Where can i shoot prarie dogs??

[mongo chicago]

Nothing is free or cheap anymore. Since I started pd hunting (2002) I have gone with an outfitter. Some good some disappointing. Still - no regrets.

 

[sw282]

Yes. That magazine was the worst thing for varmint shooters.

NOT for me. Without Varmint Hunter Magazine l would have NEVER known where to go. l don't mind paying an outfitter. Fact IS: I prefer an outfitter who KNOWS his game/varmints. l live in South Carolina.. Not too many prairie dogs here. Varmint Hunters Magazine helped us ALL

 

[Blaster 1]

NOT for me. Without Varmint Hunter Magazine l would have NEVER known where to go. l don't mind paying an outfitter. Fact IS: I prefer an outfitter who KNOWS his game/varmints. l live in South Carolina.. Not too many prairie dogs here. Varmint Hunters Magazine helped us ALL

I like to shoot them in the head great acrobats

 

[spencerhenry]

I like to shoot them in the head great acrobats

???
My experience is head shots just fall over, aim for the fat belly, thats what makes them explode.

 

[D Coots]

You're about 15 to 20 yrs late in your observations . The free shooting days are pretty much history. The Varmint Hunter magazine ruin it.

Honest enough question but no prairie dog shooter in their right mind is going to share a hard-earned hot spot. Just pay an outfitter.

Right on Redrock.

I paid outfitters 3 times. They all sucked. Paid the last one $175 for a day and shot maybe 150 rounds, many long shots. He wouldn't move all day. I wouldn't mind paying but not for that kind of crap. Getting tired of looking for places to shoot. Been to Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota the last 3 years. I live in Iowa.

I guess I recall the good shooting from years ago before Varmint Hunter ruined it. Was in a dog town on the rez one time and this dumb azz from out east somewhere drove right by where we were shooting and set up 300 yards in the direction we were shooting...wtf?? Hardly worth the drive anymore if I can't fire 250-300 rounds a day. I get plenty of practice driving going to matches and races to compete.

Later
Dave

 

[redrockranger]

Right on Redrock.

I paid outfitters 3 times. They all sucked. Paid the last one $175 for a day and shot maybe 150 rounds, many long shots. He wouldn't move all day. I wouldn't mind paying but not for that kind of crap. Getting tired of looking for places to shoot. Been to Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota the last 3 years. I live in Iowa.

I guess I recall the good shooting from years ago before Varmint Hunter ruined it. Was in a dog town on the rez one time and this dumb azz from out east somewhere drove right by where we were shooting and set up 300 yards in the direction we were shooting...wtf?? Hardly worth the drive anymore if I can't fire 250-300 rounds a day. I get plenty of practice driving going to matches and races to compete.

Later
Dave

The last trip was to Montana. Small ranch with a 1 rm cabin, nice accommodations . Unguided . 1 trip with rancher to show the towns. Told us he had more dogs elsewhere ? Never did show it to us. Stated that he had more dogs than we had ammo. He was certainly correct. One shot and those dogs went down for 30 minutes . Wash, rinse , repeat. It was $200.00 away. Booked for 3 days. After 2 days we went to the hse and payed up and left for Iowa.

 

[D Coots]

Typical of any overshot guided trip I've been on.

 

[redrockranger]

I shot my first dog in 1983. Western Nebraska . Stopped at a farm/ranch and the man looks at our license plates and say's you drove clear out here to shoot a praraie dog ? . Many think we are first timers and never seen a dog town . It doesn't take long to evaluate a town.

 

[Ironworker]

The last several years, plague has also been a big hit.

Some areas bounced back, but just a little and not to the levels from before hand.

So several factors are making this much more difficult, in addition to the ones mentioned above.

The plague wiped out my hotspot in MT last year. Out HWY 87 towards Hardin

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Tons of em in NM

 

[Lefty2506]

Our first trip was out by Devil's Tower in Wy. We paid an outfitter, and it was worth the $$. Since then, we've hunted in SD on our own because its closer, but the shooting hasn't been as good. If $$ wasn't an issue, I'd fly into an outfitter who specializes in PDs and enjoy the entire trip. For me cost, and vacation time are an issue so I'm happy to be able to go shoot 100-150 rnds/day for a couple of days before having to drive back (about 17 hrs each way).

 

[itchyTF]

Tons of em in NM

N, E S or W?

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Hunted them in Eastern Oregon when I lived there.

PD's?

 

[powderbrake]

Being from nc, we don't have them anywhere close that I know of. Where can I go to shoot Prarie dogs? Ive google searched it a little but didn't find out much as far as a place to go but did learn that the ones that have them absolutely hate them and can't kill them fast enough so don't think it would make much sense to pay an outfitter.

I remember when there were lots of PD's and free shooting. I was a lot younger then. Now it probably pays to find an outfitter/guide, particularly on your first trip.
I suggest looking at the game and fish department websites for the states that have PD's. ND, SD, CO, MT, WY are most likely. They will tell you the license requirements and gun and ammo requirements for varmints, and may reference guides/outfitters. Also look up and contact the local game wardens for suggestions on locations.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

N, E S or W?

I seen thousands starting at the az border all the way to texas.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I keep thinking I would be a nice guy and take a shooter with sometime, but too many stories of getting burned later by a guest showing up with others.

 

[danny]

Yep, there is still some public land shooting but getting someone to share a good shooting area is about like trying to get someone to share a favorite hole.


drover

Lol

Danny

 

[dusterdave173]

For a one time deal that has to succeed Call Willie Dvorak in SD
Jim River Guide Service
They shoot out of Pierre SD--put you up in a decent hotel and because he has all the good spots leased--and he can whisk you down the road 70 miles if you get rain --like he says it IS mother nature so big wind, rain potential, heat etc can hit you --he will put you on dogs period. His prices seem high but if you invest in the travel expense that is more so .....
One time deal he is your best bet
A "day" is not daylight till dark it is more a lazy morning start around 10 and quit mid afternoon
about all your eyes can take anyway--take your own bench if you drive his are not much Lunch is maybe a Subway in the cooler --You sign a pile of papers and releases etc who knows what all it is like buying a car but again..you will shoot PD's
He was courting a shooter in our group that was interested in an Alaska hunt and we were raw rookies so we did not get the attention but again we kept the barrels smoking hot for two days
Nothing is perfect but when I compare our experience to all of the tales I hear I think Willie is a pro and in the end knows that producing is the best way to grow his business
If you book your $$ is gone--Zero refunds he does not care what the excuse is your funds are not coming back --either you show up or not that is on you--and dealing with the public--I understand that--if he would just replace his crappy old benches I would add another star Hahaha

 

[STS]

There aren't many prairie dogs left in Montana. The plague got most of them, and I shot the rest.

 

[chop house]

did learn that the ones that have them absolutely hate them and can't kill them fast enough so don't think it would make much sense to pay an outfitter.

Well, I will just say as much as hogs are hated you would never think you'd have to pay to shoot them, either.

And farmers that used to get deer depreciation permits now run high dollar lease deals.

The Internet buzzword is monetization.

I truly believe the problem with people is, well, people