Prairie Dog trip report

[17cal Fan]

Home from our annual trip to Montana for Prairie Dogs. Had a great trip! I shot 1225 centerfire rounds and a couple hundred CCI Stingers in 22LR.

I took a 222, 22 Hornet, 17 Hornet, 17 Fireball and Marlin 22LR. The 17's still got shot the most. Zero recoil, high velocity and amazing accuracy. Nothing to regret there. I had built the 22 Hornet for the last trip and didn't shoot it much. That held true for this year as well. Considering rebarreling it to 17 Hornet so I ran it across the chronograph when I got home. It's running 3000 FPS with Barnes 30gr bullets but just not as exciting as the 17's.

I guess between poison and the plague a couple of our favorite spots were short on dogs but we found plenty to shoot elsewhere.

Had a wicked storm roll in on us Monday evening but we were back at the motel when it arrived. The wind hampered us on Tuesday and Wednesday but it didn't shut us down completely.

Me and my brother parked the truck and walked in with Bog Death Grip tripods on Thursday. Walked through the dog town and burned a ton of ammo. Back at the truck resting/swapping stories and preparing to leave, we shot probably another 20 dogs with his HMR and this continued until it got dark enough that we stopped seeing them. Guess they are early to bed early to rise.

All in all, great trip and left behind enough food for the predators to be fat and happy for a few days.

The CZ 17 Hornet Varmint is on the tripod. Ran just over 400 rounds through it without cleaning. Shot it across the chrono when I got home running 3650+.


My brother on his bench on top the ladder rack.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Thanks for sharing

 

[5spd]

Glad you had a good time.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Any time we're out with a rifle for varmints is a good time. Glad your trip went well and you're now safe at home with great memories.

 

[JSH]

Now Bill, you know you have to clean those 17 center fires or they won’t shoot worth a hoot.

 

[17cal Fan]

Now Bill, you know you have to clean those 17 center fires or they won’t shoot worth a hoot.

Old wives tale maybe. I still haven't cleaned them. Wiped them down and put them in the safe and will get to them before the week is over. Would be happy for you to come over and watch me fire rounds through them before I actually clean them. But when I clean them they will be spit shined and finished with a light coat of oil until I check them out for the next trip.

 

[paulvandenburgh]

Hi Bill, My name is Paul and I'm want to go to SD Prairie Dog hunting in June this yr. I live in North West Indiana and need to share the cost and the driving out there. At 78 yrs. old i would not be able to drive for two whole days then hunt and then drive two more days back home....... Any and all input would be very helpful.

 

[cmillard]

Paul, i would recommend wyoming for PD. Did a bunch of that out there. No cost even for out of stater. No license needed. I hunted public ground off of I90 around and to the east of Buffalo, Wyoming. Shot A LOT of em, shot a coyote and of course my pronghorn.