I would like to shoot some p-dogs this year. I have never done this, so where is the best place. I am not opposed to paying guide fees for this. I will have to fly and be limited to what I can bring. Done some research on the net some places provide benches, shade, meals and rooms. I would like to stay at least 3 days.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Wayne

Montana,

A few years ago I brought some guys to this outfit:
http://www.sage-n-sun-outfitters.com/

They're in the middle of nowhere north of Forsyth, MT. Absolutely jillions of P-Dogs to shoot at, constantly having to stop to cool off the rifle. You stay in the rancher's basement, a bit spartan but great people and very comfortable. You get fed more than you can eat, he drives you out to the dogs and hangs with you if you want or lets you wander about, blasting until you can't stand it anymore.

You'd fly into Billings and he'll come get you. There are lots of other P-Dog guide services in Montana, this is the only one I have experienced. Great guy.

quote:

Originally posted by Montana:
I would like to shoot some p-dogs this year. I have never done this, so where is the best place. I am not opposed to paying guide fees for this. I will have to fly and be limited to what I can bring. Done some research on the net some places provide benches, shade, meals and rooms. I would like to stay at least 3 days.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Wayne

I went on a pronghorn hunt on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation about 3hours drive East of Great Falls. There were plenty of P-dogs so you could combine the hunts. The guides name is Jim Weigand and he really treats you great. He is a retired Army Special Forces guy.

mt AL

I have sent your guy an email and just waiting on a response.

army aviator

Do you have any contact info

thanks Wayne

I'll be working in colstrip, MT this spring and I found this thread while looking for a place to do some varming hunting in the area. Are these guides still available?

Where to shoot Prairie dogs?



In the head. Way more air time that way!

Good hunting,
Graham

Useful post from elsewhere. Your terms, I would fly into Rapid City, SD. Sorry, my contacts have retired. Rent a car and drive into Wyo. No license needed last I knew. Reportedly, as said, p'dog town 26 miles in diameter between Douglas and New Castle, BUT beware of the areas closed for ferrets and Plague...

Black Hills Ammo around to pick up cases of reloads. These days I would make the arrangements in advance. Luck.

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P'dogs are the tree squirrels of the grasslands. No trees so they live in holes in the ground like rats and mice, their cousins. They exist from Mexico to Canada but try to get 2,000 rounds of ammo into Mexico or Canada... So the shooting is in US.

In case you haven't been paying attention to the weather in this area, there has been a severe drought for about 10 years. Supposedly it is over. You may hear of 1,000 round days, per shooter. (Long days.) True, but not recently. Numbers down. Great time to make contacts. Drought stays gone and the numbers will explode. These are rodents.

BEWARE: There was a weasel, the black footed ferret, that was almost extincted by a house cat disease, feline distemper. All the weasel wants to eat is p'dogs. There are areas that have been closed to shooting. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Find them Avoid them. Or you might find yourself in striped sunshine, confiscation, --you won't like it... Please...

BEWARE II: There is plague in the furballs. Don't handle pieces. Or if you must come prepared with a biologists kit. Gloves. Flea powder. Transmitted by fleas. Sealed containers. Etc. It can be cured with antibiotics, but why bother. Leave the pieces for scavangers, yotes, etc.

You could think of the old cattle drive trails. East slope of the Rockies. Drop a line north south thru Pierre SD and Grand Island, NE and you will need to be west of that. Approx.

SD markets. Native Americans/ Indians, the plains tribes, were put there on reservations by Uncle Sam, late 1800s, "the indian wars...," "Cheyenne Autumn" "Wounded Knee" (#1), Dancing with Wolves. "Thunder Heart." Etc. Rough land. Tribes market p'dog shooting. South center, The Rosebud Rez. Center, Lower Brule. North Center, Standing Rock (Cheyenne, I believe), around Eagle Butte. Southwest corner, Pine Ridge where there is a drinking problem according to the newspapers. You need a reservation license and often a guide. Google the names for current rules and costs. This is the package experience. Not cheap but fast. Easy to find. And casinos too....

Truth is that many, many big game guides have parked hunters after filling a tag in a p'dog town and let them shoot until they run out of ammo. Ron Scherbarth, Rocking Heart, is one such. His granddad and mine were war buddies. WW I. Like that. You ask politely and during the summer, no game season, they will accomodate you for a feeeeee...

Beyond that things are pretty open. Wyoming, my favorite, requires no license. (Just watch out for the closed areas for ferrets.!!!) Get away from the tree huggers in Cheyenne, Wyo and go for it.

You need to check with government agencies. State extension offices are a possility. The land is managed for multiple uses and shooting is a permitted use. They cannot keep you out. They can close areas for that weasel. Forest Service. BLM. Bureau of Land management. Chambers of Commerce. Farm stores. Small town diners. USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has ADCA's. Animal Damage Control Agents. A.k.a. "government hunters/trappers." You hit the USDA office in town and you may find a bunny hugger that hates you. You get out in the boonies and find a government hunter/trapper (ask in the farm stores) and you is FREE help to them. Again, beware the closed areas. They will know and send you most appropriate place as a rule.

Please show gratitude. Case of coke, (the drink). Ham. Fruit basket. Well not around Broke Back Mountain... Roll of stamps.

You pick up I 90 west of Chicago and SD is not that far a roll, and with gas down. Or get a map and look up the Nat. Parks. NO! No shooting in the Parks. None. Again, bad experience, BUT around the parks, lots of fed land that is open to the public. SW corner of SD, Buffalo Gap Nat. Grasslands. Wide open except for the ferret. Conata Basin still closed last I knew. Plan to not break down or "have a flat." You might be 150 miles from a McDonalds. And cell service is NOT guaranteed. Might want to check your equipment. I am serious. SW corner of KS, Cimaron Nat. Grassland. ND has the areas outside Roosevelt Nat. Park. Decade back a grazing assoc. was begging for shooters. Cooler climate, but ... Plenty in CO, east of mountains. You need a small game license and they practice catch and release, the bunny huggers. Montana? Never got there. Ran out of ammo in Wyo.

So you have some homework to do. Me? I would hit Douglas Wyo. Alledgedly there was a p'dog town 26 miles in diameter between Douglas and Newcastle. No idea how dense these days, drought, or closings for the weasel. BLM office would know. LUCK. Wish I was going along.

Upper torso!