arkhunter1
New member
Anyone got a suggestion for a prairie dog hunting area on public land? I would like to hunt them for a day or two, but do not have much money to spend on private land or guided hunt.
Public land prairie dogs?
- Thread starter arkhunter1
- Start date
claimbuster
New member
There is public land available for PD hunting. However, most of it is getting hunted so hard that results are poor at best. I've been shooting BLM land in Wyoming for many years and each year that goes by I see a reduction in targets. Its getting to the point that I may not bother anymore. I'll work my private ranches.
Get BLM and Grassland maps on the internet and make your plans. Most western states have a lot of public land that you can shoot on.
Get BLM and Grassland maps on the internet and make your plans. Most western states have a lot of public land that you can shoot on.
Rustydust
Active member
How far are you willing to go? If you got the coin, I would head up to Wyoming. Take a friend or two and sure make the gas pains easier. A friend and I were at a spot neither of us had been before (and the local that told us where they were did not know either of us for that matter) and we got somewhere around 350-400 of them in two 8 hour days of hunting and two other days of less than 4 hours hunting each. Hint: get away from the closest town a ways. It seems the locals dont want to drive an hour or so to find them. Stay in the central to eastern part of the state and you will find dogs. Make Google your friend. Call some taverns or gun shops or even mom-and-pop stores and offer steak dinners and/or a bottle of Jack Daniels (or the like) to anyone that can turn you on to a place. Bring 3 or 4 GOOD centerfires with GOOD scopes on them. Bring range finders and GOOD binocular. Have folding shooting benches and DONT MAKE THE LEGS TOO SHORT! Get a stool you can adjust he length up and down. Use bipods that will work off a table top (or the hood of your car. They MUST be able swivel and the leg must be adjustable. Bring gallons of water for each man. You will be amazed at how much you drink but so little you pee. Wear you biggest airest hat too. Pring a few gatorade kind of drinks as well. Get a bit weary of nothing but water afer a while.
If you want to camp out (most fun! most fun! very very fun)you do need to check and see if it is OK. It may be ok to camp but not for no fires. If that the case, Rats. But hey, have something in cans or MRE for you. Crackers, sardines, spam, vienna sausages and saltines are like a staple. You be OK. Get your steak (AFTER you shower) when you get back to the motel.
Lastly dont forget to tell people where you will be. Trust me on this one. Wayne and I were were out two full days and two partial ones and never saw any people or see a car or truck of hear voices. WE never even saw a plane flying over. Big or or little one- not once. Spooky.
Bring you a nice 17 HMR for a walkaround rifle and .22 handgun is great fun for the dummy dogs that will stand 50 yard away from you and let you shoot them.
The rest is just common sense. Sun screen calf high leather boots, long pants and (I would advise) long sleeve shirts.
1st aid kits, paper towels, snacks, more water and couple rolls of TP for personal hygene. Trust me, there are plenty of things in the desert that you dont want to be wiping your butt with.
Have fun, kill them clean, be safe and tell us how it goes.
If you want to camp out (most fun! most fun! very very fun)you do need to check and see if it is OK. It may be ok to camp but not for no fires. If that the case, Rats. But hey, have something in cans or MRE for you. Crackers, sardines, spam, vienna sausages and saltines are like a staple. You be OK. Get your steak (AFTER you shower) when you get back to the motel.
Lastly dont forget to tell people where you will be. Trust me on this one. Wayne and I were were out two full days and two partial ones and never saw any people or see a car or truck of hear voices. WE never even saw a plane flying over. Big or or little one- not once. Spooky.
Bring you a nice 17 HMR for a walkaround rifle and .22 handgun is great fun for the dummy dogs that will stand 50 yard away from you and let you shoot them.
The rest is just common sense. Sun screen calf high leather boots, long pants and (I would advise) long sleeve shirts.
1st aid kits, paper towels, snacks, more water and couple rolls of TP for personal hygene. Trust me, there are plenty of things in the desert that you dont want to be wiping your butt with.
Have fun, kill them clean, be safe and tell us how it goes.
It has been said that there are more prairie dogs in South Dakota than all of the other states combined. Call the Ft. Pierre Motel (605-223-3111). They are the closest hotel to the Ft. Pierre National Grasslands, over 200 square miles of public hunting. Mike and Jodi will take care of you.
CatShooter
New member
Quote:
"More prairie dogs in SD the all other places combined, may be true, but there are also more prairie dog shooters than all other places combined..."
