Prarrie dog hunts where you have to fly

[mshelton]

Those that have done it how do you usually handle it?

Ship all your reloading stuff out to your destination and try to find powder nearby, find a local that can secure powder/primers for you, ship everything and just pay the hazmat fee?

 

[hogpatrol]

I ship my loaded ammo UPS a couple weeks ahead of time. Last pd hunt, I flew United & they charged an extra $25.00 for two rifles in one case. Way cheaper than UPS and insurance for the distance I traveled. Some airlines restrict the number of firearms you can take in checked baggage.

 

[waterfwlr]

Depends on how much you plan to shoot. Airlines allow 11 pounds of ammunition per person. I fly with 600 rounds every year without a problem. 2 rifles per case also.

 

[mshelton]

Depends on how much you plan to shoot. Airlines allow 11 pounds of ammunition per person. I fly with 600 rounds every year without a problem. 2 rifles per case also.

I just don't have that much brass, never had a need for it. On the east coast and groundhog hunting most days you shoot under 25 rounds with a rifle, especially if you bring a long and short range setup. Most all of my guns just have 50 pieces for them, the unused 50 is either setting on the shelf or given away. I know with Prairiedogging I would need to have at least 100 per rifle but don't really have a long term need for more than that. That's why I was looking to have the reloading stuff out there, hunt during the day and reload at night.

 

[Greyfox]

Reloading at night in your situation really isn't a very good idea. Even if you were driving and had plenty of room to bring all the tools and such you need to do this (and you don't), after a satisfying day of blasting self erecting, self resetting, reactive, biodegradable targets in the hot prairie sun you will not want to spend several hours reloading what you shot for the day. It would not be unusual at all to go through 300-500 rounds (I have shot over 1000) a day. When your bud's are enjoying a good meal and maybe a few adult beverages, do you really think you want to be chained to a makeshift reloading bench until everyone else has gone to bed?

Not trying to be a smart ass.....well yes, I guess I am ., but think this through. Brass is just a part of doing business in a dog town. If you are talking about something that is expensive like Lapua, you might want to consider other options. But anything based on 223 cases would be a slam dunk. Just buy the brass, stuff it at home, ship it by UPS, carry your rifles or even have them shipped as well. Go have a good time, eat a good meal every night, get a good night's sleep and take lots of pictures. You'll be glad you did.

Rick

 

[Phil]

I take AT LEAST 1000 rounds for each rifle I bring, that said, when I do fly, I ship it to one of many friends and pick it up on my way after landing.....

You could also make arrangements to ship it to your outfitter, I`m sure he would be of help, since this guarantees (sp?) that you will be coming prepared....

 

[Codeman]

+1 on taking enough ammo so as not to have to reload.

 

[CaptainMal]

Hang on a bit. Those guys shooting up to a 1,000 rds per day are NOT going out there for the first time or maybe the second. My take is they either live in the hunting area or lease, pay to hunt with some guide.

Been out West a few times on hunts. Never, even after a week of hunting, did I shoot over 500 rds in the whole week. Much of that was 17 HMR and 22 lr. also. Loved the hunts but my background was groundhog hunting in Pennsylvania.

Each time I hunted on public (BLM) land. There never was a time when targets abounded to the tune of 1,000's. Plenty for me though compared to all the hog hunts I did for decades. Much of the time I spent getting lost and trying to find a safe place to shoot without trespassing. That part was the hardest thing of all.

I say take a few hundred rounds for the centerfires and add a few boxes of 17 HMR to go with one of those rifles. You will have fun and shoot yourself to a smile. Reload if you want to but I would not waste much fun time. Busy a few hundred cases and load them before you go.

 

[L.Sherm]

CaptainMal I don't know out west where you went gopher i.e. praire dog shooting but 500 rounds in a week well I mean that sucks, I consider 300-500 an avg day where I hunt in Montana.

 

[mshelton]

I might just look at something like rock chuck hunting paired with antelope or something then. Might be a little easier on barrels and the whole ammo and reloading situation.

 

[waterfwlr]

I've shot prairie dogs in South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. The average has been 400-500 rounds a day between two guys.

 

[people]

CaptainMal I don't know out west where you went gopher i.e. praire dog shooting but 500 rounds in a week well I mean that sucks, I consider 300-500 an avg day where I hunt in Montana.

No kidding and that is usually just an afternoon.


