Prairie Dog Hunting
- Thread starter rockydog
- Start date
Four of us have been shooting p-dogs in Kansas for past 8yrs, We travel up from Texas so we always do a 4 day shoot. I'd say the daily average shot count runs close to 300 rounds per man. One of the guys shoots a little more, one a little less. We don't push it, we find a slower pace is more enjoyable, taking turns and alternating shots paired in two allows you to enjoy you friends accomplishments as well as your own. If you miss with the guys I shoot with you very rarely get a second shot inside of 500yds. We usually start at 8:00 brake for lunch in the field and knock off at 5:00 believe me 300rds is plenty of shooting in a day and you'll find out that after 3 or 4 days of shooting you be a little worn down. It's absolutely the most fun a man can have with his clothes on. Multiple moving targets what's not to like. We always take more ammo then is needed but it sure would be better to have extra then chance running out.
Enjoy
RJ
Enjoy
RJ
I am from ND and shooting PD is my favorite thing to do with a firearm. I have had many 1,000rd days. If you are in a good town where they want to die 300rds will not last very long. No matter how much you are hlding back. Most days are about 500rds. I usually only shoot from after noon on. Granted I know of a few towns that just rock and I know a lot where having more than 10 rounds would give you 9 shots too many.
I mainly use an flattop AR-15. Just because you have a semi does not mean you have to spray and pray like a jackass. Some days you will not shoot that many rounds. It is always better to error on the side of too much.
I mainly use an flattop AR-15. Just because you have a semi does not mean you have to spray and pray like a jackass. Some days you will not shoot that many rounds. It is always better to error on the side of too much.
Do you have a report of how many praire dogs you might encounter? And are they gun shy?
I would bring as much as you have. At least 500 rounds a day, and that might not be enough. You can always bring back the extra if you bring too much.....you sit and pout if you don't bring enough. Bring at least two guns, three or four if you have them. It is easy to burn up a barrel if the action is hot, you can't restrain yourself, and you only have one gun. When they are thick I like to set up with a centerfire on a bi-pod and a 17 HMR on shooting sticks. If they are gun shy, another centerfire on the sticks.
Last time I hunted sage rats, in a six hour period I went through 200 rounds of .223 and 300 rounds of 17 HMR. Good thing I only had the afternoon. I was alone though, so if you hunt with a couple other guys and take turns, you won't go through as much ammo. I've also been on hunts where the animals were scarce and 50 rounds a day was more than enough. But I had the extra ammo just in case.
I would bring as much as you have. At least 500 rounds a day, and that might not be enough. You can always bring back the extra if you bring too much.....you sit and pout if you don't bring enough. Bring at least two guns, three or four if you have them. It is easy to burn up a barrel if the action is hot, you can't restrain yourself, and you only have one gun. When they are thick I like to set up with a centerfire on a bi-pod and a 17 HMR on shooting sticks. If they are gun shy, another centerfire on the sticks.
Last time I hunted sage rats, in a six hour period I went through 200 rounds of .223 and 300 rounds of 17 HMR. Good thing I only had the afternoon. I was alone though, so if you hunt with a couple other guys and take turns, you won't go through as much ammo. I've also been on hunts where the animals were scarce and 50 rounds a day was more than enough. But I had the extra ammo just in case.
We have been shooting just West of Syracuse for a few years now. This location has became our season finale shoot. It is an expensive trip due to the long drive, out of state license, and trespass fee. Number of p-dogs available varies by ranch as well as weather and time of year. We pay to shoot on a 10,000 acre ranch, it seems that about 1/4 of the ranch is p-dog town. I have never seen such a large p-dog town. The town extends West well into Colorado.
If you catch the pups just out of the den they are uneducated and the shooting is up-close (sub 200 yards), fast, and furious.
Later in the year they do get gun shy and the majority of shots are at 200 yards plus. Most of our late season shots are in the 200 to 600 yard range. The 204 Ruger is my friend out to 500 yards! I am a big fan of the 17 HMR but I do not bother to take it out late in the season.
We typically shoot for two days from sun-up to near dark with only a quick stop for lunch.
Take an ice chest and lots of water.
Warning - I have stayed in some very bad hotels. Without a doubt the hotel in Syracuse is the absolute worse hotel that I have ever stayed in. We now stay at a private residence.
If you catch the pups just out of the den they are uneducated and the shooting is up-close (sub 200 yards), fast, and furious.
Later in the year they do get gun shy and the majority of shots are at 200 yards plus. Most of our late season shots are in the 200 to 600 yard range. The 204 Ruger is my friend out to 500 yards! I am a big fan of the 17 HMR but I do not bother to take it out late in the season.
We typically shoot for two days from sun-up to near dark with only a quick stop for lunch.
Take an ice chest and lots of water.
Warning - I have stayed in some very bad hotels. Without a doubt the hotel in Syracuse is the absolute worse hotel that I have ever stayed in. We now stay at a private residence.
