have completely different circumstances than most others.
I have a regularly scheduled PD shoot at the same time every year on the same land because I know the landowner. 30,000 acres of cow/calf land with thousands of prairie dogs needing to be eliminated. I and 3 friends pack tents and cooking gear for the one week shoot. We meet the landowner with our maps and he dispenses the population locations and size of towns. We get the keys to all the gates respecting his wishes to leave the gates as we find them.
After a 1/2 day of scouting we pick a central campsite to set up and work from. We send our GPS coordinates to landowner so he knows where we are. We shoot in pairs, one shooter, one spotter and rotate or in the bigger towns, no holds barred!
Meals and conversation around the campfire in the evening where we regale each other with tales of our shooting prowess.
Living under the open sky and target shooting all day with your friends, there is nothing better.
for illustration purposes only....
I have a regularly scheduled PD shoot at the same time every year on the same land because I know the landowner. 30,000 acres of cow/calf land with thousands of prairie dogs needing to be eliminated. I and 3 friends pack tents and cooking gear for the one week shoot. We meet the landowner with our maps and he dispenses the population locations and size of towns. We get the keys to all the gates respecting his wishes to leave the gates as we find them.
After a 1/2 day of scouting we pick a central campsite to set up and work from. We send our GPS coordinates to landowner so he knows where we are. We shoot in pairs, one shooter, one spotter and rotate or in the bigger towns, no holds barred!
Meals and conversation around the campfire in the evening where we regale each other with tales of our shooting prowess. Living under the open sky and target shooting all day with your friends, there is nothing better.
for illustration purposes only....
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