Prairie Dogs??
Hey - I met another Gun Afficionado on another Forum...
He told me that he PAYS to hunt on farmer's fields - is that common, when going for Prairie Dogs??? I understand the host state's need for licenses, but Farmers who have problems cause of the darn animules???
Those of you who hunt those wily critters - what gun do you like best?
Would my Pappy's 25-06 be "overkill"??? My .308 would be for sure, right? A waste of powder, and for 100rounds /day, might result in tender shoulder, eh?
He told me that he PAYS to hunt on farmer's fields - is that common, when going for Prairie Dogs??? I understand the host state's need for licenses, but Farmers who have problems cause of the darn animules???
Those of you who hunt those wily critters - what gun do you like best?
Would my Pappy's 25-06 be "overkill"??? My .308 would be for sure, right? A waste of powder, and for 100rounds /day, might result in tender shoulder, eh?
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iVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT TO SHOOT UPWARDS OF 750 ROUNDS A DAY.a 308.....mAYBE NOT. 0 -
It's not unusual at all. Think about it, the farmer or rancher makes his living from his land and you're using his land for recreational purposes, so it's only fair that he get a little something for it.
25-06 and 308 are good long-range calibers. 223, 22-250 and like calibers are pretty standard. 22 and 17 rimfires are quite common as well.0 -
$150/day/shooter is reasonable? 0 -
I use a 223. ammo is cheap. you can shoot all day long, then in the evening wait for cyotoes to come in. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by HandLoad
$150/day/shooter is reasonable?
Reasonable is whatever the shooter is willing to pay.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you will never put a serious dent in any significant prairie dog population by shooting them. As varmint control methods go, it's hugely inefficient compared to gassing and other methods of extermination. So the rancher is getting far less from your shooting than you are.
Then there's what I call "The Jackass Factor" Which is the percentage of people who leave brass and trash littering the area they shoot, or can't keep errant shots away from livestock and equipment. That costs the landowner money and hassle.
So, I'd say if what the landowner wants you to pay for the privelege of hunting his land is too steep, keep looking. You'll find some who would not charge a penny.0 -
.50 BMG 0 -
I can afford the charge, just was checking if it was about right - I guess it is "what the market will bear", and since I am invited to the hunt by a person I have just met on the Internet, it will be OK for my first of this kind, and I will use the experience to leverage my self to knowledge - I will try it on my own after I have gone on one with someone who has done it before.
Thanks to all who have/will reply - all input is welcome.0 -
You might as well order a new barrel if you're planning on taking a 25-06 out to P-Dog hunt. I've been told that you need to take 3000rds out for a 2-3day trip.
3000 rds is getting high for a 25-06.
I'd go for a 223.0 -
quote:Originally posted by cubslover
You might as well order a new barrel if you're planning on taking a 25-06 out to P-Dog hunt. I've been told that you need to take 3000rds out for a 2-3day trip.
3000 rds is getting high for a 25-06.
I'd go for a 223.
3000 seems excessive.
I don't focus on how many shots I can send downrange as much as I do shot-per-kill ratio. If you're hunting that thick a prairie dog population, the chances of you getting a few (hundred) close-in shots with a rimfire are pretty good.
Keep in mind, I'm speaking of our local (Northeastern Colorado) populations. Your mileage may vary.0 -
M-777[:D] 0 -
Depending upon where you are going, how much they have been hunted and your intent (with respect to # of shots), many serious varmit hunters in this area will take 2 or 3 different rifles to shoot. When one gets hot, change rifles. Two hunters, each with 2 or 3 rifles & plenty of ammo, can bust a lot of caps in a day. Assuming that the ranch will have several good sized towns on it, you will likely be able to shoot until you get tired of shooting.
My personal favorite varmit guns are FA 41 mag revolver & 22 Hornet rifle, but I am not a serious varmit hunter. May not kill as many as you do in a day, but 20-30 in a couple of hours is fun. After that, I am bored with shooting them.0 -
quote:Originally posted by wtroper
Depending upon where you are going, how much they have been hunted and your intent (with respect to # of shots), many serious varmit hunters in this area will take 2 or 3 different rifles to shoot. When one gets hot, change rifles. Two hunters, each with 2 or 3 rifles & plenty of ammo, can bust a lot of caps in a day. Assuming that the ranch will have several good sized towns on it, you will likely be able to shoot until you get tired of shooting.
My personal favorite varmit guns are FA 41 mag revolver & 22 Hornet rifle, but I am not a serious varmit hunter. May not kill as many as you do in a day, but 20-30 in a couple of hours is fun. After that, I am bored with shooting them.
You hunt like I do. A few hours here and there. Only occasionally do I make an entire day or weekend out of it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by cubslover
You might as well order a new barrel if you're planning on taking a 25-06 out to P-Dog hunt. I've been told that you need to take 3000rds out for a 2-3day trip.
3000 rds is getting high for a 25-06.
