I have been reading about prairie dog hunting and would love to go on a hunt. I live in Central Arkansas, so no pdogs around here. I love to shoot my guns, but there's nothing around here that would compare to pdog hunting. Can you veterans give me some ideas of how to get started? I kind of like "do it yourself" hunts, but was thinking about a guided hunt for my first so that I could learn a few things. All I basically need is someone to put me on some dogs, I will supply guns, ammo, optics, benches, etc. Any help would be appreciated.

Start checking out the game and fish depts of states you are interested in. Ask them for names of people who allow PS hunting on there property. Also start searching for local gun stores and ask them for any information.

Good luck

Thanks Howard. I don't even know where to start, but it seems that south dakota has a good population.

Justin:

In Montana, all you normally have to do is stop and ask a land owner if he minds if you can shoot some of his prairie dogs.

They are pests so they are happy to get rid of them. If they want to charge you, feel free to pay them but there are many who do not even ask to be paid.

Each time I have been shooting prairie dogs in Montana, if I am near a road, someone has always stopped and told me if I care to shoot them on their land after they are thinned out where I am, they will let me know where they
live.

I always make jokes that I wish deer hunting could be like that.
Western Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado have a lot of them, although I have heard the environMENTALists have gotten laws pass surpressing the shooting of prairie dogs. A common practice when you have a place with a lot of California transplants. ( at least URBAN Calif transplants).

Cheers and Happy Hunting
seafire

Justin B
I went to South Dakota in june last year on a do it yourself hunt. If you want to email me I will give you all of the info I have and maybe it will get you started on the right track for
South Dakota any way.

Hogslayer
joemerrill@hotmail.com

Thanks for the info guys and keep the advice coming.

Hogslayer, email sent.

justin b, been watching this thread, i'm from hot springs and have been wanting to make a pd hunt too. pm me if you might be interested in doubling up on the trip.

arky65

Ok here are a few more questions.

How many and what type of guns do I need to take? I have a 22-250 and thinking about a 17hmr for short range stuff. Do I need to add another round in a 25 for the long stuff?

Can some of you guys give me some places on public or reservation land?

Are the local newspapers a good source of info?

You're asking for places which may be sacriligious to many guys on here. Unless I know you real well, and even then it's a maybe, I'd sooner loan out my wife!

That said, try the Rosebud. You pay to play there now, I understand.

Not asking anybody to give up their honeyhole, just some general areas, like counties or public lands. I know I protect my private land hunting privelages like it's top secret. I am driving a long ways and just need a place to start my research. The midwest is a big place .

I was thinking about the Rose Bud in Todd county since it is the closest to Arkansas. This will be my first rodeo and don't want to get bucked off in the first 3 seconds. It sounds like a lot of fun, I would be happy burning 100 rounds a day which seems to be on the light side for pdog hunting. There is no kind of hunting around here that would let you shoot that many rounds a day.

Justin,

You could go through a hundred rounds before 9am. Better plan on more like 300-500 rounds a day. Also you might want to get a fat barreled 223 so you don't burn out your barrels on your 22-250 and hotter burning guns.

If you're really into the dogs your biggest worry will be cooking your barrels.

Also... You NEED to join the Varmint Hunter's Association.

$bob$

pd's are found all over the west, but in pockets. There are some in texas new mexico etc. i've shot south dakota for something like 30years now, but I don't go there anymore because of the number of shooters that have been reading about it and go there. Used to be that if you saw another PD shooter in a week it was something. now on the rosebud you almost have to take a number. Montanna SE and wyoming have been most recent destinations. you don't need a guide. just drive around, get a map, stop had have a few at local pubs & you'll get set on the the right track. A warning on too much gun. I've found that the 223 type is about all I want to shoot consistantly. Even a 22/250 gets to your head with concussion after you burn a couple or 3 hundred rounds in a morning. I want a longer range rifle along, but for most shooting, stick to the smaller case capacity for the sake of your ears and headaches. One of the things i bought the 204 for was to get swift velocity with less powder and concussion. it worked.

So do you guys think I will be ok with a 22/250 and 17hmr? I really hate to buy a 223 for this trip since it will be the only reason I would need one. If I could shoot 100 rounds each every day, I would be a very happy Arky.

Justin

You will have no problem shooting 100 rounds each every day I am just not sure what you will do with your self after the first hour (that is about all it will take you to shoot 200 rounds)Need to invest in a good/inexpensive 223 and use it then sell it when you get back, if you haven't grown to like it a lot. There is always someone looking for a 223 on one of the forums.

Hogslayer

H

I have went out west for the last 9 years to shoot dogs. Last year I went through 1250 rounds in 5 days and could not hunt 1 and a half because of rain. 400 rounds a day is reasonable and is very easy to accomplish. I get about a 60% hit rate, but I like to stretch my range a little. Furthest kill last year was a witnessed 1130 yards.

Mike

V in GB,
Do you hunt public land, tribal, or private?

Tribal. But have to look for a new place this year, landowner said he was poisoning his place. We had it made, 600 acre town, guy would let us use his ATV, no other hunters, lots of dogs.