WHEN I hunted just outside of Garden City, four of us shot well over 1000 rounds per day for 10 straight days. I shot the barrel out of 3 centerfires and 5000 PMC Zappers in my model 52 with a 14 X Unertil. My belly got sore from prone shooting. My shooting coat with padded elbos and my top sider shooes got full of those ground cactus spines. In my opinion the time to go is in May or September. June, July and August are brutally hot. May of the place I use to hunt have been poisoned out.
Good luck
Nat Lambeth
Good luck
Nat Lambeth
I have to agree with Kkeene regarding that hotel in Syracuse. We have stayed there five or six times while Phesant hunting and it is the worst. The only thing worse is the cafe and diner on the same premisies. Pretty much the only game in town.
Charlie
Charlie
I shoot at the same place as well. Excellent hunting and millions of PDogs. With 12 people hunting 10K acres just about every day, you would think they would be all shot out! Not so... those furry little nibblers are all over the place. This spring we counted 27 standing on a single mound and we hunted one lone valley that was about 1500 yards by about 2000 yards across and shot hundreds everyday. Now we meet a lot of folks that just go there to shoot numbers, but we only shoot for long range hits and don't bother with anything under 300 yards. Our average yardage is in the 450 yard range and there are tons of them out at that distance.
If you shoot them right off the hole, more just keep coming out. Seem like the other are just waiting inside the hole, then see daylight, figure it's clear to come out and you can just shoot 3-4 at a time that way. We also, get lots of 2 for 1's and even had several 3x shots this year.
Owner is a great guy. Town is the pits, hotel stinks and the drive from Denver is long and boring. However, once there... it's all worth it.
This year I'm thinking of renting an RV and just drive out into the prairie and park it. Sleep, eat and shoot off the roof. What more can you ask for ;D
If you shoot them right off the hole, more just keep coming out. Seem like the other are just waiting inside the hole, then see daylight, figure it's clear to come out and you can just shoot 3-4 at a time that way. We also, get lots of 2 for 1's and even had several 3x shots this year.
Owner is a great guy. Town is the pits, hotel stinks and the drive from Denver is long and boring. However, once there... it's all worth it.
This year I'm thinking of renting an RV and just drive out into the prairie and park it. Sleep, eat and shoot off the roof. What more can you ask for ;D
I have been to Syracuse on 2 trips and had great shooting, the motel in town is sa';lfkhjzs'lfkjsz and the food is worse.
the rancher has poisoned his dog towns and i am not sure where else in the area to go. I drive from Georgia and it is a long drive for a bad shoot - i hopeto identify the owner of the ranch you are discussing.
I would take 500 per day as others have suggested.
I also take a superaccurate 22rim fire for the shots to 75yds a lot of fun on head shots.
i use a 221fb 40x and a 22-25040x with 20x luepold
bheadboy
the rancher has poisoned his dog towns and i am not sure where else in the area to go. I drive from Georgia and it is a long drive for a bad shoot - i hopeto identify the owner of the ranch you are discussing.
I would take 500 per day as others have suggested.
I also take a superaccurate 22rim fire for the shots to 75yds a lot of fun on head shots.
i use a 221fb 40x and a 22-25040x with 20x luepold
bheadboy
The place I hunt is probably already booked for 2010. He only allows so many shooters on his land at a time and most folks that have been going there usually book and leave a deposit for the next year before they even depart.
Might need to put your name on the list for a cancellation or something. He had folks up until the end of November still shooting Pdogs ;D
You can actually see the mounts from satellite if you have the GPS coordinates. He refuses to gas or poison them... even at the demand of the government.
Might need to put your name on the list for a cancellation or something. He had folks up until the end of November still shooting Pdogs ;D
You can actually see the mounts from satellite if you have the GPS coordinates. He refuses to gas or poison them... even at the demand of the government.
Attachments
Skeeter - that looks like praire dog heaven. How many rounds go you generally go through in a day?
Where I live in the West we don't have praire dogs, but do have Belding ground squirrels we call sage rats. They come out just after the snow melts but start to hibernate by mid July, so the season isn't very long. Those mounds got my trigger finger starting to itch!
Where I live in the West we don't have praire dogs, but do have Belding ground squirrels we call sage rats. They come out just after the snow melts but start to hibernate by mid July, so the season isn't very long. Those mounds got my trigger finger starting to itch!
Skeeter, i shot on Treg Hatchers place a number of years ago, drove in from Ga. and had a great shoot, then all of a sudden went our, after talking with him and he had poisoned the towns and we had no more than 10-20 shots a day, i have not been back and it is surprising the things i am now seein on this page.
Bob
Bob
Hi Otter,
Well, I could easily shoot 500 a day by myself if I just wanted to shoot that much... however my partner and I only shoot long range > 250 yards and out to 600 yards. We take 4 rifles and 500 rounds for each and we are out by the end of the third day.
