Prairie dog hunting, location.

[redrockranger]

You don't hunt prairie dogs. You hunt for a place to shoot prairie dogs. Many times I have driven over a 1000 miles looking for the Holy Grail of prairie dog honey holes, I have not found it yet. I have knocked on a lot of doors, looked at google maps until my eyes have bled. As of yet I have not paid, That is just me. I would have no problem paying if I got what I paid for, true barrel melting action. My advise if you have never done prairie shooting is to be flexible in all things cause if you are not it will be a miserable trip. Once you have driven 1200 miles, what's another 500 miles. You plan on a 7 day trip what's another 3 days. You budget $1000 dollars what's another 700 bucks. If can not have fun in process maybe you should try something else. VERY IMPORTANT don't try this with a partner that is a cry baby about anything. The food will suck, the motel will suck, the weather will suck. 50% of the time the shooting will suck. Red mist and nothing but chunks is what brings us back, a hard drug habit.

I'm just thrilled if i fire 100 rds a day. Numbers don't worry me. Its about nature.

 

[ken158]

You don't hunt prairie dogs. You hunt for a place to shoot prairie dogs. Many times I have driven over a 1000 miles looking for the Holy Grail of prairie dog honey holes, I have not found it yet. I have knocked on a lot of doors, looked at google maps until my eyes have bled. As of yet I have not paid, That is just me. I would have no problem paying if I got what I paid for, true barrel melting action. My advise if you have never done prairie shooting is to be flexible in all things cause if you are not it will be a miserable trip. Once you have driven 1200 miles, what's another 500 miles. You plan on a 7 day trip what's another 3 days. You budget $1000 dollars what's another 700 bucks. If can not have fun in process maybe you should try something else. VERY IMPORTANT don't try this with a partner that is a cry baby about anything. The food will suck, the motel will suck, the weather will suck. 50% of the time the shooting will suck. Red mist and nothing but chunks is what brings us back, a hard drug habit.

You have definitely walked the walk. I began doing the same over 10 years ago and have developed a friendship with enough ranchers to keep me entertained.

 

[DogBuster]

You have definitely walked the walk. I began doing the same over 10 years ago and have developed a friendship with enough ranchers to keep me entertained.

Exactly where I'm at with p/dogs

I shoot all private irrigated properties......key word is 'irrigated'

Drought & plague have taken their tolls

Ranchers can be fussy when the have 1000's of dollars of irrigation equipment in the field

Not to mention livestock......working hands etc

This year with the exceptional snow pack......may be June until we see bare ground

Access into fields to can be a muddy mess too

 

[ken158]

Exactly where I'm at with p/dogs

I shoot all private irrigated properties......key word is 'irrigated'

Drought & plague have taken their tolls

Ranchers can be fussy when the have 1000's of dollars of irrigation equipment in the field

Not to mention livestock......working hands etc

This year with the exceptional snow pack......may be June until we see bare ground

Access into fields to can be a muddy mess too

Oh I get it and by all means - do NOT mess up a 2 track road or turn around in good grass grown for cattle and not prairie dogs!

 

[Jtate]

I shoot all private irrigated properties......key word is 'irrigated'

I shot one year on some large Navajo farms south of Farmington Nm. The Navies were a pain in the ass to deal with. After finally getting blessed to shot on their land, they gave us the oh by the way you can only use 22RF. Lucky my partner and I both had scoped 10/22s. with us. The Pdogs were thick in the irrigated alfalfa like flies on shit. We shot them for a day and never went back. No red mist and flying dead dogs. That wild goose chase was only a 1000 mile round trip,

 

[Damon555]

Oh I get it and by all means - do NOT mess up a 2 track road or turn around in good grass grown for cattle and not prairie dogs!

That's funny.......and true to an extent. The rancher who lets me shoot on her land said that I can be a teenager again and drive wherever I want....on or off the trails.....but that's a no-no when it's dry!.......I sure have fun out there....9000 private acres to roam......It's understood to not shoot irrigation pipes (she said public hunters are bad about that), farm equipment, cattle and most of all towards the farmsteads!

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Yes dry, high risk fire conditions much more of a concern(for the rancher) than my truck stuck in a mud hole.

 

[pdog06]

You don't hunt prairie dogs. You hunt for a place to shoot prairie dogs. Many times I have driven over a 1000 miles looking for the Holy Grail of prairie dog honey holes, I have not found it yet. I have knocked on a lot of doors, looked at google maps until my eyes have bled. As of yet I have not paid, That is just me. I would have no problem paying if I got what I paid for, true barrel melting action. My advise if you have never done prairie shooting is to be flexible in all things cause if you are not it will be a miserable trip. Once you have driven 1200 miles, what's another 500 miles. You plan on a 7 day trip what's another 3 days. You budget $1000 dollars what's another 700 bucks. If can not have fun in process maybe you should try something else. VERY IMPORTANT don't try this with a partner that is a cry baby about anything. The food will suck, the motel will suck, the weather will suck. 50% of the time the shooting will suck. Red mist and nothing but chunks is what brings us back, a hard drug habit.

Totally agree! You are 100%dead on with that statement!