My first laugh of the day /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
My first trip to SoDak was in '80, and the three of us were there for 22 days.
We camped down on the south-east corner of the Conata Basin, along the White River.
In the whole 22 days, we saw one dog shooter. It was like finding a kindred soul in a foreign country who spoke your language.
He brought his kit and set up camp with us for the rest of the time.
There was a woman who came down from Alaska, who had a house at the four corners in the middle a town called Interior (HA! five houses, a gas station, and a convenience store).
On the part of the roof that faced the road, she painted "FOOD". She had converted her front living room into a cafe'/luncheonette and had a few indian girls working for her.
When we would go there for breakfast, the local ranchers would just about drag us back to their spreads.
There were just miles and miles of empty prairie, and you didn't need to ask permission.
Those days were like going to heaven before you died.
.
"More prairie dogs in SD the all other places combined, may be true, but there are also more prairie dog shooters than all other places combined..."
My first laugh of the day /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
My first trip to SoDak was in '80, and the three of us were there for 22 days.
We camped down on the south-east corner of the Conata Basin, along the White River.
In the whole 22 days, we saw one dog shooter. It was like finding a kindred soul in a foreign country who spoke your language.
He brought his kit and set up camp with us for the rest of the time.
There was a woman who came down from Alaska, who had a house at the four corners in the middle a town called Interior (HA! five houses, a gas station, and a convenience store).
On the part of the roof that faced the road, she painted "FOOD". She had converted her front living room into a cafe'/luncheonette and had a few indian girls working for her.
When we would go there for breakfast, the local ranchers would just about drag us back to their spreads.
There were just miles and miles of empty prairie, and you didn't need to ask permission.
Those days were like going to heaven before you died.
.
HighPlainsDrifter
New member
skb2706,
You should have come up to Wyoming for WW-VI. Ask NASA, Furhunter, PD Buster, Claimbuster, Race4hills, UNK, Huntsman, Songdog, The Fly and ELJ (did I miss anyone) if they needed a guide. All you really need is someone with some local knowledge (preferably a PM Member) who is willing to help a brother out. Not saying guides are not an option, but if a guy is willing to do some homework, some good shooting can be found without that expense.
Its been said before and I will say it again arkhunter1. The vast majority of Wyoming land owners who have prairie dog problems will welcome you with open arms. Ranchers hate the prairie dogs and want nothing more than to see their numbers knocked down. Most resort to poison or pray for the plague because they dont get enough shooters.
You should have come up to Wyoming for WW-VI. Ask NASA, Furhunter, PD Buster, Claimbuster, Race4hills, UNK, Huntsman, Songdog, The Fly and ELJ (did I miss anyone) if they needed a guide. All you really need is someone with some local knowledge (preferably a PM Member) who is willing to help a brother out. Not saying guides are not an option, but if a guy is willing to do some homework, some good shooting can be found without that expense.
Its been said before and I will say it again arkhunter1. The vast majority of Wyoming land owners who have prairie dog problems will welcome you with open arms. Ranchers hate the prairie dogs and want nothing more than to see their numbers knocked down. Most resort to poison or pray for the plague because they dont get enough shooters.
Quote:
skb2706,
You should have come up to Wyoming for WW-VI. Ask NASA, Furhunter, PD Buster, Claimbuster, Race4hills, UNK, Huntsman, Songdog, The Fly and ELJ (did I miss anyone) if they needed a guide. All you really need is someone with some local knowledge (preferably a PM Member) who is willing to help a brother out. Not saying guides are not an option, but if a guy is willing to do some homework, some good shooting can be found without that expense.
Its been said before and I will say it again arkhunter1. The vast majority of Wyoming land owners who have prairie dog problems will welcome you with open arms. Ranchers hate the prairie dogs and want nothing more than to see their numbers knocked down. Most resort to poison or pray for the plague because they dont get enough shooters.
Wyo - I really wanted to make the trip this year but timing is everything for me and my job. Maybe next time.
I do have access to several thousand acres of pds out at my sisters place. I've never seen another sole out there shootin since I've been goin.
Similar situation here, getting permission is easy its finding good dog shootin thats the tricky part.
skb2706,
You should have come up to Wyoming for WW-VI. Ask NASA, Furhunter, PD Buster, Claimbuster, Race4hills, UNK, Huntsman, Songdog, The Fly and ELJ (did I miss anyone) if they needed a guide. All you really need is someone with some local knowledge (preferably a PM Member) who is willing to help a brother out. Not saying guides are not an option, but if a guy is willing to do some homework, some good shooting can be found without that expense.
