Prairie Dog 2023

[markT]

Went out west this year and here are some bullet points from the trip:
Didn't go the normal route thru the NC/TN gorge. Went thru Atlanta.. Great decision!
Yuengling had purchased billboard advertising from ST Louis to Kansas City.. Well done Yuengling!
Out best dog town, an 81k acre ranch had the plague.. I didn't call first and should have.. We didn't hunt it.
Ask around and found another ranch that had the plague but not completely wiped out and made it work.
Located a "walk in" place and carried the bench about 300 yards and got in between two ridges to block the wind and hammered them all day.. shots were mostly 275 to 350 yards.. Sun was out and they settled down from us being there..
6 BR with 87 gr Vmax are best in wind and long range.. 65 gr Vmax less recoil and fantastic explosions. 70 gr BlitzKings are really just about perfect..
One place we never saw any pups.. Other places had pups..
Hotels are cheaper on Sunday..
No bug spray was used. Normally we need it..
Saw one badger on side of road.
No alien sightings. Disappointed..
Two thunder storms with hail in the afternoon. parked truck under car wash for protection.
New pards used Rem 700 SA 22-250 with BlitzKings were very explosive... IMR 3031.. Pre-primed brass he bought off this site.. POS synthetic light weight stock will be replaced with weighted ( steel weights) Choate Ultimate Varmint stock.. I made a wedge yesterday.
We normally eat a nice sit down breakfast at local restaurant but decided on gas station food instead. Saved a lot of time!
Stayed on EST ( Eastern Standard Time) for sleeping and eating..
We shot 7 days and we made the best of it but the plague just hammered them and if I had known this ( my fault) we have skipped this year.
Wishing everyone else has good success!!

 

[Big_Daddy]

Great report!

 

[jpx2rk]

What was/is your reasoning for staying on EST? I know it can be confusing with a 2 or 3 zone change, but how did it work out for you. Did you feel rested, ready to go, etc., or dragging a bit. Curious.

 

[Dgd6mm]

How often did you clean your rifles?

 

[markT]

The EST may be a little misleading and I apologize. We basically got up early and went to bed early. Ate dinner at 5:00 or 5:30 mtn time.
Clean rifles about every 50 to 100 or so rounds. Never ran them hot and switched out rifles according to distance and wind.

 

[Hotshot]

What state did you shoot in?

 

[DogBuster]

I'm in Utah......weather has been up & down as most of the west I'm sure

45* nights....70* days....T/storms every...Normally June is sunny/dry/calm

Weather peeps say it's an unsettled weather summer

P/dogs ? Hay's high......First week of June is first cut

Soon......prob be 90* at 0900 hrs....hate that

 

[markT]

I forgot to mention the smoke for the first 4 days.. It was not good. It finally cleared up but still not completely clear..
Also discovered Arby's has wagyu burger and it aint bad.

 

[17VLD]

Great clue Mark,glad you were able to salvage your trip somewhat.Plague can be a s.o.b. When I lived out west I traveled back and forth from Colorado to the Upstate so many times I have always wished for a more direct route, it kind of seems counterintuitive to head south to Atlanta,but it actually is best.I’ve got a 12 twist 6BR barrel that I plan on putting back on an action to shoot my 87s they sure are a nice bullet.Perhaps Sierra will produce some more 70s someday soon too.Thanks for sharing the story about your trip it’s inspiring me to get ready to make the long haul to Montana again.I’ve shot pd’s in just about all the states that have them and can’t think of a better way to spend a summer day.

Matt

 

[markT]

Walked up on this little fella. He was taking a nap..

 

[chuckshooter]

Clean rifles about every 50 to 100 or so rounds. Never ran them hot and switched out rifles according to distance and wind.

wow, you clean every 50 to 100, that's a lot of time spent cleaning. I don't even bring normal cleaning stuff anymore, just enough for an emergency clean. I bring about 500 rounds per gun and I'm going to increase to 1000 on rifles that I can get more brass, as almost everything I shoot, I have to make the brass, so some will reach 1000, others will stay at 500. I have yet to see the accuracy drop off so, why clean? no offense intended, I was just a little surprise at the frequency of your cleaning. "To each his own" as they say.