With that said. Ship more than you need. You can always have it shipped back. I have seen too many that are limiting their shooting to make their ammo last.

 

[CaptainMal]

Hunted out of Medicine Boy in Wyoming, Zortman Montana, Eads Colorado and some crazy places along Rt. 66 in Arizona. Each time I spent most of the time trying to find places to hunt. Sometimes unsuccessfully with many rejections by locals after lots of inquiries and driving.

In Montana I spent much time getting my truck out of the gumbo, another day knocking the mess off and then getting an earful from the landowner for coming out that evening rather than spending the night alone out there. Paid $150 a day twice and still got little to show for it.

Probably 6 - 7 trips from the East and now from Florida in the South. Never had anything remotely like so many of you speak of. Not even close. Often speak with others and their stories are not far off from mine.

Do not want to steal this post. Respond to the original poster and help him make his trip better. Just relating my multiple experiences and I'm still dumb enough to spend time and thousands to try again in 2015.

 

[lrgoodger]

Reloading in the field for PD - bad idea! If you get even a half way decent area, you can go through 100 rounds in a couple hours easy. You will NOT be reloading 300 rounds per evening and having fun at the same time.

 

[searcher]

Went on a trip several months ago and two of my three shooting partners ran out of ammo before the trip was over. Not much fun for them unless somebody brought a lot extra. If going for P.D.s or squirrels in a good area, 300 rounds per day is common. This is more "shooting" than hunting. Ground hogs require much less, I'm sure.

 

[webfoot56]

The only thing about the phrase prairie dog hunting is you are HUNTING for a good locale to shoot your rifles. Otherwise you are just actually sitting or moving from time to time to new area and shoot some more etc. repeat the scenario. If you hit a honey spot 2-3 days is plenty of time for shooting if you are lucky enough to shoot 500 rounds a day. That is a lot of shooting. Weather is always a factor on the prairie though.

 

[Dan Hall]

I hunt north east Montana every year and the more I go the less I shoot, for the most part. The targets are there nothing has changed in that respect I just hunt them differently now. When I first went we took benches and set up on the larger fields and shot. Starting at close range and rimfires and ended up at long range with 243s or 6.5s. Now I enjoy the spot and stalk prairie dog shoots the most with smaller calibers and rimfires. We still shoot 300-500 rounds a day, and could shoot more if we wanted, but most are 22 lr-22 mag-17 HMR and 22 Hornet. My favorite new cartridge is the 20 Vartarg in a Dakota Predator. No recoil so you see all the hits without a muzzle break and the rifle is lighter in general. Also a cool Anschutz 1727 in 17 HMR. That gun is a blast but the bottom line is I enjoy the hunt now more that just the shoot.
You could also fly into southern Idaho and hunt southern Idaho and northern Nevada for Rockchucks. That is hunting, and great country. Dakota Predator in 6 BR rules there.

 

[Dan Hall]

Another idea for flying in is Eastern and central Oregon for some of the best Sage rat, Beldings ground squirrel, shooting in the country. And you use rimfires and small center fires most of the time so your weight limit on ammo will still allow a lot of ammo on the airlines. Fly into Bend Oregon and hunt there or around Burn's. The access is wide open because the Alfalfa farmers don't just allow you to hunt they typically will post info in the local gun stores to let the hunter/shooters in the area know which ranch to shoot at. Usually no charge. Bring lots of ammo.

 

[rumpzz]

Always drove to Wyoming from Texas my shooting buddy and I brought 11 weapons and 5300 rounds of ammo. If you ain't shooting at least 300 to 500 rounds a day you need to stay home,flying could be done with two weapons if your on a 3 day shoot and yes ups your ammo to outfitter.you have all year long to reload for 2015 good luck and start buying plenty of powder

 

[jwcrabb]

My Son and I flew out west last year for PDs. It was no trouble at all. We had one big duffel bag with two of the fold out Turkey hunter type chairs, and two of the Caldwell field pod rests inside. We both shot 17 Fireballs, so we were able to pack our ammo in our checked baggage. I can't remember the limit, but it goes by weight I think. With the small caliber we were easily able to pack enough ammo for a weekend trip as still make the weight limit. I think we packed around 800 rds. We had never been that way before and were on public land. We would check out possible areas we had located by Google Earth. Not high volume shooting, but plenty and a great time.