Prairie Dogs in SE Colorado (long)

M

Montana Slim

New member
My friend and I got back Sunday from a week long varmint hunt in SE Colorado. This was our first trip out and Wow!, I didn't know that it was that much fun. We got to hunt with Heck UPDPC from Holly. Heck is one of the nicest guys that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He really enjoys taking newbies out and watching them learn to hunt varmints out on the plains. Being from Alabama it was an eye opening experience. We learned that any scope power above about 12 is usually wasted once the heat starts up in late morning and that speed is where its at. It seemed that the less time that the wind got to play its tricks the better off you are. I gained a lot of respect for the 204 ruger and saw it get hits out past 500 yds, (viewed with a Leica Geovid range finder). My personal best on the trip was a jack rabbit in a wheat field at 613 yds, (I still can't believe that I ran into such and unlucky rabbit!). This was with a .223 which is probably the best all around caliber for this type of thing. Heck stated that as far a rimfire that the 17 HMR had some use out to about 200 yds in this open country. A portable bench of some kind is the most stable platform for consistant hits. I think that I used my shooting sticks one time and didn't use my spotting scope at all. The best optical equipement besides a good resolution scope of course is the best pair of binoculars that you can afford of 8 to 10 power. My friend and I are definately going back as soon as we can.
 
You have seen the promised land, my friend. SE Colorado is where I hunt, and it is a spectacle of prairie dogs.

It's nice when you've got someone willing to show you the ropes, isn't it? I took one of my friends out that way for his first prairie dog hunt a few months back, and he sounded just like you do: thrilled as can be. It sounds like you're a prairie dogger for life. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

I agree that for the price, .223 is the way to go, but your comments about he .204 reflect everyone's comments about that round - it is THE prairie dog cartridge. I wish I had the chance to shoot one and it may happen next time I'm out there.
 
Hey SixGun, the next time you are in CO let me know. I've got a couple of 204's and you are sure welcome to try them.

My brother-in-law lives in Bellevue, don't like him much, but that doesn't cloud my opinion of anyone comming from just south of Omaha.
 
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Hey SixGun, the next time you are in CO let me know. I've got a couple of 204's and you are sure welcome to try them.

My brother-in-law lives in Bellevue, don't like him much, but that doesn't cloud my opinion of anyone comming from just south of Omaha.



Yep - you know exactly where I live. Just outside of where I work - Offut Air Force Base.

That would be cool! The .204 is a distinct fascination of mine and I would greatly appreciate chance to shoot one. In return, I'll let you crack a few off out of my custom 6mm.

You just so happen to live near the Gander Mountain (the one near Village Inn) that I bought the rifle my 6mm is based from. I really wish they had Gander out my way, but I doubt I'll see it anytime soon. You're also not too far from the Springs (which is where I base myself out of when I hunt out your way).

I may be out there next month, so keep an eye out for a PM in the coming weeks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif I just gotta get home before I can make any definite plans.

Montana Slim - next time you head out that direction, let us know and maybe we can do a meet and greet shoot.
 
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Yep - you know exactly where I live. Just outside of where I work - Offut Air Force Base.



B-in-L retired from the USAF, at Offut, as a "full bird". He lives on a private golf course somewhere south of town. Sure hope you ain't no "off-kisser". I'm just a civilian peon and I get intimidated by "off-kissers".

Hey, just kidding around. My B-in-L and I have a mutual understanding, he tolerates me, I tolerate him. Our only common interest is his sister...my wife of 33 years.

Come on out. I am a member of a gun club that is 5 miles from my house. There we can try the 204's and you can compare them to a 223. Personally, as much as I like the 204's, they do not replace my 223's. I don't know if it is comfort, familiarity or just that same feeling I have towards that wife of 33 years, but my 223's are still my "go-to" rifles. When I am packing for a PD trip, I load up three 223's without thinking and then figure out what other rifles get packed. Typically, one 204 goes along, maybe a 19 Calhoon, a 17 Ackley Hornet, a 22K Hornet or ??
 
Actually, I am an O-3/Captain /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Got only 4.5 years under my belt thus far, but I am enjoying it.

I understand your affection for the .223 - it a'int going away any time soon in the varmint world not matter what the next cartridge is.
 
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Actually, I am an O-3/Captain /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Got only 4.5 years under my belt thus far, but I am enjoying it.



Academy grad?
 
No, sir - OTS. I graduated from Temple University in Philly and then went into the advertising world for a little bit. Hated every day of my existence and decided I needed to do something that did not center around making a large comapny a large profit.

I got my OTS class assignment a few weeks before 9/11 hit and shipped out in January of 2002. I've been a much happeir man for it.
 
Glad to hear you had a good time. In a couple of weeks, 5 of us are headed out there for a few days of hopefully good shooting.
This will be the first trip of the year and maybe another in Sept... A lot will depend on what the weather is doing then and how much time some of the others can get off work.
If you really want to have fun with a .204, try one on an AR platform...
 
Hey Sixgunner, give me a call/email/shout whenever you're down here in Colorado Springs. I retired from the AF a few years back. Also, when you use our Sportsmen's Warehouse, show your ID and get 5% off even sale items! I'm secretary of the R&G on PAFB, so stop there too.
 
prof242 -

I'd really enjoy seeing the Peterson R&G club. I used to hold fairly regular hours at Offutt's R&G club, but I haven't had the time to do it lately. I should be in the Springs sometime soon, so keep an eye out for an email from me.

Oh, and Sportsman's Warehouse is great! I do the military discount thing with them and it's been fantastic evertime I go. At the very least it puts a dent in the sales tax.
 
WOW -- Great to see some other military folks lurking around these boards. I just came into the area, (teaching at the academy). Prof 242 -- I've probably seen you hanging around the pete R&G club. I've just started shooting down there a bit.

I sure wouldn't mind meeting up with some folks that knew more about the area than I do; I haven't had a live critter in the sites since I moved here -- Partly due to busy job and partly due to infamiliarity with the area.

Generally I go for a .17 Rem for the vermin and fox, but I too would find it great fun to see the .204 work its magic
 
I am going to be passing through S.E. Colorada the 2nd week of August. The main intent of the trip is rock climbing around Colorado Springs and South Fork areas, but I would love to hunt a little along the way. I have never hunted these critters but I have everything but the bench. Where do I go? What do I need to know? Thanks.
 
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