I'm hoping to get to go on my first prairie dog shoot this spring/summer. I was wondering if you guys could give me some tips on what I should bring and what is a waste of time to take. I live in Arkansas so I hope to find some places in Texas, Ok, or Kansas to keep the drive to a minimum with high gas prices. I know these places might not be the best, but I'd be more than happy with 100-200 rounds a day. If you have any suggestions on how to find potential places to shoot, I'd more than appreciate the info. I'm not afraid to do some legwork, just don't want to drive 10+ hrs and not fire a round.

Any tips would be appreciated.

+1. Good post. I am wanting to do the same thing. So I hope you get a lot of good replies. Tom.

Take along food and (especially) water. Good binoculars (spotting scope field of view is too narrow). At least two rifles and enough ammo. Some sort of portable rest (folding table, bipod...) Good shades and sun screen and a hat. Not necessary, but a pistol can be fun - sometimes you see them close enough.

1st - make sure you know where to go. good PD spots are held in the top secret category. Take a ground cloth of some type, cactus are really uncomfortable to lay on. I use a spotting scope alot, but we do enjoy the long range stuff. Sometimes a GPS can be useful if you get out in the bush a bit. I always carry a handgun with a birdshot load or 2 for snakes. They like PD's too. xtra folding chairs etc. for your spotter. as far as rifles go i usually have 10-15 along, if nothing else but to try out some new ones. watch out for the burrowing owls, they look like dogs sometimes, but are not to be shot. getting back to rifles, i've found over the years that when i'm doing a high volume of shooting that anything over a 222 mag. type round will eventually give me a concussion headache. even the great 22/250 if you shoot it 5-800 times in a day, the concussion will get to you. Hence many of my dog guns are based on 223 or the like. the little 17 HMR gets a bit of use for close in shots (you'll get some of those too)

Thanks for the tips and keep them coming. I'd also appreciate some tips on finding areas/guides to use that are in Ok, TX, or Ks. I really only need access to land, I've got everything else.

Lots of good advice.

Regardless of whether you use a spotting scope or binos when shooting you will likely need a good set of binos if and when you are driving around looking for or at dog towns.

Good cooler/s. I use the coleman extremes.

I use sandbags and put them in a bucket. The bucket is used to sit on when at the shooting bench.

I pack up my cleaning rods in a 3 inch white PVC pipe, 48†long with screw in covers at both ends. This way you don’t have to worry about them getting tangled up with other gear and getting damaged.

I have towling and hand cleaner in a rack in the back of the truck that is always available.

When packing I try to stay with white or light colored clothing. Long sleeves.

Hats with large brims to keep the sun off the ears.

Take a leatherman or needlenose pliers to remove cactus spikes.

I use earplugs on tethers. A half hitch under the chin and they will always be within reach.

I would set up one of your rifles for walking around if possible. I have a bipod that can be attached to a couple of my light weight rifles. I take a boat cushion to sit on and head out sometimes for a walk about.

I don’t have any contacts in that area so can’t help you there.

Jim

I have a front rest I use for bench work. Should I bring it or just use sand bags? My 6mmbr is heave with wide forend stock that doesn't really like sand bags, but my rest doesn't lend itself well to horizontal movement.

Lots of good ideas. We also bring umbrellas that mount to folding chairs and benches to keep cool. The wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen needs to be recommended ten more times. Lots of water, more than you think you'll ever need.
My armament usually includes my .17HMR, one or two .223s, and a .243 for very long range. Keep your ammo in a cooler. 8, 10, or 12x binoculars are better than spotting scopes for pdogs. A light-colored, thin, Long-Sleeve shirt to keep the arms from burning.
If you wear glasses, take a second pair. A camera.

quote:

Originally posted by jb177:
I have a front rest I use for bench work. Should I bring it or just use sand bags? My 6mmbr is heave with wide forend stock that doesn't really like sand bags, but my rest doesn't lend itself well to horizontal movement.

Sure, if you have the room.

I got used to using empty shot bags filed with corn. I have tried other ways, but have always come back to bags. It also has to do with convenience. Some times I have two other guys with me and through the years I have tried to look at everything in the back of the truck and ask, is there a better way.

If you are taking a pickup with a topper on it, may I suggest that you put a sheet of plywood over the wheel wells to make another level to store stuff. We put the heavier items below and throw the lighter stuff on the top level. It works well.

Jim

i prefer the sandbags, but instead of filling the shot bags with sand I frequently use either those little plastic beads from styrafoam insulation or use some floor dry. mankes them lighter to pack leaving room for more ammo :like pdhntr says don't forget something to pick out cactus splines. a tweezers and magnifying glass come in handy

I have a couple of different size styrofoam blocks that go under the corn bag. These blocks nest in the bucket. This is how I make major adjustments to height. The blocks slide across the wood better than the bags.

This is just what I use and it works well with all the other issues.

Normally I have the shells sitting in the shade of the bench, and I don't leave them in the chamber or mag (to heat up) unless they are going to be shot quickly. My son put them up there to make a better pic. He is into that stuff.

I put foam rubber in the top of all my boxes to keep the shells from rattling around. What can happen is the box will wear a "ring" around the shell. Nothing that affects shooting, but as a reloader, it bothers me.

Jim

PS: I just love looking at some of the fence posts they use.

