The Evolution of a Prairie Dog Hunter

[jamesdmock]

" As I lifted the bolt of my Remington Varmint Synthetic rifle, my mind raced back to the beginning of my hobby of shooting prairie dogs. Back in the 70's an acquaintance of mine showed me some pictures that he had taken on a p'dog shoot. Being a resident of Louisiana, I considered varmint hunting to be shooting coyotes, crows, and an occasional fox. Now a new seed was planted in my mind... prairie dog shooting. However, these rodents are indigenous to the prairies, which are far removed from Louisiana. Who would drive a thousand miles or more to shoot rodents?
The idea was placed on the back burner for many years, until one day in the fall of 1990. While perusing the used gun rack at my brother's gun shop in Bossier City, the p'dog subject came up. My brother introduced me to Wayne Tabor who had taken the plunge and had driven to Kadoka, SD to shoot p'dogs. Well...kindred minds met and we began to plan for a '91 trip.
Wayne asked me what firearms did I have suitable to shoot these critters. I told him of my SAKO .223 and a Ruger #1 in .220 Swift. He agreed that I had the necessary armament for the job. Wayne stated that he planned to use two rifles.. a Remington Police Sniper in .223 and a Remington 40X in .22/.250. He told me that fragile bullets are a MUST for the job. The farmers and ranchers of the area frown on ricochets, and they will ask you to leave the area if they detect any. Wayne found an accurate (and cheap) fragile bullet in the 50 grain Remington Power-lokt hollowpoint. I used 52 grain Speer HP in the Swift, and Speer TNT's for the .223.
Since both of us are educators and would be out of school, we chose the last week of June for our trip. We left Shreveport at 4:00 AM on June 26th, 1991, headed to Kadoka with enough armament to start a medium revolution in a 3rd world nation. Wayne added a 6mm Remington and I added a .22 Long Rifle rimfire at the last minute.
As Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska were in the rearview mirror, our destination neared.
By sunrise the next day, we were at the motel in Kadoka and got our licenses, and permits to hunt the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Off to the field we ventured and I had the first shot....an easy 150 yard one. MISSED! Wayne said that I shot high. After that the hits got much easier and we shot ~ 350 rounds each that first day. I WAS HOOKED!
We brought out the .22/.250 and the Swift for some long range shooting the next day. Both of us made some spectacular hits and some spectacular misses at the longer distances. I ran out of ammo on the 3rd day but borrowed some .223 rounds from Wayne.
All good things must end and the 4th day found us on the road back to Louisiana. Shooting prairie dogs is
akin to drinking water from the Zambeze River. It is stated that if one drinks water from the Zambeze, he/she must return. I don't know about that, but I do know that I had to return to the p'dog towns.
I have returned...to Newcastle, WY in 1992, Encampment, WY in '93, '94, & will return in '95."

I can't believe that this first p'dog shoot was 33 years ago. I have shot these rodents in CO, WY, SD, and NE with my favorite being Wyoming. Wayne and I added two friends to our party - Bucky Murdock and John Boughton, both of these men have since passed away, but the memories are vivid.
Please excuse the length of this post, but this is the write-up I made back then for The Varmint Hunter Magazine. If you have thought about such a varmint hunt...go for it. James Mock

 

[tstowater]

I have found that the evolution of a prairie dog shooter is just spending more money on guns, ammo, travel, licenses, etc. Wish I would have started when I was younger. Met a lot of great people on the adventures.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I started "real" colony varmint shooting in 1968 upon returning to "The World". Before that as a boy, thousands of ground squirrels fell to my old Mossberg 22LR. Only missed two spring seasons since due to medical issues, but still going strong after 56 seasons behind a rifle. My PD shooting has been in MT, SD and WY, but I get much more quality shooting right here at home in Orygun on ground squirrels....more of 'em, much more stupid = more shooting.

Reading all the responses here, it makes me wonder how much I've spent in those 56 years of "having the most fun you can have with a rifle". Don't really care, it's what I do, and what I love to do. I hope to be doing it until I'm pushin' up daisies.

 

[B23]

ground squirrels....more of 'em, much more stupid = more shooting.

I hope to be doing it until I'm pushin' up daisies.

Oh, I'm nearly certain sage rats have got to be the dumbest little critters I've ever had that pleasure of chootin. They're cute little buggers but, damn, are they dumb.

Now, in saying that wouldn't it be some serious Karma to be reincarnated as a sage rat in Central Oregon. LOL

 

[sandwarrior]

I grew up in Nevada shooting jackrabbits on our dairy farm on the edge of the desert. At the time I was young, I kinda felt that was enough varminting and challenge for shooting for me. Well, as work took me to Montana in '90, I felt the need to go varminting more. And there weren't that many jacks around. So, a friend told me of some places where you could hunt 'gophers'. In Montana those were Columbian ground squirrels, so I was told. Anyhow, they looked like prairie dogs but smaller. I shot 'em with 70-87 fr, HP's out of my .243. Pretty successful, but that was a lot of power for them li'l buggers. When I moved to Helena to go to A&P shool I bought my heavy barreled Win 70 in .222 Rem. Oh, that was a killer! My first trip out I shot 31 of 32 from 100 to 350 yds. I used to shoot south of Boulder too, Great towns out there. My best hit was at 560 with my .257 Roberts (needed some range over the .222). Then moved to MN, and shot a few times out in North and South Dakota. All said and done, I could not find a more enjoyable shooting endeavor than poppin' gophers, or p-dogs.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Oh, I'm nearly certain sage rats have got to be the dumbest little critters I've ever had that pleasure of chootin. They're cute little buggers but, damn, are they dumb.