Its been said before and I will say it again arkhunter1. The vast majority of Wyoming land owners who have prairie dog problems will welcome you with open arms. Ranchers hate the prairie dogs and want nothing more than to see their numbers knocked down. Most resort to poison or pray for the plague because they dont get enough shooters.
Wyo - I really wanted to make the trip this year but timing is everything for me and my job. Maybe next time.
I do have access to several thousand acres of pds out at my sisters place. I've never seen another sole out there shootin since I've been goin.
Similar situation here, getting permission is easy its finding good dog shootin thats the tricky part.
Quote:
Quote:
"More prairie dogs in SD the all other places combined, may be true, but there are also more prairie dog shooters than all other places combined..."
My first laugh of the day /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
My first trip to SoDak was in '80, and the three of us were there for 22 days.
We camped down on the south-east corner of the Conata Basin, along the White River.
In the whole 22 days, we saw one dog shooter. It was like finding a kindred soul in a foreign country who spoke your language.
He brought his kit and set up camp with us for the rest of the time.
There was a woman who came down from Alaska, who had a house at the four corners in the middle a town called Interior (HA! five houses, a gas station, and a convenience store).
On the part of the roof that faced the road, she painted "FOOD". She had converted her front living room into a cafe'/luncheonette and had a few indian girls working for her.
When we would go there for breakfast, the local ranchers would just about drag us back to their spreads.
There were just miles and miles of empty prairie, and you didn't need to ask permission.
Those days were like going to heaven before you died.
.
that would be 28 years ago...............
Quote:
"More prairie dogs in SD the all other places combined, may be true, but there are also more prairie dog shooters than all other places combined..."
My first laugh of the day /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
My first trip to SoDak was in '80, and the three of us were there for 22 days.
We camped down on the south-east corner of the Conata Basin, along the White River.
In the whole 22 days, we saw one dog shooter. It was like finding a kindred soul in a foreign country who spoke your language.
He brought his kit and set up camp with us for the rest of the time.
There was a woman who came down from Alaska, who had a house at the four corners in the middle a town called Interior (HA! five houses, a gas station, and a convenience store).
On the part of the roof that faced the road, she painted "FOOD". She had converted her front living room into a cafe'/luncheonette and had a few indian girls working for her.
When we would go there for breakfast, the local ranchers would just about drag us back to their spreads.
There were just miles and miles of empty prairie, and you didn't need to ask permission.
Those days were like going to heaven before you died.
.
that would be 28 years ago...............
CatShooter
New member
Quote:
My, how things have changed in just 3 short decades! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I'll tell you.. they were short.
Don't let it go by... it goes very fast.
My, how things have changed in just 3 short decades! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I'll tell you.. they were short.
Don't let it go by... it goes very fast.
Rustydust
Active member
Quote:
Quote:
My, how things have changed in just 3 short decades! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I'll tell you.. they were short.
Don't let it go by... it goes very fast.
Words of wisdom, Catshooter.
Someday, hopefully many many years from now, there will be no more prairie dog shooting. No more gophers, no more rockchucks, no more badgers, no more coyote, no more....well you get the idea. If you get the chance to go, then go. Much better to look back on the old days and think about the shots you missed than the days that you could have gone and did not. Better to think about the times of running out of ammo, getting stuck in the mud, pulling off ticks, peeling sunburn, coming home late to an angry wife, standing in a fire ant mound, and the other various maladies that are going to befall you than to spend your golden years wishing that you had gone but instead kept waiting for "next year".
Getting a late start is better than never to have gone. Knowing that you have done it even once is so much better than saying that you always wanted to but never got around to it.
We all have regrets. Don't make missing out on the special hunt with your brother/dad/son/best friend ever be one of them. As we age we get more memories and more wrinkles but less and less time. Make what time you have adding to the memories. You cant do anything about the wrinkles.
Quote:
My, how things have changed in just 3 short decades! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I'll tell you.. they were short.
Don't let it go by... it goes very fast.
Words of wisdom, Catshooter.
Someday, hopefully many many years from now, there will be no more prairie dog shooting. No more gophers, no more rockchucks, no more badgers, no more coyote, no more....well you get the idea. If you get the chance to go, then go. Much better to look back on the old days and think about the shots you missed than the days that you could have gone and did not. Better to think about the times of running out of ammo, getting stuck in the mud, pulling off ticks, peeling sunburn, coming home late to an angry wife, standing in a fire ant mound, and the other various maladies that are going to befall you than to spend your golden years wishing that you had gone but instead kept waiting for "next year".
