Prairie Dog hunt advice

[AlanF]

Looking to do a prairie dog hunt this summer and I am looking for recommendations as to location. On a family trip a couple of years ago I spent a couple half-days shooting prairie dogs in North Dakota on National Grasslands just outside Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Thanks.

 

[L.Sherm]

Looking to do a prairie dog hunt this summer and I am looking for recommendations as to location. On a family trip a couple of years ago I spent a couple half-days shooting prairie dogs in North Dakota on National Grasslands just outside Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Thanks.

P.D spots have become just like any hunting spot anymore pretty secretive

 

[hfinkle]

Lower Brule Reservation in SD. Has a map with hunting access.

 

[jepp2]

and I am looking for recommendations as to location.

I live in CO and I know some folks come to the state to shoot prairie dogs. But I've never seen enough to interest me.
I've hunted them with an outfitter in SD, but seeing the places where there were towns, I never would have seen any of those towns if I was on my own, and they were on private land.
If you drive up I-25 though WY, you will see plenty of dog towns all along the way. I've only shot there once.
I hunt them in MT, but it took me 4 trips to find where I wanted to shoot them. If you go to an area cold, expect to spend most of your time scouting for a place to hunt. Folks aren't home most of the time, so catching up with them takes time. I've never had anyone tell me I couldn't hunt their prairie dogs. But maybe the fact I'm old and and respect their property works for me.

 

[Tommie]

Most if not all private land that has shootable numbers have already been approached by outfitters. The outfitter leases shooting rights and then charges for guided hunts. The happy rancher who welcomes strangers onto his land is a thing of the past.

 

[JSH]

After 10-12 years of not hunting them, it has taken that many years for me to find new towns and make connections. Met a lot of fine folks and made some friends.

 

[Intell]

The two trips I’ve made to shoot them in Wyoming I paid an outfitter.
My time was limited and I didn’t want to try a do it yourself BLM hunt not knowing where BLM ended and private started.
Both times we ended up on BLM land at some point and I never knew we had left the ranch.
The $250 per day was worth it to me because it got me more trigger time than wandering around the prairie by myself hoping I was in a legal place to shoot.
There’s no better way to spend a day in my opinion, I can’t wait to go back out there.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

 

[dusterdave173]

I was in a very small town in WY
The local town hall had a bulletin board with names and phones of local land owners that allowed shooters. I had asked at the hardware store and they said check town hall--It can work--would I take a trip and hope that would work? Nope. But when you Do go somewhere be thinking about exploring then-- for next time Nope I will not tell where--sorry. I have a few secrets from my wife and and a few with my shooting pals--just the way it is Good Luck

 

[vonb]

I was hesitant of taking a one-way 1,000+ mile trip on a whim. I therefore tried the belt and suspenders approach. I booked with a guide to ensure we had a decent shoot. However, the few days before the guided shoot, we spent time doing a DIY shoot on public land. It was OK but the guided shoot was excellent.

 

[mongo chicago]

For guided hunts try Bad River Bucks and Birds in Draper S.D.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

30-40 years ago we used plat books/maps as we drove around looking for dog towns. Than we had to drive to a residence and TALK to the rancher/manager/foreman. Occasionally word of mouth from a bar/diner, hardware store would lead to a shoot. Usually a day of driving would equal several days of shooting. In the 90's, commercial shoots(manufactures, magazines) started to pay for "reserved" access. This occurred close to airport locations and slowly spread. Now we have phone accessible databases, with satellite imaging. I still find that if you are willing to spend TIME, you can often get permission to shoot. Be polite, leave property cleaner than you found it. Use common sense. Most of the time you are dealing with multiple generation landowners, they truly love their land/animals.