Place to hunt prairie dogs

[GA Hunter]

I am looking for a new place to hunt prairie dogs. I have traditionally done self guided hunts on BLM land in central WY. The last couple of times I went out there the dogs really weren't there. Hence this post.

I'm from GA so I expect to travel so don't leave out any reasonable destination.The guys who will be tagging along this year will not really be looking for the ultra long range stuff so no specialty outfitters necessary. The ultimate scenario would be for someone to provide access to property (public or private), maps if deemed necessary, and maybe tables or rests of some sort. All that being said I would not rule out anything. Please share.

Bobby

 

[Smalltruck]

If you are going to travel go to Bowman ND and follow the train tracks/US highway 12 west towards Miles City MT. Lots of public land and usually easy access if you ask for permission.

MT requires a license to shoot on public land, 10 bucks a year. Call the warden service in Billings and talk to them, they were very helpful to me on all the legal do's and don'ts plus what to watch out for from unscrupulous guides.

Between Broadus MT and the ND state line you should be able to shoot enough to wear out a barrel from what I was told recently...

 

[CaptainMal]

What a topic of frustration.

Multiple times I have made runs of many thousands of miles alone, just to try some prairie dog shooting. Each time, with rare exception, I wasted months and tens of thousands of dollars to literally get no shooting. The one day a couple years ago, I asked that same question to 5Speed, on this forum. He told me about a public place, my wife and I again drove the mileage and we finally got some shooting in. Now it was not a lot but worth another trip out there from South Floirda again this coming June.

I have a place in Georgia to hunt deer. If it were not for that place and 5Speed's help, my hunting life would literally not exist. Never hunted in Florida as here it's near impossible to find huntable private land. Public land is overrun and rare also. You guys are talking a dream for people like me. Sure appreciate reading your motivational topic.

 

[nmkid]

GA Hunter...PM sent.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

GA Hunter...PM sent.

We hunted many years ago out of Chamberland SD. Try the Indian reservations in FT Thompson
The rules vary from State regs. John Bird guided for us very reasonable.

 

[redrockranger]

What a topic of frustration.

Multiple times I have made runs of many thousands of miles alone, just to try some prairie dog shooting. Each time, with rare exception, I wasted months and tens of thousands of dollars to literally get no shooting. The one day a couple years ago, I asked that same question to 5Speed, on this forum. He told me about a public place, my wife and I again drove the mileage and we finally got some shooting in. Now it was not a lot but worth another trip out there from South Floirda again this coming June.

I have a place in Georgia to hunt deer. If it were not for that place and 5Speed's help, my hunting life would literally not exist. Never hunted in Florida as here it's near impossible to find huntable private land. Public land is overrun and rare also. You guys are talking a dream for people like me. Sure appreciate reading your motivational topic.

 

[redrockranger]

REALLY ??????? Have you ever heard of a guide service or outfitter. Tens of thousands of dollars ! Right.

 

[CaptainMal]

Well Red - Let's see. Two trips from Pennsylvania. Paid all fuel and stayed in motels paying everything. One started in Colorado, went to Arizona and then north and back to Eastern Colorado.

Bought all truck expenses, guns, ammo etc. Kind of like a private three week vacation but literally no shooting.

Went to Zortman Montana from Pittsburgh next. New rifle, truck, fuel, all expenses and motels. Stayed at that motel in Zortman that I learned about in Varmint Hunter. Got a map and spent days driving south to ranches. Got stuck and damaged truck in gumbo once. Pissed off the rancher who told me to get outta there if it rained. He did not like me being alone. I left but the rain had already covered the two-track ( I go the lingo) back. 4 x 4 got messed up. Days of riding around, buying motels and near nothing for another three weeks.

Next run was from Florida to Arizona where it was guaranteed. My fault. I got there and found out there was a season on the them and I was there too early. Good lead in Eastern Colorado this time. Paid an idiot I met at a restaurant after license and got basically abandoned. Later got lost and found out I was on property without permission. Got back in two weeks with nothing but bills again this time.

Last time I took my wife and pulled a toy hauler from here in Florida. Salvation was 5Speed. He told me where to go and we did. Bought her a new rifle and set up three more rifles. Off we went to central Wyoming. Takes days and on that run I broke a fuel pump on the Cummins. Two days and over a thousand dollars just to do the repair plus two tow trucks for truck and camper. Did get there, set up at a campground and rode most of each day to find a little bit of shooting. We maybe got 300 shots together in 5 days but that was fine and fun for us. Especially me after all that frustration from my earlier trips.

