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Wyoming/Nebraska prairie dogs

KyleC

I'm in the process of planning a truck camping/prairie dog hunting/ fishing trip for myself and my 11yo son. The time frame will be the middle of June. I'm from Alabama so I'm relying on a A LOT of internet research, Google maps, and onX.

I want this to be DIY as much as possible, but am open to an outfitter if absolutely necessary. I've traveled out west the past 2 summers so I have a little bit of an understanding of what I'm getting in to.

That said, I'm open to any and all advice you think a southern redneck would need.

I'm especially interested in decent(safe) places for my son and I to camp.

Right now I'm thinking around the Ft. Laramie/Casper area but I'm wide open to suggestions.

Thanks for any and all help. Have a great day!!
 
Wyoming here. I am in the South West Corner. But was raised in Casper. You can camp in a variety of places on BLM land. State land is open to recreation but no camping or fires. Casper and Laramie are a long ways apart. But if I was going there to look for dawgs I'd probly start in the Shirley Basin between Medicine Bow and Casper. I'd also get a mapping app for your phone or pad that has land ownership gridded onto it. Onx Maps Hunt has this and so does Back Country Navigator. As for camping I have never ever been bothered out on public land. People respect another persons camp and just move on. At least that's my experience.
 
If you are considering camping out on the prairie, make sure you are able to access an up to date weather report for the night. Depending on the road type, a heavy rain can stop you from going anywhere for a while.

I have been stranded out on the prairie overnight in a thunder storm. I think back on the experience and smile, but at the time there was no fun involved what so ever.

You are going in June, and the grass should still be green, but if it is dry, I wouldn't start an open camp fire.

Hope the two of you have a good time.

Jim
 
Give the kaycee area a look. Plus your close to the big horns and there some places to hunt rockchucks. Just a great time hunting them. Beware of the weather. Good luck on your trip you will have a ball for sure.
 
KyleC said:
but I'm wide open to suggestions.
Click to expand...
I live in northern CO along front range. I hunt in WY (deer and antelope) near Douglas. When I drive north on I-25 I start seeing prairie dogs about 55 miles north of the WY border. Once you get to Douglas and I-25 turns west toward Casper, I pretty much see prairie dogs about all the way to Kaycee. I also go up 85 sometimes. Lots of dogs around Torrington and New Castle. You can use Google maps satellite view to scout out areas. The mounds are visible if you zoom in enough.

I shoot a lot of prairie dogs each year. I probably hunt different than most folks I read how they hunt. The largest cartridge I use is 223 and I shoot a lot of 20 cals. Barrel heat is an issue. So when I read about folks using larger cartridges to assist them in longer shots, I hunt for closer shots (under 350 yards) and high percentage of hits. In that past couple of years I started using my 17 HMR a lot more. In fact last year I never fired a centerfire round in 12 days of shooting. I shot 2600 rounds last year and in 2020 I shot just over 3000 rounds (17 HMR and 223) for 11 days of shooting, so bring plenty of ammo. This is a pic of 2020.
2020.jpg
You can do a lot of scouting from where you are right now. Start by calling Chamber of Commerce and asking if they know any ranchers that have prairie dogs. I've tried BLM and Fish and Game but never got much help from them. I've also talked with Vetenarians , propane truck drivers and others to get tips on where I might find prairie dogs. They know the country and who has issues with the dogs.
 
I've antelope hunted Shirley Basin for several decades. Dog numbers are down considerably from what they used to be. Sylvatic plague outbreaks have been an issue in the past...
 
jepp2 said:
I live in northern CO along front range. I hunt in WY (deer and antelope) near Douglas. When I drive north on I-25 I start seeing prairie dogs about 55 miles north of the WY border. Once you get to Douglas and I-25 turns west toward Casper, I pretty much see prairie dogs about all the way to Kaycee. I also go up 85 sometimes. Lots of dogs around Torrington and New Castle. You can use Google maps satellite view to scout out areas. The mounds are visible if you zoom in enough.

I shoot a lot of prairie dogs each year. I probably hunt different than most folks I read how they hunt. The largest cartridge I use is 223 and I shoot a lot of 20 cals. Barrel heat is an issue. So when I read about folks using larger cartridges to assist them in longer shots, I hunt for closer shots (under 350 yards) and high percentage of hits. In that past couple of years I started using my 17 HMR a lot more. In fact last year I never fired a centerfire round in 12 days of shooting. I shot 2600 rounds last year and in 2020 I shot just over 3000 rounds (17 HMR and 223) for 11 days of shooting, so bring plenty of ammo. This is a pic of 2020.
View attachment 1317783
You can do a lot of scouting from where you are right now. Start by calling Chamber of Commerce and asking if they know any ranchers that have prairie dogs. I've tried BLM and Fish and Game but never got much help from them. I've also talked with Vetenarians , propane truck drivers and others to get tips on where I might find prairie dogs. They know the country and who has issues with the dogs.
Click to expand...
This is awesome! I didn't expect such detailed information.
Thank you!
 
Tommie said:
Get to know a farmer. Once he sees that you're the real deal and aren't going to do stupid stuff like leave gates open, dump trash and empty shells or shoot his livestock, he'll call his neighboring farmers. We darn near had those Corn Huskers fighting over us.
Click to expand...
I thought that may be the case. I hope I have enough time, or happen to bump in to the right one, to make that happen.
 
I live in central NE and there a lot of dogs to hunt up here… I would say talk to a rancher up by Elba, NE you’ll have the time of your life , there are also very decent spots to camp here.
 
Kyle, just to clarify the geography, Ft. Laramie is very close to the shot of the wind flag above. Ft. Laramie is close to Torrington and Wheatland. Not to be confused with Laramie, the college town.
Ft. Laramie is a better place to look for what you are after and it's a bit closer to Casper than Laramie, the college town.
You may have known this, but didn't want you to get confused by the comment above.
 
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