Now, in saying that wouldn't it be some serious Karma to be reincarnated as a sage rat in Central Oregon. LOL

Ya know B23, we've had that exact conversation many times in the field. If that comes to pass, I hope the guy behind the trigger has a good load with an explosive bullet to make it quick.

We've also joked about when our expiration date occurs, to be cremated and a friend load about 15gr of our ashes into a squirrel load for one final trip downrange.

 

[B23]

We've also joked about when our expiration date occurs, to be cremated and a friend load about 15gr of our ashes into a squirrel load for one final trip downrange.

That's not a bad idea and I can think of a lot worse ways to make that final trip.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I think a dog town in some rolling hills would be better than a cornfield, at least for my ashes.

 

[209jones]

I got into gophers in about 1987 or so, a Browning A bolt 22 turned out to be the favorite .22 for that, and then a Ruger #1 in 22-250. One farm I shot on lasted 3 yrs, load 200 rds, shoot Fri or Sat, depending on long weekend or not, load Sat nite, shoot Sun, maybe load again Sun nite and shoot Mon, from about Apr 1st til late June, when grass got too tall. Used a brick of .22 shells most weekends. Haven't found one as good as that was since, but, still plenty of decent spots around, just not those quantities. Still using much the same combo for guns, Stevens 044-1/2 in 218Bee and a Browning 1885 in 223, an now a Browning T-bolt 22. Occasionally take an H&H 300Rook out with me, 90gr cast bullets, it's fun.

 

[birdog]

First PD trip was to Rosebud in 2004. Next year stopped in a small Ansley, Neb country restaurant for lunch. Waitress wanted to know why we pay to hunt at Rosebud and told us we could shoot here for free. Her brother-in-law was in there eating and took us to several dog towns. Never went any further. Went back to Ansley 3 more times that year. Shot there 3 or 4 years till they poisoned the dogs. Somewhere in this times slot and picked up a little know country dentist named Voldoc who was very, very competitive and drove me to stay on top of my game. Then to South Dakota next two years. Poisoned. They to Colorado next 3 years. each trip we tried to make a longer shot. Got in the 1,000 yard club first time in Colorado with a Dasher. First was 1107 yd. with 8 twist and SMK 107 or Berger 105's. Then I twisted off the 8 twist and put on a 7.5 twist and went with the 115 Berger. 1,000 was easier with the 115's. Made 1000 yd shots every day of the trip. Four on last day with Voldoc on my heels. Late Wednesday evening we were shooting a very flat spot and we had to put out a flag at the 1,000 yard line. Just before the sunset when dogs were going in for the day, I picked out one. Couldn't range him because it was to flat. I only knew he was well past 1,000. Voldoc and JR Carter were spotting me. I dialed up the NF DD untill I had no elevation left, but there was a line below the lower dot that was just right. I was hitting very, very close each shot, low, left, right, high by inches. I said guys I am shooting a shot gun pattern and I am going to land one in the middle eventually. On maybe the 6th shot the dog layed down and another dog went over and smelled him. Dead right there. We left JR looking at the dog with my scope and a walkie-talkie. Doc and I got in the truck and JR talked us in to the DOG. We ranged back to the 1,000 yard flag and it was 400 yards past the 1,000 yd line. 1392 yards.

 

[Lee Whitsel]

in my older years i don't d much big game hunting any more t hard to get an elk out by yourself so now almost all my shooting is gophers and pdpgs. no skinning, no dragging, no grinding up meat, just keep shooting. speaking of that i got to grab some cereal and head out shooting right now. i just love (wife also) popping those desert rats. Wife and I where camping for 2 days just north of YNP we saw 17 griz, 3 black bears, a pack of wolves fighting with 2 griz that was a real sight , moose, deer, all in 6 hours of glassing the mountain sides. I love retiring here to Montana what a Last Great Place it is... We saw 2 black bears breading a couple weeks ago over May 30 out our car window no joke.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Thank you James for posting this thread.

