Prarie Dog Hunting?
- Thread starter gene10pntr
- Start date
Gotta ask... what kinda dogs you hunting there? Bikini dogs?? Lol just messin with ya.Buy bins that have a fitting for a tripod - your arms and eyes will love you for it.
I am wanting to go for a week out West for some first time PDog Shooting. Id rather not pay a guide. I would rather nicely gift a rancher for the hospitality of shooting on his ranch. Not sure the best state to travel to either. Can anyone point me in the right direction, or care to offer a contact? Thanks A Bunch!!
Sincerely Angela-"Going In Circles" as to where to go and who to contact!
Sincerely Angela-"Going In Circles" as to where to go and who to contact!
I know of no ranchers willing to let people they do not know shoot their PD's for a fee. Most won't even let people they KNOW shoot them. They have too many cows, machines, etc. scattered around they do not want to risk getting shot. Often they don't even want you scaring their cows with gunshots. A person walking up and saying, "I've never done this before but I want to try it" is going to scare the crap out of the rancher.
If this is your first trip and don't have a bench. Get a shooting mat, elbow pads, and a great bug repellant, ticks are plentiful and unfortunate. Chiggers are HORRIBLE. We shot off mats for a number of years, 2 of us got into chiggers thankfully not me. Tuck in your shirt, some have even taped off there pant leg to prevent the little bas#&$%d's from getting in.
Shoot straight, shoot often, and be careful what you start.
Randy
Shoot straight, shoot often, and be careful what you start.
Randy
You're lucky you didn't get into plague-bearing fleas. No way I'm laying down anywhere near a dog town. Not to mention that it's an uncomfortable, crappy way to shoot.
Take a table and spray your shoes, socks, pants and table-legs with deet. Be careful with anything you lay down. You don't want take any of those fleas with you.
Take a table and spray your shoes, socks, pants and table-legs with deet. Be careful with anything you lay down. You don't want take any of those fleas with you.
The rodents periodically are decimated by plague and this kills more of them than bullets. Looking at a vast prairie dog town (community rodents) some thousands of square feet up to 3-4 feet deep (acre feet?) are deposits of filth. The rodents carry fleas, and in addition there are body fluids and poop. Practice good hygiene! Take note of KY-Windage advice!
Use Google earth maps to scout out prairie dog towns - their mounds will be visible. Get BLM maps & contact various outfitters.
I like to shoot standing using a tripod. For an 8 hour event subtracting lunch and travel between rodent sites, I generally shoot 350-400 rounds but no more than 1 round per minute (barrels are expensive). My choice rifle is a .20 Practical with 40 Vmax & IMR 8208, 11 twist, cheap .223 brass - this is good for 300 yards plus. I clean the bore every 50 rounds. I also shoot a .22-.250 7.7 twist with 75 ELDM's and have connected way out there but limit use to no more than 50 slow shots per day. Occasionally I shoot a .300 Win mag just to see how close I can hit with a cold shot at long range - no more than 20 rounds per day. I also shoot a .204R (some what less than the .20P) & a 6mm AI (max 50 per day).
Don't shoot the cute little burrowing owls - they can perch on steel T posts and the rodents can't. Watch for snakes, especially near boggy areas also having red-winged black birds. See badgers (don't shoot) eat dead rodents (gross?)
When done take a long hot soapy shower and have some cold beers.
Use Google earth maps to scout out prairie dog towns - their mounds will be visible. Get BLM maps & contact various outfitters.
I like to shoot standing using a tripod. For an 8 hour event subtracting lunch and travel between rodent sites, I generally shoot 350-400 rounds but no more than 1 round per minute (barrels are expensive). My choice rifle is a .20 Practical with 40 Vmax & IMR 8208, 11 twist, cheap .223 brass - this is good for 300 yards plus. I clean the bore every 50 rounds. I also shoot a .22-.250 7.7 twist with 75 ELDM's and have connected way out there but limit use to no more than 50 slow shots per day. Occasionally I shoot a .300 Win mag just to see how close I can hit with a cold shot at long range - no more than 20 rounds per day. I also shoot a .204R (some what less than the .20P) & a 6mm AI (max 50 per day).
Don't shoot the cute little burrowing owls - they can perch on steel T posts and the rodents can't. Watch for snakes, especially near boggy areas also having red-winged black birds. See badgers (don't shoot) eat dead rodents (gross?)
When done take a long hot soapy shower and have some cold beers.
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I agree not a comfortable way to shoot, but when we started we walked a lot and it was a portable and inexpensive way to start. Now we bring our benches, quads, campers etc. This is why I mentioned be careful what you start.
Randy
Rick300
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm just finishing a 20 Practical build with an 11 twist and was going to try that combination. What powder charge and velocity are you getting?
powderbrake
Gold $$ Contributor
We take a lot of stuff with us. It fills the back of my Tahoe. Just 2 shooters per car, 5-6 guns, ammo,rotating shooting tables, cooler, folding chairs, etc , etc , etc. We do not get down on the ground for all the reasons stated previously. Lots of sunscreen and lots of insect repellent, also carry a short barrel revolver with shotshells for the rattlesnakes.
We have gone more high tech. Kestrel 5700 on mast with a wind vane, i phone running the kestrel app, ranging binoculars, good rotating shooting tables. I like to feel like I am the apex predator, but the wind keeps me humble. It's still a real hoot when you catch two in a row and get a double.
We have gone more high tech. Kestrel 5700 on mast with a wind vane, i phone running the kestrel app, ranging binoculars, good rotating shooting tables. I like to feel like I am the apex predator, but the wind keeps me humble. It's still a real hoot when you catch two in a row and get a double.
Just under 3700, .204 40 Vmax, 24 inch barrel, with 25.5 IMR 8208. I am about to try new Lake City 5.56 brass. Redding F/L .223 bushing die with .226 bushing.
Sounds like fun.
Thinking about getting some type of observation drone but am concerned about noise and the rodent's fear of aerial predation.
I can't think of anything that would send them down their
I can't think of anything that would send them underground faster, watch their reaction anytime a bird flys over.
drover
I can't think of anything that would send them underground faster, watch their reaction anytime a bird flys over.
drover
powderbrake
Gold $$ Contributor
We took a drone last year, and only flew it when the dogs were down. The few that were up did duck down.
Saw an eagle get a PD in November. He had dug his hole too close to the ridge. The eagle came over the ridge low from the blind-side going 50 MPH. The squirrel heard it when it cleared the ridge and made a dash for its hole, but did not make it before the talons sank in.
I have been on 4 hunts and set my guns up for distance , 223AI out to 350 220 swift shooting 55's and 75's 1-8 Twist that barrel is gone ha out to 700. 25-06AI 300-850 . If you ever wanted to fire form brass now is the time to do it. don't forget a 22 rimfire the prairie is dry and you can really see the impacts and walk the rounds in. I have hit them so far away by actually holding on rocks above them in the distance that I won't even mention how far because most wouldn't believe it.
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