Getting a late start is better than never to have gone. Knowing that you have done it even once is so much better than saying that you always wanted to but never got around to it.
We all have regrets. Don't make missing out on the special hunt with your brother/dad/son/best friend ever be one of them. As we age we get more memories and more wrinkles but less and less time. Make what time you have adding to the memories. You cant do anything about the wrinkles.
claimbuster
New member
Life is like a roll of toilet paper it goes faster at the end of the roll.
As my long departed mother-in-law (whom I liked by the way) used to say, "On your death bed you won't look back and say I wish I would have spent more time cleaning my kitchen".
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
As my long departed mother-in-law (whom I liked by the way) used to say, "On your death bed you won't look back and say I wish I would have spent more time cleaning my kitchen".
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
Darn tootin, Rusty! You have put it very well. You have a way with putting things in perspective that us ordinary folks can relate to!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I think I will call my dad and my brother in the morning and see if they want to go try and call us in a kieyote. On second thought, maybe they still up. I call them now. Thanks.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I think I will call my dad and my brother in the morning and see if they want to go try and call us in a kieyote. On second thought, maybe they still up. I call them now. Thanks.
CatShooter
New member
Quote:
My, how things have changed in just 3 short decades! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Well... I figured I tell you young pups how it was "in the good ol' days" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
On my first trip out there, it was just after the government had banned the use of strychnine and 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate). Both are God-awful, horrible poisons and ugly ways for anything to die - but the big problem with both of them was that they were "chain poisons", and since the Prairie Dog is a universal food source at the bottom of every prairie predator, everything that ate the dead doggies, soon died, and then their scavengers died, and on and on.
So in the late 70's, the dog population was totally out of control, the ranchers had no poisons that were sold or approved, the new zinc phosphide was not approved for sale yet, and South Dakota was ADVERTISING in shooting and hunting magazine for people to "...come on out and shoot Prairie Dogs".
They even had a special "Prairie Dog Hunting license" for two dollars (I still have my first one).
The three of us read an ad in one of the shooting magazine, and planned the trip for 8 months. We drove out from the north-east with a VW camper, and a station wagon so heavily loaded that it was just about down to the springs.
Between the three of us, we took a little over 22,000 rounds of centerfire ammo, and came back almost dry.
On one ranch that we shot for 4 or 5 days, the owners wife would drive out at mid-day with sandwiches and lemonade for us.
Kiddies... that's how it was "the good ol' days". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
It isn't as easy now, but if you are planing a PD trip, DO IT - it is absolutely the best vacation of my life.
I have been out there a total of about 60 days over the past three decades, but the first one was the one I remember the best.
... and the down side... a few years after the first trip, the govt approved sodium phosphide, and the poising has been on a roller coaster ride ever since.
.
My, how things have changed in just 3 short decades! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Well... I figured I tell you young pups how it was "in the good ol' days" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
On my first trip out there, it was just after the government had banned the use of strychnine and 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate). Both are God-awful, horrible poisons and ugly ways for anything to die - but the big problem with both of them was that they were "chain poisons", and since the Prairie Dog is a universal food source at the bottom of every prairie predator, everything that ate the dead doggies, soon died, and then their scavengers died, and on and on.
So in the late 70's, the dog population was totally out of control, the ranchers had no poisons that were sold or approved, the new zinc phosphide was not approved for sale yet, and South Dakota was ADVERTISING in shooting and hunting magazine for people to "...come on out and shoot Prairie Dogs".
They even had a special "Prairie Dog Hunting license" for two dollars (I still have my first one).
The three of us read an ad in one of the shooting magazine, and planned the trip for 8 months. We drove out from the north-east with a VW camper, and a station wagon so heavily loaded that it was just about down to the springs.
Between the three of us, we took a little over 22,000 rounds of centerfire ammo, and came back almost dry.
On one ranch that we shot for 4 or 5 days, the owners wife would drive out at mid-day with sandwiches and lemonade for us.
Kiddies... that's how it was "the good ol' days". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
It isn't as easy now, but if you are planing a PD trip, DO IT - it is absolutely the best vacation of my life.
I have been out there a total of about 60 days over the past three decades, but the first one was the one I remember the best.
... and the down side... a few years after the first trip, the govt approved sodium phosphide, and the poising has been on a roller coaster ride ever since.
.