Ironically that same truck froze in neutral on return and I needed to get a new flywheel and transmission because the input shaft got torn up in a flywheel bearing on that trip.

What do I think all that cost? Certainly way over $10,000 but I have no clue how much over.

You did not directly call me a lier but the sarcastic intent was there. One thing for sure is I am one of if not the most inept prairie dog hunters to exist. At least that's something. Now I really hope to try again before this advanced age shuts me and my wife down.

All I want is a shot.

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

If you want prairie dogs check out Holly Colorado, I was there last summer and there were plenty of dogs.
Below is a picture of one of the fields we shot, you can't see them real well but there were plenty of dogs out in the pasture.

 

[redrockranger]

Well Red - Let's see. Two trips from Pennsylvania. Paid all fuel and stayed in motels paying everything. One started in Colorado, went to Arizona and then north and back to Eastern Colorado.

Bought all truck expenses, guns, ammo etc. Kind of like a private three week vacation but literally no shooting.

Went to Zortman Montana from Pittsburgh next. New rifle, truck, fuel, all expenses and motels. Stayed at that motel in Zortman that I learned about in Varmint Hunter. Got a map and spent days driving south to ranches. Got stuck and damaged truck in gumbo once. Pissed off the rancher who told me to get outta there if it rained. He did not like me being alone. I left but the rain had already covered the two-track ( I go the lingo) back. 4 x 4 got messed up. Days of riding around, buying motels and near nothing for another three weeks.

Next run was from Florida to Arizona where it was guaranteed. My fault. I got there and found out there was a season on the them and I was there too early. Good lead in Eastern Colorado this time. Paid an idiot I met at a restaurant after license and got basically abandoned. Later got lost and found out I was on property without permission. Got back in two weeks with nothing but bills again this time.

Last time I took my wife and pulled a toy hauler from here in Florida. Salvation was 5Speed. He told me where to go and we did. Bought her a new rifle and set up three more rifles. Off we went to central Wyoming. Takes days and on that run I broke a fuel pump on the Cummins. Two days and over a thousand dollars just to do the repair plus two tow trucks for truck and camper. Did get there, set up at a campground and rode most of each day to find a little bit of shooting. We maybe got 300 shots together in 5 days but that was fine and fun for us. Especially me after all that frustration from my earlier trips.

Ironically that same truck froze in neutral on return and I needed to get a new flywheel and transmission because the input shaft got torn up in a flywheel bearing on that trip.

What do I think all that cost? Certainly way over $10,000 but I have no clue how much over.

You did not directly call me a lier but the sarcastic intent was there. One thing for sure is I am one of if not the most inept prairie dog hunters to exist. At least that's something. Now I really hope to try again before this advanced age shuts me and my wife down.

All I want is a shot.

Well CAPT i have shot PD"s off an on since 1983. Things have changed,you can thank the defunct Varmint Hunter Association.Over shooting, plague,poison and drought have cut their numbers. My opinion. I've shot in Nebraska , South Dakota,Wyoming and Colorado. The last time i was in in Eastern Colorado it looked like a sandbox{drought},my best town had been taken over by a guide from Kansas,one of the best towns i'd seen in years.The guide option is one i have explored but the shooters than i know refuses to pay,because they never had to.I have sat in dog towns with shooters from New York State and grilled evening meal in motel parking lot with men from many states I won't go by myself,i know the risks on the Great Plains ecosystem. I understand the ranchers concern about his fragile land and respect him.I'm not a rich man and i'm almost 68 years old ,my days may be numbered. Yes my post was tongue in cheek

 

[roadkill61]

NW of Goodland , KS. Out of the way spot and you don't have to drive all the way to the shot out Montana.

 

[waterfwlr]

Plenty of outfitters out there. I have been going for about 10 years. South and North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. All were good with outfitters. Anywhere from $100/day to $225, with meals and lodging. Well worth it.

 

[redrockranger]

Plenty of outfitters out there. I have been going for about 10 years. South and North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. All were good with outfitters. Anywhere from $100/day to $225, with meals and lodging. Well worth it.

