Some questions about Prairie Dog Hunting
- Thread starter kersmack
- Start date
Linefinder
New member
I agree with SKB.
The "can't shoot them on public land east of I-25" law was nothing but a "feel good" measure. It served the purpose of making the Boulderites feel like they'd won a great victory protecting the plains, so they could go back to their cheese and wine tastings.
An extremely high percentage of Colorado is public land, but hardly any at all exists east of I-25....and that's where 99.9% of the blacktail pdogs live in this state.
Pdogs thrive in cattle country. You see very little cattle-friendly land in Colorado that isn't privately owned.
Mike
The "can't shoot them on public land east of I-25" law was nothing but a "feel good" measure. It served the purpose of making the Boulderites feel like they'd won a great victory protecting the plains, so they could go back to their cheese and wine tastings.
An extremely high percentage of Colorado is public land, but hardly any at all exists east of I-25....and that's where 99.9% of the blacktail pdogs live in this state.
Pdogs thrive in cattle country. You see very little cattle-friendly land in Colorado that isn't privately owned.
Mike
The little bastxrds are having a pretty tough time today. Just got word from the farm that they have 30 inches of snow and drifts that cover the truck.
May 2006 we had a mix of weather ranging from overcast and wind to sunny and hot. I was out for a total of 6 days and 3 days were excellent and the other three days I should've stayed home and loaded ammo. In June I went out for four days to makes some repairs on their combines and it was very hot and dry. Got in two days of dog shootin before I had to come back. Sunburned neck and arms.
May 2006 we had a mix of weather ranging from overcast and wind to sunny and hot. I was out for a total of 6 days and 3 days were excellent and the other three days I should've stayed home and loaded ammo. In June I went out for four days to makes some repairs on their combines and it was very hot and dry. Got in two days of dog shootin before I had to come back. Sunburned neck and arms.
Linefinder
New member
Generally, during the spring, summer, and fall, I go out a couple days a week and shoot from about 7:30 am till around 7:00 pm (as long as the light is good). Of course, these are the most comfortable, and productive (by total body count) times of the year.
However, during the winter, if you can catch a sunny, warming front after 3-4 days of bitter cold, overcast, and wind.....watch out...you can fry your barrels in short order. The dogs don't stay out for as long as during warm weather, but for the couple hours they are out, they are practically oblivious to everything else except their feeding.
With this "blizzard" that's passed through here yesterday, and the remains of it today, Saturday or Sunday would be awesome pdogging days.
I went out for 3 days just prior to Christmas last year. It had been pretty cold for the few days before that. I shot only about 6 hours each day (the dogs got up late, and retired early), but I did manage to finally kill a .223 barrel on that hunt.
I took a friend on his first pdog hunt in the middle of last February. There was melting snow on the ground. He was using his brand new .204 Ruger, and went through 187 rounds. I thought the shooting was kind of slow, even for February, but he was ecstatic. A monster was created that day. He now has 4 very hi-quality pdog rifles, with glass to match. They are all based off the .204 caliber. He's probably the best shot I've ever met, and he's racked up a heckuva hit rate past 500 yards in a short amount of time.
Mike
However, during the winter, if you can catch a sunny, warming front after 3-4 days of bitter cold, overcast, and wind.....watch out...you can fry your barrels in short order. The dogs don't stay out for as long as during warm weather, but for the couple hours they are out, they are practically oblivious to everything else except their feeding.
With this "blizzard" that's passed through here yesterday, and the remains of it today, Saturday or Sunday would be awesome pdogging days.
I went out for 3 days just prior to Christmas last year. It had been pretty cold for the few days before that. I shot only about 6 hours each day (the dogs got up late, and retired early), but I did manage to finally kill a .223 barrel on that hunt.
I took a friend on his first pdog hunt in the middle of last February. There was melting snow on the ground. He was using his brand new .204 Ruger, and went through 187 rounds. I thought the shooting was kind of slow, even for February, but he was ecstatic. A monster was created that day. He now has 4 very hi-quality pdog rifles, with glass to match. They are all based off the .204 caliber. He's probably the best shot I've ever met, and he's racked up a heckuva hit rate past 500 yards in a short amount of time.
Mike
I know you are right and tomorrow would be excellent if the snow would melt but I have family things to do and won't get a chance to go for a week. Some of the places I go are tough to get into even in good weather so I know some of them are off limits for a while. My favorite places set back off the main county roads far enough most people have no idea they exist....makes for some excellent shooting.
Linefinder
New member
Well, once again......I'm not too sure the new ruling has much effect on the overall pdog population.
As I understand the new regulations, ("seasons", if you will) they don't affect control shooting on private land at all.
So,like the prior ban on shooting of pdogs on public land, the "open on public land, with a closed season included this time" means very little. Most black-tail pdogs live on private land.
It seems to me that this new "regulated season" is just another "playing for the crowd" feel-good piece of legislation. Nothing at all has changed on any meaningful level.
Mike
As I understand the new regulations, ("seasons", if you will) they don't affect control shooting on private land at all.
So,like the prior ban on shooting of pdogs on public land, the "open on public land, with a closed season included this time" means very little. Most black-tail pdogs live on private land.
It seems to me that this new "regulated season" is just another "playing for the crowd" feel-good piece of legislation. Nothing at all has changed on any meaningful level.
Mike