 

[sw282]

I grew up where deer are VARMINTS. We killed all we could behind a pack of dogs with a shotgun
from 15Aug til New Years. After Viet Nam l ended up on Ft Gordon Ga in 1972. ln that area deer were considered varmints TOO. Dogs were not welcome but rifles were! Only down side of rifle hunting is sitting quietly and waiting. l had much more fun shooting than waiting. Fast forward to 1990 the Army sent me to FT Hood TX. lt was my first trip out West, also saw my first prairie dog. A porn magazine called Varmint Hunter helped seal my addiction. 1991 saw me back in TX once again on my first prairie dog trip. l found an outfitter near Plain View TX. He was a DPS Officer by day. Prairie Dog 0utfitter in his off time. The first trip l took a couple Winchester Model 70s. A sporter in 222rem and a Heavy Varmint in 243. l also took 300rds of S&B 50gr sps for the 222 and 200/243s. All factory ammo. The ''hunt'' was for 3 days. End of the second day l was out of 222s. With only 243s left l started started with the HV. Halfway thru the second box of 243s l began flinching. Twas then and there l called it a day.
ln the past 30 yrs l have shot the RoseDud twice. Had a couple great trips to North Dakota. Been to WYO
several to shoots there too. l even shot ground squirrels once in Goose Lake OR. New Mexico has great PD shooting..
My job after working for the US Army blessed me with a 4 day work week!! l started doing 2 day quickie PD trips. Fly out Friday. Shoot Sat, Sunday. Call in sick/fly home Monday. Almost lmmidiately l realized l had no interest in long shots. My fun shot is/was inside 200yds where l could hear and see them POP.. Favourite preferred caliber is/has always been a 222Rem.

 

[Rook 6]

Wow! Thanks for the post James. Small world! I am in my third year on PDs and stage out of Kadoka! I remember Bucky and his escapades quite well! Parents are divorced and my dad knew him from when my dad lived in NOLA in the seventies. We were eating in a restaurant in Raton during silhouette nationals in, I think 1982(?) and I managed to choke on an ice cube. Bucky smacked my back hard enough to launch the cube onto the floor. Crossed over the table without touching it! Memories!

 

[jamesdmock]

Wow! Thanks for the post James. Small world! I am in my third year on PDs and stage out of Kadoka! I remember Bucky and his escapades quite well! Parents are divorced and my dad knew him from when my dad lived in NOLA in the seventies. We were eating in a restaurant in Raton during silhouette nationals in, I think 1982(?) and I managed to choke on an ice cube. Bucky smacked my back hard enough to launch the cube onto the floor. Crossed over the table without touching it! Memories!

Bucky was quite a character. In Cheyenne one morning we stopped for a buffet breakfast and Bucky (almost deaf) put hollandaise sauce on his biscuits and loudly proclaimed that was the sorriest gravy that he had ever eaten. Wayne Tabor told him that it was not gravy; to which Bucky responded "huh". Wayne said that it was hollandaise sauce. Bucky, like me, had no idea what hollandaise sauce was.

 

[shoot4fun]

I just got home from wreaking havoc on prairie dogs in Wyoming.
This was my 24th year of at least one trip somewhere to help reduce their population.
For several years it was twice a year to the Texas Panhandle. Shot on a couple great cattle ranches above Dumas for a few years and later in the Dalhart area. Plague hit them pretty hard and we ventured out farther.
Done the deed in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota over the years. I've seen parts of our great USA that would (in my eyes) rival any foreign destination in this world.
The time was I let nothing deter a continual barrage of precision fire on the critters but, of late, I found that I'm not near as mad at them as I used to be.
This year I took a little time for this:
Just over 1 mile on an 11" wide target. @Alex Wheeler builds great long range rifles for bench rest but he knows a thing or three about ELR stuff too. 300 Norma Magnum 35˚ Improved shooting 215 Hybrids.
Two hits with Berger factory ammo (300 NM) and two with formed brass reloaded with 215 Hybrids.
(my buddy's shot right at the bottom).
The two center hits (small smudges) factory and other two are the Improved loads.

 

[birdog]

I just got home from wreaking havoc on prairie dogs in Wyoming.
This was my 24th year of at least one trip somewhere to help reduce their population.
For several years it was twice a year to the Texas Panhandle. Shot on a couple great cattle ranches above Dumas for a few years and later in the Dalhart area. Plague hit them pretty hard and we ventured out farther.
Done the deed in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota over the years. I've seen parts of our great USA that would (in my eyes) rival any foreign destination in this world.
The time was I let nothing deter a continual barrage of precision fire on the critters but, of late, I found that I'm not near as mad at them as I used to be.
This year I took a little time for this:
Just over 1 mile on an 11" wide target. @Alex Wheeler builds great long range rifles for bench rest but he knows a thing or three about ELR stuff too. 300 Norma Magnum 35˚ Improved shooting 215 Hybrids.
Two hits with Berger factory ammo (300 NM) and two with formed brass reloaded with 215 Hybrids.
(my buddy's shot right at the bottom).
The two center hits (small smudges) factory and other two are the Improved loads.

What was your longest PD kill and what caliber and scope????

 

[shoot4fun]

What was your longest PD kill and what caliber and scope????

For this trip mostly we shot 200-500 yards. I took several rifles but wound up doing the majority of my shooting with 22-250.
As for scopes, the rifle I shot most wears a NF NXS 5.5-22 mead with Mil-R reticle.

 

[Fern]

my wife thinks I’m crazy for spending money to rebarrel rifle for prairie dogs. Had to explain to the p dogs give my rifle more action then any big game rifle I have.
We’re trying to take my friends dad who’s 82 out for some prairie dog action.
We have thrown the idea out of a guys road trip to another state but to find land on an unknown area could be a bust but could also find our spot