Just returned from a PD hunt on the Texas south plains. The weather was unsettled, with a very strong wind blowing and intermitent low overcast/sun/rainclouds.

We noticed that prairie dog activity throughout the day increased markedly when the sun came out. It fell off precipitously when a raincloud passed over, even if there was no precipitation from it. Cloudy or sunny, the wind was blowing strongly throughout the day, except for one brief sunny and calm period when prairie dog activity seemed to peak.

Do you guys who hunt dogs on a regular basis find a similar pattern of activity that correlates with the weather of the moment?

Our ground squirrels are the same way, when the sun's out there is a lot more activity.

I think that it may relate to how well they see flying predators and a cloudy/overcast sky makes them more nervous.

Stone & Frank,

I don't know about the nervous bit but that is a very logical explanation.

My experience also the cloudy weather keeps the PD activity slower above ground than when the weather's sunny.

Also appears there's not alot of reason to get out there at the crack of dawn either, have a good breakfast, read the paper, let the sun start to warm up a bit and then hit the road.

Good thing they can't see the shadow from a 50 grain Speer TNT - Huh?

It sounds as though the Lone Star pds are related to the Northern Plains pds. I have observed the same behavior many times. A partly cloudy sky doesn't seem to affect them much. But an overcast day can really slow things down.

I am not at all sure why. Frank could have the answer, but I have routinely watched birds of prey flying over or circling a town and the pds don't even seem to take notice. A coyote or badger within sight of them and they will run for their burrows. I just kind of figured they liked the sunny weather like I did.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Do you guys who hunt dogs on a regular basis find a similar pattern of activity that correlates with the weather of the moment?

Yup. If it is cloudy, go have a sandwich.

Stoneman,

Just finished loading some 17-222 PD medicine, for my Sako L461 single-shot.

The "Old Man of the Mountain" once told me that PD's are less active when they cannot see their own shadow.

Sounds as good as anything else I've heard....

Later...

Friend Of The 17....and 20
Kevin Gullette

Yep i've had the same experience. Whenever some clouds passed over they popped back into the holes. At least that allows me to let the guns cool off and take a break.

I'll fifth or sixth that, wherever I am here in line. From what I've noticed, they're a hair more skidish in the wind also. At least the dog town I hunt. Which is terribly over hunted. Only dirt dogs that I have ever had to stalk to get within 100yds. Alot of them see a pickup and head for the holes.