Mike

Some basic suggestions.....I shoot prairie dogs several times every year and I can assure you of a few things.
For high volume on good sunny days you will need at least three rifles with good scopes at somewhere around 10x to 16x not much more or you will not be able to see the 'hits'.
I figure at least 300 rounds per day but a mix of a few different calibers.
I like to have something for the closer shots...mine is a .221 carbine. Something for the longer shots.....22-250 works well. And of course then we have the "way out there" shots and I use my 6mm for those. Your .17 HMR will work great for the close dumb ones.
You will need ....at the very least a good pair of binos/spotting scope of both, hat, sunglasses, water, bench, ground cover, bipods or sandbags and something to sit on. Get some maps of different areas that sound like they may interest you. If you would like I can give you some specific ideas via PM.

Pm sent,

A few opinions to add...

I think going on a guided hunt your first time is an excellent idea, even if you do it for two days and spend the other days driving around looking for some free spots to come back to. Lots of people load up the truck, drive around and find squat or very random shooting. The guide fees are a small increase in the overall cost of the trip and you'll shoot till your eyes cloud over. I wish I had the luck Seafire does and I live here!

We took a .17hmr on a p dog hunt last year and I wasn't impressed (though its my dream gopher gun!). The ammo was nearly as much as a .223, neither one kicks, the "chunder factor" was very low and, frankly, you're not going to have tons of short range shots. Ours sat in the truck most of the time, no one wanted to use it. IMHO, like the guy before said, get a .223 for volume shots and use the .22/250 for the long range stuff. Sell it when you get back if you don't like it.

PM - returned

Also how many days you palnning on going for ?

Are the reservation lands worth hunting, people on other sites have told me to stay clear of tribal lands. They said it was a lot of trouble and shooting wasn't that great.

Justin,
In SD, The rez is one of the best place to shoot. I found public land the dogs were very skitish.

Mike

Anybody know of any guides in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, or New Mexico? I think SD may be a little too far to travel if I can find something closer.

I found the tribal lands in Montana were a lot of fun. My guide had five pdog towns for me to shoot in. Beaware that tribal hunting can be expensive if you have to buy their hunting license and pay for a guide. I'm a lucky white man since my family has been in America since
1638 and we have picked up a bit of Cherokee,
Choctaw, Shawnee, and Creek blood. I don't have
to pay on the res most of the time and I don't have BIA certification.

Pdogs are fun. If they are laying down aim for the belly and you can get a lot of air time out of them. My best shot is call my bowling alley shot. There were 5 to 6 of them standing close to each other in a row on top of a big mound at
200 yards. I aimed dead center on the center one and let a 85gr Nosler go from my .243. It took the center one out, kill the ones on each side and blew the rest off the mound without killing them. I didn't know whether to score that as a strike or a spare, but it was fun.

JustinB & arky65,

Hey guys, great questions and not ashamed to admit you're a newbie.....hat's off to ya!

Same as you - I did this a couple of years ago for the first time. Problem is you know you want to do it and you'll get bit so bad you'll never stop.....

You've already received some good advice. There are seasons and PD shooting is regulated, some free, some charge, there are the reservations and finding the better spots takes some research.

1. Enroll in the Varmint Hunters Association, read their web and magazine. Make some phone calls to them and listen to what they say.

2. Get on the Web to the Fish & Wildlife Departments in North & South Dakota, Montana, Colorado, etc.

3. Narrow your scope after your research, I'd suggest South Dakota to start. Start calling County Court Houses and find some ranchers who want their PD's shot. Use & verify with references.

I wouldn't consider less than three guns, example from a couple years ago: 4 guys, 18 guns. 5 days shooting, 3 free ranches and 2 charged (not much $20.00 per person per day, yes, it was GOOD!)

My reco for beginners, yes, the .17 Hornady Rimfire will be O.K., a .223 Remington and a 22-250 Remington. Scopes in the 12-16x range are also just fine. That's why God created Savage Tacticals & Varminters and why BSA makes @ $120.00 scopes. You can get by at the beginning with alot less than you'll need as PD shooting becomes an addiction. (Folks kept asking if we were there to PD hunt, personally I don't see there's alot of hunting to it - it's PD shooting).

The suggestion of mixing a guide with some fly-by-the-seat of your pants is a good idea, but if you want to get treated right make arrangements in advance with the ranchers this will ensure you're expected and have some shooting.

Gerry

Hi, this my first posting! i live in Wyo. and from spring til elk season starts i shoot rats 4-5 days a week! I have a small town 10min. from my house.I can shoot 15-20 rounds there almost every day..I agree with all of you guys 300-500 rds per day is what you should expect in a good town. I always carry a 22 for the close ones. Make sure you watch out for burrowing owls, they look like a dog just peeking out of the burrow...p

Paul,

Welcome aboard!

Well said.....

Gerry

heres a Dog hunt I saw on ebay, looks good and the key to dogs these days, at least in my opinion, is private land which hasnt been shot up!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7135565504&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

There are prairie dog towns in western Kansas. Most of these towns are west of hiway 281. Most farmers and ranchers are more than happy to have you come and shoot them. Steve 48

Steve 48,

I live in KS, can you be more specific?? Near what towns, or in what counties??

Thanks
Carl