If you go in early spring say May to June the young pups are out and they can be had at pretty much close range < 200 yards... however, we skip them opting for the long range adults and maybe once and a while the 3 for 1 score on a group of pups all lined up.
bheadboy,
Hatcher holds one of the largest cattle ranches in Kansas. The father and two sons have 4 different ranches. I have not heard about them poisoning on their ranches, but it does get to a point of ridiculous abandon with these little furry beasts and since they carry the plague you cant really blame them if they do. I know the government is all over the ranchers to bomb and gas every year... who knows what ranch will be hit next.
Well, I could easily shoot 500 a day by myself if I just wanted to shoot that much... however my partner and I only shoot long range > 250 yards and out to 600 yards. We take 4 rifles and 500 rounds for each and we are out by the end of the third day.
If you go in early spring say May to June the young pups are out and they can be had at pretty much close range < 200 yards... however, we skip them opting for the long range adults and maybe once and a while the 3 for 1 score on a group of pups all lined up.
bheadboy,
Hatcher holds one of the largest cattle ranches in Kansas. The father and two sons have 4 different ranches. I have not heard about them poisoning on their ranches, but it does get to a point of ridiculous abandon with these little furry beasts and since they carry the plague you cant really blame them if they do. I know the government is all over the ranchers to bomb and gas every year... who knows what ranch will be hit next.
Otter, I had for years used centerfires for ground squirrels, but now use a Clark Special with Winchester Power Points to accomplish the same thing for far less money and....no reloading chores. Love the Clark, but I may opt for another type of non-Ruger stock with pistol-grip design that hopefully will be more comfortable for all-day shooting. My rifle is good to 125 yards if there is no wind. I will add a new Simmons Whitetail Classic scope with mil-dots.
Skeeter, thanks for clearing upthe differanced of family ranches, Treg is the son i had the bad experience with as he and i talked before the trip and then when i arrived they had been poisoned,
The first 2 trips had been great, Carol Pilant of Sierra and i went and shot more that we could count. So i will call again and see whcih ranch is un poisoned,
Thanks again.
Bob
The first 2 trips had been great, Carol Pilant of Sierra and i went and shot more that we could count. So i will call again and see whcih ranch is un poisoned,
Thanks again.
Bob
Sketter, it was either 2001but could have been 2002, he was not charging for the shooting then and he only let us shoot on the area just behind his home and south along the creek,
at that time Treg was talking of the difficult times ranching, and possibly going to the set up he now aparently runs. We wanted to pay, he did not so we took gifts to him and his wife on both trips.
Another Ga shooter went out Byrd Smith, with a friend and had a no dog shoot some months later, i am not sure where Treg had him go.
Bob
at that time Treg was talking of the difficult times ranching, and possibly going to the set up he now aparently runs. We wanted to pay, he did not so we took gifts to him and his wife on both trips.
Another Ga shooter went out Byrd Smith, with a friend and had a no dog shoot some months later, i am not sure where Treg had him go.
Bob
I would call him and get a current status update. I know of others who have been to at least one of his ranches within the past 2 years and they shot something like 2,500 in 3 days with 4 shooters (9 guns) and that was in mid July after Treg already had about 100 people out shooting thus far that the year.
The Hatcher Family are good folk, I would doubt they would intentionally have anyone come all that way not to shoot... maybe the poisoning was a surprise to him as well??? Never know what the government is going to do at any time... they are always on the ranchers backs about gasing and poisoning the PDogs. Even the town folk are against the PDog shooting.
The way it works for most is the ranchers have feed plots all ready setup for this springs growth... this forces the dogs to other areas that are not set up for feed. Those are the ranchers you want to check out as they do not have a vested interest in exterminating them like the feed ranchers. Treg is a cattle rancher and his family has a lot of land for grazing livestock.. not growing feed. knock on doors of the ranches that are not green as those will be the ones holding the dog towns. Also, if you go out, look for the short blue grass that grows in the dry dirt, that is their preferred food and will have large towns placed in and around that grass.
Good Luck
Skeeter
The Hatcher Family are good folk, I would doubt they would intentionally have anyone come all that way not to shoot... maybe the poisoning was a surprise to him as well??? Never know what the government is going to do at any time... they are always on the ranchers backs about gasing and poisoning the PDogs. Even the town folk are against the PDog shooting.
The way it works for most is the ranchers have feed plots all ready setup for this springs growth... this forces the dogs to other areas that are not set up for feed. Those are the ranchers you want to check out as they do not have a vested interest in exterminating them like the feed ranchers. Treg is a cattle rancher and his family has a lot of land for grazing livestock.. not growing feed. knock on doors of the ranches that are not green as those will be the ones holding the dog towns. Also, if you go out, look for the short blue grass that grows in the dry dirt, that is their preferred food and will have large towns placed in and around that grass.
Good Luck
Skeeter
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