I must say that is a fine looking rifle you have there. I like the polished action and barrel

You got alot of good tips. Nothing to add as I responded to your post on another forum. Good luck....

damn - i never thought of foam blocks #1 idea

Start with the quietest rifle (rimfire) first, and work your way out as to range.

First, I like the AR for Pdogs! Especially as the walk around rifle.

Next, I prefer the bipod for the bench as it helps prevent canting on long shots.

If you have to range a dog by firing, shoot over him is better than blasting dirt in his face... He'll be more likely to let you try again.

Limit the rounds you fire in any single rifle and soak the others during their break, rotate them.

Take a real break yourself mid day to rest the eyes and replensish the H2O and sunscreen.

Bring more ammo than you think necessary!

Chamber of Commerce in St. Lawernce KS, Wagon Mound NM, KS Game Dept. Also in NM, Cimmeron Nat. Grasslands west of Dodge. Western Nebraska in the panhandle, Eastern CO, I know nothing about OK, but have heard of rats around Lubbock TX. You would be far better off in the Dakotas, MT, or WY.

try All-American Outfitter in Clarendon,TX. Ken Mayer is great to deal with. we shot out there last June and are going back this year. all of the above posts should help you prepare.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!

The dogs in the far western panhandle of Okla were whiped out about 2 years ago to the plague. They are starting to make their comeback though. We got into a stupid town the opening weekend of quail season. I took out three dogs with one shot from my 16 guage. Something I'll probably never do again. Like I said they were stupid!!

You might want to think about eastern Colorado too. I read in a recent magazine there was something like 785,000 acres of prairie dog towns west of I-25 in the state alone. It had increased from just over 500,000 acres in the past 6-8 years.

I usually just shoot a 17 HMR and 22-250; however, I have access to a 50 BMG that I want to try real soon!

Good Luck!!

It is unbelieveable what kind of advice you will get if you just ask!

Lots and lots of GREAT advice here.
I picked up many new ideas myself.

I carry along a small collection of gunsmithing tools. Screwdrivers, jewelers pliers, tweezers, etc. You never know what can happen and the farther you are away from civilization, the more it does happen.

Look at a map and find towns in the area that you want to hunt and contact the chamber of commerce of those towns and ask if they have a list of ranchers that allow prairie dog shooting, like Dumas or Stratford in the Texas Panhandle. I got a list of ranchers from the info center at Newcastle Wyoming while we were up that way Antelope hunting one year and found some good places to shoot dogs from that list. Some were just glad to have us shoot the dogs and others wanted a fee to shoot. You can get on the net and find gun / sporting goods stores in the same towns and they may have list of ranchers also, I got a list from a store in Claton New Mexico that put me on some good shooting. Do your home work on what is legal shooting of dogs, some parts of the country they are protected. There are a lot of dogs in NE Colorado and I have shot a lot of dogs up there but on a ranch / farm that wanted me to shoot them and with the understanding that if I was stoped that I was working for them as rodent control. Most of the ranches in Texas and New Mexico that I have shot on want a fee of from $10 to $40 per day for dogs. So far I have not had to pay to shoot dogs in Colorado or Wyoming, and when I head up that way to hunt Deer or Antelope I always pack a dog gun or two. Some of the BLM and National grass lands have dog towns but if open to the public they get a lot of pressure put on them.

Jim

I agree with the others about long sleves and a wide brim hat, also sun block and lots of water. I take 2 rifles and use the heavy gun if conditions are good to set up and shoot off a bench or the truck hood " 22-250, 220 Swift or 243". If the dogs are wild and spread out then my drive by gun is a 222 but a 17 HMR or Hornet would also work. In the Texas Panhandle the new pups will be out in June so that would be a good time for a first time hunt, lots of dogs and some of them realy stupid. Don't go on the first hunt if you plan on a one time thing! If you get into a good dog town and a lot of shooting you will be planing to make or buy a new rifle on the way home and finding ways to travel to dog towns every time you take a trip.

Jim

quote:

Cimmeron Nat. Grasslands

In the S.W. corner of ks. you will on the border of Colorado so if you want to you can go there too. There are maps of the dog towns.
I'd take as many rifles as you want so you don't heat up any one of them. Take a bench and or bi pod, bi nocks. and sun protection, hat shirt, sun screen, umbrella. Don't forget a gunsmith tool kit. and gun cleaning equipment. Plenty of snacks, lunch, and water. A camera is always cool.
Some friends of mine go 3-4 times a year out there for 2-3 days at a time, I haven't been yet myself as I'm always working. I 've only been 2 times since I left colorado and that was at my dad's house in WY.

quote:

Cimmeron Nat. Grasslands
In the S.W. corner of ks. you will on the border of Colorado so if you want to you can go there too. There are maps of the dog towns.

Before you drive a lot to get to the Cimarron Grasslands in KS, do some homework. Many of the areas have been hit hard by the plague and counts are way down. I was over there early in the season and the shooting was very poor.

Good luck.

Hi, Call the Cimmarron National grasslands HQ at 719-553-1400. they can give you the # for the Springfield,Co office. They will send you maps and info. We used to stay at the starlite motel in Springfield. Co.has a non-res daily small game licence. you may have to provide a hunter safety card.

I also bring my rangefinder along for those 300 yds and over shots. I use a leica 1200 CRF and I can range prarie dog mounds out to 500+ yds.