If any of you go for a first trip make sure the group you choose to go with is free minded and flexible to change. If you have someone who wants to complain about a bad shooting day(as if there is such a thing!) they could ruin an otherwise great trip!
We invited a guy to go with us last time and he was complaining at every rest stop on the way out, complained about the food we ate(even a steakhouse for dinner!), complained about the living arrangements(log cabin on 3k acres!)complained about the shooting and having to drive “off-road” to get to places, then left 2 days early. Actually the last thing was probably the best part.

It’s not only about the killing of many prairie dogs. The relaxation and hanging out with friends doing what you love is what it’s about.. I can argue with people at work…lol not on a hunting/shooting trip.

 

[nmkid]

If you have any intentions of shooting near Rock Springs, WY. send me a PM.

 

[LCazador]

This question is directed to those of you that have hunted these elusive little creatures! lol My best bud and I would like to take a few days, meet somewhere and catch up on old times while thinning the heard a little . The problem is, I live in Ohio while he is in Colorado. Can anyone recommend some place for us to meet up for several days? Another viable option would be somewhere in Colorado where we wouldn’t have the cost of lodging. Many thanks for any recommendations.

Lloyd

Go up the highway from Denver to Nebraska towards Limon, CO. Let me know what you find!

 

[LAH]

I shoot dogs every year & love it. I go cheap on public land. Don't kill a lot but no one has more fun than me.

 

[bowfisher]

Like most things these days, outfitters have most of the land leased up. I have resorted to paying a " guide " to shoot PD's. It's somewhat distasteful , but it's a necessity unfortunately. Too many dam people in the world now....I demand undisturbed dogs, won't waste my time with shot up towns where some mouth breathing , sweat pant wearing , pus gutted, Old Milwaukee swilling peasant has " given 'er a go wit tha ol 22-250 !! " disgusting...

I start out with my blowgun and bow, then suppressed 17VHA, 17 HK, light 20's and move up to my 221FB.

I have searched for years to find a good spot and guide, I don't take partners, won't take partners and my wife has to wear a blindfold on the drive out from town, if she goes with me...it's that serious.

 

[nawahine]

YESH…. Well developed rapport with land owners and locations are are SACRED !! It took me 20+ years to develope friendship and trust with them.
I took my 2/SILs and G/son a few years back…they were ”threatened” to secrecy…when asked by friends, numerous times, their only response was Montana. Where in MT? Montana…
Other friends who shoot PD’s also guard their info and as friends will never ask you to divulge that “SACRED” info…It boils down to Respect

 

[drover]

If anyone want to know where to go to shoot PD I generally narrow my PD locations down to - east of the Rockies, west of the Mississippi, and south of Canada.

drover

 

[Dgd6mm]

Them there pdogs are in Idaho.

 

[nawahine]

YESH…we made our annual trek to THE LOCATION this past May. We had a new (to PD) shooter; he was anxious to try His new .19 Badger.
(FUN FUN FUN the PDs did not like those .19 cal “pellets” especially suppressed)
We were rained on for 2 days, then it dried out. We shot on our host’s property and were referred thru another to another property owner.
After introducing ourselves and chatting, things took off from then on. Mutual acquaintances and interests assured the owner we were well referred by his fellow ranchers and he allowed us to shoot both his ranch and his parents‘ property. After introducing ourselves to his parents they pointed out the most “infested” and problem areas.
To say the least, we shot and shot and shot. Three of us shot with supressors and the 3rd person shot in the opposite direction so not to “spook” critters in our area. We all shot .17 HMR, .19 Badger, .204 Ruger, and .223’s.
I personally ran out of .17 HMR and had to borrow another 200+ rounds bringing my total (.17 HMR) rounds shot to approx 1,275. We all liked coming “heavy” and leaving light….
Now we have about a year to prep brass and get ready for next year…in between then it’ll be scoping out sage rat areas to shoot….HAVE A GREAT SUMMER PD SHOOTING.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

nawahine, sounds much like our arrangement in terms of property and the owners.
As was mentioned above, it's really all about respect. As far as what we do, these relationships are more important than any other aspect of the pastime, rifles, ammo, all of it.

 

[Bill K]

I also learned, the hard way, not to take a FRIEND's word, had a couple nice Deer spots and a couple very nice fishing spots, that I made the mistake of taking the FRIEND to, with his promise to not tell or take anyone. Well, long story short, I found out, like you and saw him with several family and friends of his taking those spots over and literally shooting/fishing them out. Never again, do I give or take someone to the new one's I have come to find.

 

[Stugots]

I had a place to shoot dogs in South Dakota that was ruined by one group of guys that managed to shoot one of the cattle on this ranchers property. That ended any chance to shoot P. dogs on his ranch...

 

[DRK]

Morons like that should not be allowed to breed let alone possess firearms.

A couple years ago, the adjoining land owner let some ya-hoos hunt out here during deer season, we are well populated. Well these yuppies decided it was a good idea to shoot at deer, towards the county road we live on, towards our house and the neighbor's house. Don't know who thought that was a bright idea.

The neighbor got to them before I did thankfully. That was the end of unknown parties hunting out here.