• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Prairie Dog Trip 2022

Big_Daddy

Big_Daddy

Gold $$ Contributor
Just returned from my annual North Dakota Prairie Dog "eradication" trip...:D

Fuel prices were pretty stupid everywhere. Over $1000 in diesel!
The Prairie Dogs were plentiful as always.
We shot a BUNCH of them over 3 days.
Extreme wind shortened day 3. It was blowing 25-30 mph.

The newly built 223 performed well.
My longest shot, confirmed by actually walking down to the sight of the kill and pinning the GPS location, was 593.4 yards with an average 14 mph wind.

Overall a great trip with 2 of my great friends.
Here is a picture of the GPS line and a picture of my friend posing with my "prize" circled in black.
It was a pup that was about the size of a tennis shoe....
 

Attachments

  • 593_5 Shot.jpg
    593_5 Shot.jpg
    287.7 KB · Views: 187
  • Kelly Shot 2.jpg
    Kelly Shot 2.jpg
    1.5 MB · Views: 178
Last edited:
Had some awsome shoots in South Dakota and Kansas. We found (if possible) set up where wind is directly behind you or in front of you. Much easier than trying to guess wind. I know not always possible but it helps. Havn't been in a few years but sure do miss it. Congrats!
 
My best shot, out in Montana with a local. He was directing fire and shooting with a couple of my buddies. I walked back over the hill to them. They were prone on bipods shooting with a full value wind rtl. As I approached I could see they were bracketing a couple mounds, that I ranged at 462 yards. I asked them what is problem hitting the dogs? They said the wind was. I said let me take a shot. Checked range and wind again on my Kestral, dialed the stac. Got the bipod/bag positioned and shot the adult pd(late July). Center punched him right off the mound,53gr vmax. I got up grabbed my stuff and as I walked off, told them to holler if they need help. Figured that was walk off worthy shot with a factory 223 rifle.
 
I had two days last week near Clearwater WY when it was calm enough to use .22H and .17H out to 225 yds with at most holding on the edge of the dog, and 95% were pups the size of a peeled banana. actually got a 365yd shot with the .22H.
 
markT said:
Eradication? Yea right. Ha. We shot the same spot 5 days in a row and not even a dent.
We spent $1400.02 in diesel. About $5.05 / gal. Ouch.
Like to hear about the new build. Action bbl bullet?
Nice looong shot for sure.
Click to expand...

Just could not hit them ?Might look for a new build. That will fix them for next year ?
 
Headed for WY on the 11th. Had the trip planned for months but we're getting a little worried over fuel and motel costs now.
Hoping for good weather and lots of targets.
 
shoot4fun said:
Headed for WY on the 11th. Had the trip planned for months but we're getting a little worried over fuel and motel costs now.
Hoping for good weather and lots of targets.
Click to expand...
Pack a small tent and several cans of pintos. Won't help with the cost of fuel, but it might take your mind off of it while you're trying to doze off at night.
But do hope you enjoy the trip! Had planned to make it out again, but at the moment it's not looking very promising. The LVSF 204R may just have to find a new home.
 
We have a trip to SD planned mid July--no telling what diesel will be by then but not turning back--
Will be our first trip prairie dogging--I have a Savage BVSS 223 that is dialed in pretty good
I have a couple of cases of Fiocchi 50g Vmax and have about 1500 rounds of 53g Vmax reloaded that shoots well. Our local range here in North Carolina is just 150 yds so I am guessing we will have heck of a learning curve but going for laughs, time with my friends, and....the road trip is just as important--we plan to hit the vintage road races at Elkhart lake the weekend before we shoot--and am doing my research for every great spot to eat there and back--
Might be our last rodeo for a while with the way things are going so we plan to make the very most of it
 
moorepower said:
I had two days last week near Clearwater WY when it was calm enough to use .22H and .17H out to 225 yds with at most holding on the edge of the dog, and 95% were pups the size of a peeled banana. actually got a 365yd shot with the .22H.
Click to expand...
''Peeled Banana'', l love it.
Me and the Kid's prairie dog trip got burned out this year due to New Mexico forest fires. Still have a thousand rds of 223Rem and 22WMR floating somewhere between CSRA of Ga/SC and NM shipped in May.
 
Looks like a grand time there, Big_Daddy. This was the first year of shooting either ground squirrels or PD's in mid-April that we got zero CF bench or walkabout bipod shooting due to unexpected Arctic conditions. Huge fields of fresh alfalfa were covered in snow with 30+ mph winds driving it at 25*F. Burrr!



After driving 150 miles hauling trailers with gas prices higher then ever, it was small consolation to at least get some 'drive-by' out the truck window action with our custom 10-22's for the rats that didn't have the sense to stay in their burrows. My 20VT, and other CF's never got uncased. First time ever, hopefully the last. Gettin' old, don't know how many more seasons I've got left. It really blows when the WX ruins the entire extended trip of the season, especially when other commitments prevent a return to the fields.

This is how it usually looks....a much different picture.



So enjoy those days of sun with friends and accurate rifles with beaucoup targets when you git 'em. Wildfires, Arctic storms blowing in.....WTF?
 
Last edited:
Happy for you. Nothing like a road trip & some dog shooting. I always travel alone in my Outback making the 1266 mile trip in 2 days. After driving the back roads & plenty of 10MPH roads I'm happy with 27.3 MPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Classified Ads

Forum statistics

Threads
164,829
Messages
2,185,102
Members
78,541
Latest member
LBanister

Share This Page

Back
Top