Probably 4 years ago i talked with a Rosebud guide in a gunshop,in Valentine , Nebraska. He could find all the shooting i wanted around 500yds out.

Years before that a stop at the now defunct Lock,Stock and Barrel we were told some Rosebud guides would get you setup and shooting then leave. Next the Rosebud game warden came along ?????

 

[shoot4fun]

I've been hitting the PD towns at least once a year since around 2000. First started going with a "seasoned veteran" to a little are west of Lubbock, TX. We had a connection there that had leases for deer so he got us on lots of good towns. That guy had to transfer out with his job so adios to the dogs.
Tried a few other places around the Panhandle and hit the mother-load. Payed $20/day for unguided access to a 13,000 acre ranch that was covered in them. That was heaven until the plague hit. It was quite a shock to go from $20/day to $350/day in WY but that covered meals, lodging, guides, etc. and there have been lots and lots of targets. A long way from AL! Airfare isn't cheap and getting all the stuff there when you fly isn't either. The year I flew out cost me $1200 airfare and $400 shipping both ways for the ammo/rifles. I can go to the TX Hill Country and kill a big Axis for about the same.

 

[unclefudd]

Wow!!!
Hey Captainmal and Gahunter, Sorry to hear of your troubles trying to find a good place to shoot Pdogs. But if now you have found a good place in central Wy. you should be off to a great start. I grew up in Wy started trapping when I was 7, bobcat, beaver, yotes, muskrats etc. Made good money all through my school years. I also hunted every year and was never skunked, deer (mules) elk and antelope. I also was drawn for Moose in 85 and got my big bull had him hung and quartered and was salmon fishing on the Green river by 10 AM. GR8 story.
I have been shooting Pdogs all my life and though I live in Az now, I still go back at least 3 or 4 times every summer just to shoot Pdogs and fly fish for trout.
I shoot on the western side around Evanston and North from there to LaBarge, Piney and all the way to Pinedale. Most of the land in Wy is BLM, Railroad or school sections, all of which you can shoot without permission and no lic. requirements. If you do find ranches along the way, you will almost always get permission to shoot if you just stop and introduce yourself and ask permission. The same applies for the area in Utah going North out of Evanston around Woodruff, Randolph and further No. to the junction to Kemerrer and Coleville Wy. Mostly sage country as far as the eye can see in every direction. And guess what it is not too hot even in the middle of summer. Altitude id around 6500 to above 7,000 ft.
I have never used a guide, (I don't know if there are any around these areas). But as said, if you have a guide who puts you on good shooting (at least 300 to 500 rounds per day) and it includes meals and a cot, then it is probably worth it. also, I have my own pickup truck and benches to shoot from. Most shots are from the hood or one of the bed rails of the truck over a sandbag.We shoot and move as we wish no one to tell us if or when.
I have never guided officially but over the years have invited many friends and acquaintances to come out and meet me and I take them out for whatever it is we are hunting. I have helped LOTS of guys and gals to get huge deer, elk, antelope, mountain lion, bobcats, notes etc. Many, many times. Then a few years ago I took some friends out for mule deer and low and behold we ran into one of the guys I had taken years before and he had three of his friends with him now hunting in one of may favorite spots. And he even admitted he had been bringing friends for a few years to this spot. The same thing happened 2 yrs ago in one of my best Pdog areas. There was one of the guys who I thought was a friend all set up and shooting away and he had 4 of his friends from Az with him.
I will probably never again share my hunting spots with a "friend". But I will come as close as possible to helping you with the areas that I have described above. Hope this will help. If you want, you can send me a private note to discuss any further.

UF

 

[CaptainMal]

OK. I know from taking people fishing at my "secret" spots inside Tampa Bay and the Gulf that people are trouble. Nice as they seem I have made enemies out of what I thought were "nice" after finding them, their friends and other boats right on my favorites after showing them. Bad for me but our nation is crowded. Best you keep your spots a bit more quiet.

I did not know there were dogs out that far West. In a later PM I will tell you more.

Reminds me of the friends I let hunt on my property in Pennsylvania. Trouble with them crossing over to neighbor properties, leaving wounded animals to die and sneaking in to hunt when I was away because I let them hunt once. Then, of course, they brought friends who would then bring friends etc. One guy I about nurtured from his childhood. Gave him presents, instruction and opportunities for hunting and fishing. Gave him a nice handgun when he graduated. He paid me back by repeated trespassing when I was out of town and also bothering neighboring properties.

