PRAIRIE DOGS
Having never been prairie dog shooting,Would a .223(panther sweet 16) equipped with a ziess 3-9x50 do the job?How long are typical shot distances?Do you just get out and start blastin or what?
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What's the best Gun , Caliber , Scope , Bullet ,[?] for Prairie dog hunting? Thanks 0 -
Hell ya! I haven't done a dog town yet, but here in CA (our version) ground squirrels pack the same and are just smaller targets. what I do is Find a nice patch, lay out a pad and go for it. P dogs are just as bright as ground squirrels [:D]
I like my 22-250 Rem 40x as my primary varmint gun but have used my Colt AR-Hbar as well.
happy hunting-0 -
If you reload, 55gr Nosler BT's or Sierra SPSX bullets work great. 0 -
How close can you get to em before they bolt?Im guessing there about the same size as our(louisiana)grey or fox squrrels. 0 -
You will get shots from 5 yards to forever.
Look for eyeballs, 5 yards away..suck 'em right out of the holes straight up.
Get a brass catcher...ranchers don't like piles of brass scattered over the prarie.
Don't lie down on the ground..and do not pick up dead rats. Fleas...bubonic plague.
Watch for rattlesnakes...rarely see them, but they DO inhabit dog towns.
You cannot have more fun with your clothes on.
Take PLENTY ammo...1000 rounds minimum for a day or two shoot...and get a booney hat...something that will stay on in the wind. Carry water with you...
DO NOT just 'see a town and go to blasting'..those boys out there take a damn thin view of strangers shooting on their ranch without permission...and they ALL are armed...go to the local cafe and start asking who has dogs.
Be polite. leave gates as you find them. Do NOT shoot towards cattle...today, 1000 bucks will just about buy one on the hoof...assuming you don't kill the guys prime bull...0 -
no,no,no,i wouldent dare,or have big enuff boys to go on someone elses property w/o permission.Im a land owner and understand that part.But when it comes to this sort of shooting,Im clueless.Me and the wife are due for some down time and it crossed my tiny little mind to suggest that we go to s. dakota and shoot some dogs.I would more than likely go through an outfitter as i dont know any body up there. 0 -
Well down here by the beach we do it a little different .This is'nt my pic but we should have some of our own around here somewhere.This is an absolute riot if you've got kids.We go down to Doheney beach early sat.mornings.They've got young one now and the little ones are the most aggressive.[8D][8D]Google squirrel fishing
http://www.dp2.org/~nick/images/squirrels/squirrels.jpg0 -
Forgot to add, I like to keep shots between 300 400 yards to the center of the plot I am shooting into, IE aware of surroundings, backstops etc.
Highball made a good point about snakes. In my area its not to much of a problem, but they are there.0 -
Heres my squrell,his name was ITCHY.As you can see,He was a mean SOB.I got him and another(SCRATCHY)en KATRINA came through. 0 -
1000 rounds sounds like alot of ammo 0 -
quote:Originally posted by phillip
1000 rounds sounds like alot of ammo
[:D] every dawg town ive been to had 5 times that many dowgs. most ive ever use 2000 rnds over 2 day period same 100 acre feild. I took 3000 rnds0 -
I have a 10 guage I will be putting on line as soon as I learn a little more about it.....I think you should take that gun. Now that I think of it I will have to double dog dare you to try it out on the little scudders! 0 -
[:D]
I was assuming that you like to shoot ...
Using a guide cuts down on bunches of groundwork...more expensive, but much less hassle.
Quiz your outfitters as to weather expected...the next month or so would be good times...the heat hasn't built up yet.
Don't forget you earplugs and shooting glasses.
a spoting scope will assist your spotter when you try those looong shots.
Dogs that have been shot over will duck for cover hundreds of yards away..those not will poke their heads up right by the pickup after you shoot awhile.
Naturally, as mentioned...no ball ammo. varmint or soft points only.
Drop by Black Hills Ammo and load up...they make super ammo.
Your rig is super stuff for quick shooting 'clear the area' fun...and every rat you kill heals up the prarie a little...0 -
I heard 223 was kinda hard to come by.True??? 0 -
Sorry about the pics I screwd something up.Whats the best time of year to go? 0 -
From now till snow. The pups ought to be out by now..or within the next twenty days or so...at least, my aging memory says so...
However...before driving 1000 miles...contact your people and be sure that there hasn't been a die-off where you intend shooting.
Naturally occuring die-offs happen...and there have been several in the Dakotas the last few years.
Going soon will ensure that heat will not be a real problem...unlike July/August early Sept...0 -
A ten guage shotgun...??? [:0] 0 -
Highball gave some very good advice.
223 will work here where i live in the cent SD wind is an issue i like little bit faster rifles......my varmint guns are 22-250's and 243 win's.....in shot in dog towns the ranges will be very long.....with the exception of the young dumb ones.
Doc a farmer/rancher
PS
treat the land better that you would treat if it was your own....and we make our living from the land and we know every inch of it. if we say dont shot a certain direction ect....its not being an azzhole its because we know there are cattle down range or the neighbors down range farming or putting up hay or something.....i live right next to a large dog town and have had guy or two wizz a bullet or three through my yard and i know my neighbor who owns that land tells them not to shoot my way and that i am very very handy with a rifle[;)]0 -
I understand.THANKS for the info.
quote:Originally posted by cowdoc
Highball gave some very good advice.