I'd go for a 223.
I'll call BS on 3000. That's a shot every 30 seconds for 8 hours a day over three days. A great day on the prairie puppies would be 35-50 kills. You should be able to do that with three boxes of shell.
Clouder..0 -
I've never done it, I'm just going off what I have been told.
The amount sounded excessive to me as well.0 -
Yeah, I hear the same about CO, or at least you'd have a fun day shooting for free. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by HobbyGuy
Boy, things sure are different in other parts of the country. It's either free to "pop" prairie dogs on private land here, or you get paid .10 to .20 per pair of hind legs by the ranchers. When you've invested as much as some of these ranchers have in Angus, you don't want prairie dog holes causing broken legs on your cattle. [;)]
Common misconception. I'm sure it's happened once in a while, but the bigger concern is the complete devastaion the rats cause. They can turn lush pasture into moonscape in a coupla seasons.0 -
I have never payed, I have been payed per Prairie day. I don't think that i would ever pay 0 -
It seems like anyone shooting 3000rds in 2 or three days is just blasting. But we sometimes go two or three of us and camp for three days and can shoot upwards of 600 rds per day each; and you are wore out after that much shootin. I normaly take three rifles, 25-06 sighted dead on at 350; .223 sighted at 200, and a .22 Hornet at 150 That 25-06 will do a great job. Yes I know places that charge 150 a day per gun. We hunt on friends land, Reservation, and some public land. 0 -
.223/5.56 works just dandy. You can even pick up some rounds called "dog poofers." I have about 2,000 of them left... they have a little explosive tip at the end. 0 -
I'd say 3000 rdns would be excessive. Figuring a 10 hr day that would be 1 1/2 shots per minute nonstop for 10 hours. Thats a lot of shooting. 0 -
I would say the 3000 rounds is out there. We went two weekends ago and hunted three large towns for two days. I shot six rifles about 450 rounds total in two days and had trouble keeping the barrels cool. The temp was in the low 90's and just a bit too warm. We are going back toward the end of September. There is almost nothing more fun. 0 -
Shot some in Wyoming, free on public land, 30-50/day. I used a .22 but everybody, and I mean everybody who hunts in Wyoming has a 22-250. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by HandLoad
$150/day/shooter is reasonable?
That is a rip off price. $50/day is more in line.0 -
quote:Originally posted by matwor
Shot some in Wyoming, free on public land, 30-50/day. I used a .22 but everybody, and I mean everybody who hunts in Wyoming has a 22-250.
That's my favorite caliber, too. Well, it's the only varmint caliber I own, to be precise.
The only thing wrong with it is the recoil. Not that it hurts, but that you often lose your sight picture. Yeah, the WHOP! is cool to hear, but I like to see where I'm hitting. My next rig will either be a 223 or that newfangled 20-caliber. I've used 'em both when hunting with other guys and like 'em. I probably won't ever get rid of the 22-250, but I'd like something that keeps my scope on target a little better.0 -
Was cleaning out my photobucket acct. and found this. Although I don't recommend handling them, this was a first time thing for me and wanted a pic to commemorate and show off the Nylon 66. 
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We have no prairie dogs in Tennessee, and the damned coyotes have moved back in and eliminated the ground hogs. Used to be a fellow could spend a day sitting in the shade of a big oak sniping pasture poodles as they came and went between the bean field and a rocky hillside or Indian mound.
Back then, a 22-250 was great out to about 350 yards. I have a Remington 700 Varminter from about 1975 - bedded, floated barrel, 25x Lyman scope - that's had about 1000 rounds through it, most handloads. It's sighted at 300 yards, but the little bullet is not very effective beyond that, and by then it's really dropping.
I used to have a 700 BDL in 7mm Magnum that had been rebarreled with a heavy barrel. I forget who did it. It would reach out to 400 yards; was zeroed at 350 yards. Only problem was the muzzle blast. It tended to upset the beef that might be wandering nearby. The 22-250 was a lot better about the noise.
Now you have to get out at sundown with a tape recorder and shoot coyotes by the light of the moon or your miner's red light. I've been looking at 2nd and 3rd generation starlight equipment, but so far I haven't struck oil on my land, so I'll have to wait for the prices to come down.
Anyone remember the good ole days when you could take your little .22 out to the city dump and kill rats until your shoulder hurt? Round where I lived, they'd burn the dumps every evening and the rats would come charging out to escape the flames. Boy, that was good shooting.
I guess things are better now that there's not all that smoke and pollution, but it would be a rough choice for me as to which time I'd rather live in.0 -
The Colonel's got it right. We've got some life long friends in the western midwest
who's farm/ranch we've R&Red at for several days at a time and the dogs are a
favorite pastime of Bill and his friends there. i prefer a plain ole scoped .223 -
cheap and efficient when the distances aren't too far - and they never are.
[:D]0 -
Try .22 hornet??? 0
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