Gone. Moved to South Florida. Never saw him again and would not be surprised if he is up there bothering the new owners.

He is and will be forever gone from my life but I never learned my lesson. That lesson is show no-one, trust no-one and try to be nice. Sad it has to be that way. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[unclefudd]

capital

PM anytime
Sorry bout your protege and I am very familiar with a like situation. But the one thing that still bothers is "sportsmanship. The way my folks brought me up, I would NEVER think of betraying someones sweet spots after being shown or sharing them. I think that is still the part that bothers me the most. These guys were many state away from Wy and would never have gone there for any kind of hunting or fishing if I hadn't invited.
Oh well, lessons learned. But the events were a lot of fun at the time and to be able to remember the looks on their faces when they got to shoot the size of Mulie bucks I showed them. They were especially surprised when we got ready to hunt and I told them the golden rule for my area is (we had 5 days to actually hunt) 5 points or better for the first two full days. That would be on one side by western count. I never brought a single guy back with less than a 4 point buck and it was only one out of probably 25 guys I took or invited over the years. We always got 5 pt or bigger bucks.
I have pictures of my buck and an airforce capt from Iowa one year, they are hanging on the scales field dresses. mine is 254 lbs and his is 296 lbs. Both are 5 pt bucks and the pictures are in the Chandler Az news as one of their photos was there when we hung the deer.
UF

 

[bheadboy]

Well I will add my experience, years ago, I got the bug to pd shoot,
tried all sorts of things you guys have mentioned, then I called the state game wardens of a number of states, got the name of wardens in some area where state guys said they had pd, called the wardens in those areas, and asked,

Who in your area has dogs? what ranchers,
when I got a response - we got them, these guys have a problem,
I called the ranchers, and very very very carefully approached them, even went to see some before shooting,

made some friends that I have today 25 years later, keep up by email etc,

had some great shootin year after year on land that was "off limits" even got to mule deer hunt with land owner,

go slo, go to owners, be a gentleman,

Bob

 

[nulzehb46]

Well I will add my experience, years ago, I got the bug to pd shoot,
tried all sorts of things you guys have mentioned, then I called the state game wardens of a number of states, got the name of wardens in some area where state guys said they had pd, called the wardens in those areas, and asked,

Who in your area has dogs? what ranchers,
when I got a response - we got them, these guys have a problem,
I called the ranchers, and very very very carefully approached them, even went to see some before shooting,

made some friends that I have today 25 years later, keep up by email etc,

had some great shootin year after year on land that was "off limits" even got to mule deer hunt with land owner,

go slo, go to owners, be a gentleman,

Bob

Great advice: i've gotten to hunt lots of places that the average person gets turned because I RESPECT the land owner...If he says don't hunt on Sundays I won't be there...Raining I won't drive in his fields...He OWNS the land..His rules...Respect that and Doors will open...Lots of luck...Pondpilot

 

[surfcastaHI]

Its so much fun but so challenging to find a spot to hunt....then get there....we fly from Hawaii to do our hunt and with very limited resources we were so lucky that for four years we had good luck...great locations with awesome generous people that allowed us to hunt there properties and there neighbors places too, a little bit of chocolate macadamia nut and Kona coffee as gifts goes a long way on our journeys...In Montana, Colorado and Oregon always had tons of varmints to shoot at...coming from the islands with just a suitcase and rifle case full of your gear and ammo is a BIG challenge...no shooting benches or tables just a small folding chair and a bogpod setup is all we can bring...we even skimp on clothes so we can carry more ammo which is suppose to be limited yo 11 pounds...but we always get by with at least 16 to 18 pounds. We travel with two rifles each and try to be mobile as possible. I wish we could stay longer but our trips only last for five days which includes one day travel on each end so we hunt for three days only and its always at the mercy of mother nature...we usually loose a day to the weather since we travel just after mothers day we have finished up the hunt with a little snow the past couple years...to bad we dont have varmints in Hawaii...we always plan a year out and we make the best of it...there is a lot of guys from the islands that do travel to varmint hunt so dont be surprised if you run into one of us one day....Aloha my friends, stay thirsty and enjoy..