On the African and other Big Game forum areas there is a debate about the ethics of hunting (shooting) game in fenced-in areas. Sometimes the debate revolves around how large the fenced-in area is. Some say wooded areas of 1,000 acres will qualify as sport hunting and others say it must be 100,000 acres with no interior fences.

Currently scheduled to hunt prairie dogs on a 30,000 acre cattle ranch in Montana this summer.

What are the ethics of hunting prairie dogs in fenced-in areas ?

Hammer

Surely you jest! Remember, they can dig out of any fence around, just going under! No sweat, no problem with ethics there, just whack 'em! Whack 'em some for me, I can't make it this year, and whack 'em some for yourself, just whack 'em!

Glenn,

In all my previous fifteen years of prairie dog hunting, have not concerned myself with the finer points of ethics.

Have used accurate rifles and inaccurate rifles, used pistols, used open iron sights and scopes, even used a 500 A-Square for a few shots. Shot 'em off-hand, with bipods, with a bench and sandbags. Shot 'em in the morning, midday, and evening. Shot 'em when they weren't looking and didn't stand a chance. Shot 'em at long range and chirping under a ten foot away bench while eating a sandwich.

But this ethics business is getting serious. So want to stay in the good graces of the important thinkers of the day.

Hammer

I didn't think there were any ethics in p dog shooting as long as you do it in a safe manner. All the ranches I hunt the ranchers tell you to kill them anyway you can.

Fenced in prairie dogs is kinda like fenced in earthworms....probably isn't goin to happen unless the fence is buried in the ground about 8 feet. Lets see ethics and prairie dogs to me goes something like this.

close the friggin gate
pick up your trash
don't shoot anything you aren't supposed to
be safe
don't drive off the road unless you have been told directly its ok
leave everything the way you found or better(except the dogs of course)
always stop and ask permission....everytime

Thats the ethics I use....as far as actually shooting the dogs........kill 'em where they stand.