223 will work here where i live in the cent SD wind is an issue i like little bit faster rifles......my varmint guns are 22-250's and 243 win's.....in shot in dog towns the ranges will be very long.....with the exception of the young dumb ones.
Doc a farmer/rancher
PS
treat the land better that you would treat if it was your own....and we make our living from the land and we know every inch of it. if we say dont shot a certain direction ect....its not being an azzhole its because we know there are cattle down range or the neighbors down range farming or putting up hay or something.....i live right next to a large dog town and have had guy or two wizz a bullet or three through my yard and i know my neighbor who owns that land tells them not to shoot my way and that i am very very handy with a rifle[;)]0 -
Can anyone recommend a guide? 0 -
I went on a trip most shots were 150-300 yds.
time was more a factor than range, seem like they would sit there for 10 seconds before they ducked under. there were a few shots from 40- 500 yds but fewer0 -
phillip, don't overlook taking a 22lr with you.
I've killed more p-dogs with rimfire than I'll ever be able to with a centerfire (Excluding, maybe a hornet).
While a 22lr won't give you the "Impact Gymnastics" of a 223 or (my favorite) a 22-250, it will kill them dead. And the relative lack of noise will let you work the closer shots for much longer than a centerfire.
Just my three cent's worth, based on a few years' worth of prairie dog killing.0 -
I beg you guys, "PLEASE DON'T SHOOT THE PRAIRIE DOGS!!!!"
Instead, catch a few breeding pairs...send them over to me.
I'll then release them, unharmed, here in South FL. I'll establish my own colony of dogs.
That way, I could then partake in the fun of shooting 'em![:D]0 -
Love to watch those dogs do the back flips!!
I'm going to Colorado in June ; Can anyone tell me where to find some of those little dogs???? And what kind of permit do I need besides permission from the land owner? And where to get it?
I've done a lot of shoots out in western NE. and S.D. Fun, Fun ,Fun!!0 -
quote:Originally posted by syruphauler
Love to watch those dogs do the back flips!!
I'm going to Colorado in June ; Can anyone tell me where to find some of those little dogs???? And what kind of permit do I need besides permission from the land owner? And where to get it?
I've done a lot of shoots out in western NE. and S.D. Fun, Fun ,Fun!!
I'm right off of I-76, m'man.
And you've got mail.
You need land-owner's permission and a small game license.
I'm not sure how that works for outta staters, but a quick look at CDOW regs online should answer your questions.
Now I oughtta get busy and load up some pills for the 22-250.0 -
Here in CA, Some BLM people love it, and all Hunting reg's apply.
One guy's land that I used to hunt down in king city had open invites to bust all the Ground squirrels you could take.
Gave the place the name of RED ROCK. It had a huge Rock about 4' above the burros. Made for a nice back stop to catch bullets and other fleshy type debris. SPLAT![:D]0 -
Hi Thanks for the info. I use a 204 ruger and22-250 also. Makes for lots of fun. I'll check into the license!!! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by phillip
Having never been prairie dog shooting,Would a .223(panther sweet 16) equipped with a ziess 3-9x50 do the job?How long are typical shot distances?Do you just get out and start blastin or what?
Typical shots are from 5-500 yards. There are a couple of schools of p-dog shooting. I'm of the "Imperialist British" school. I find a nice fat town and set up a bench, cooler, and have a few of my favorite killing machines and good fellows of like mind at hand. Native porters can be so blasted tempermental, so I usually have to do my own heavy lifting.
There's the "Walking Varmint" school. But that seems so...well...pedestrian.
Sometimes I amuse myself so.
Seriously, there are no rules, save those of the CDOW. Just set up (or walk around) be safe and have fun. As mentioned before, pack out what you pack in , close gates that were closed when you got there and find some small token of thanks for the folks who own or lease the land you hunt on. That last part is strictly voluntary, but a 12-pack of beer is a nice gesture.
jaysus, I'm babbling.
It's past my bedtime, so I'm turning in.
To sleep; perchance to dream...
of killing prairie dogs...0 -
I really appreciate All yalls info about this subject,and hope I can put this info to good use in may or july.Ill try the net for a guide,maybe I could talk syruphauler into posting license info...Speaking of witch,why would a guy need a license to shoot em?Is it a money thing or what?I thought louisiana was the only state to tax ,charge a fee,require a permit or license to do anything except breath. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by phillip
I really appreciate All yalls info about this subject,and hope I can put this info to good use in may or july.Ill try the net for a guide,maybe I could talk syruphauler into posting license info...Speaking of witch,why would a guy need a license to shoot em?Is it a money thing or what?I thought louisiana was the only state to tax ,charge a fee,require a permit or license to do anything except breath.
Small game is small game in Colorado. If you wish to kill any of God's creatures in this State, you need the State's permission to do so. Even varmint and predator control. And yes, this is a money thing.
Keep in mind, there was even a moratorium on killing prairie dogs within the Pawnee National Grasslands through mid-April, because the some folks, disregarding the evidence scampering about right under their noses, think there is a chance that Black-tailed Prairie Dogs will become extinct.
Perhaps, they could, I mean, look at the Passenger Pigeon.
On the other hand, I've never in my 46 years heard anyone say, "You know what I miss? I miss those Passenger Pigeons."
I'm not judging. I'm just sayin'.0
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