Prairie Dog Hunt

[wilmsmeyer]

I would like to plan a prarie dog shoot for myself and a few friends sometime within the next few years.

I would be interested in what areas to consider in terms of good populations, getting permission to hunt and best time of year. I would drive from Western NYS and hope to have a one-way time of 24 hrs or less if possible.

I've never been west of the Mississippi so I have no idea, other then articles and stories I've seen, on the best plan to proceed.

Would really like some first hand advise!

[billc]

Sounds like fun. I don't have any experience hunting prairie dogs, but for kicks I did a google search on "prairie dog hunting" -- got lots of hits. I suppose if I were going to try something new and different far from home I would consider a guide/ranch hunt. Good luck!

Bill

[DannoBoone]

I came from SW Nebraska, where we routinely hunted PD's each
summer to practice up for deer season. After popping PD's at 300yds,
a deer at the same distance was like shooting at the barn door.

Unfortunately, during the time that the Humane Society was
attempting to pass a bill in Congress declaring the prairie dog as
a "threatened species", many farmers & ranchers decimated them
on their property in fear that the bill would pass.

Friends tell me that there are still huge populations in the pan-handle,
in Wyoming and South Dakota.

[runningdog]

I have friends tell me about S.D and Wyoming. They say there is lots of dogs left. I usually hunt in SW Kansas/Colorado/NW Texas Panhandle. The plague is bad in those areas so we have to check real close with locals before going. Last year we changed our destination plans three times because of the plague.
I usually check with the wildlife divisions in the areas I plan to hunt. They will provide local farmers and ranchers who will let you hunt free.

[robhinze]

How many days are going to shoot Bill? Why I ask is if you want to shoot for more than a day or two your best bet is to shoot the reservation is S.D. Why I say this shooting is best in the am and pm. The walley spring bite will be on and they will be in the northern part of the river. Lots of dogs. I would go to Mobridge. Contact Varmint Hunters Association at Peire SD. Go in the last week of May or first part of june. If you only want to shoot several days pm me and I'll take you out to my pastures unless my *&+:# uncle managed to finish poisoning ours. Use to dump 1500 rounds a day at em. I would bring every thing you got. No fun reloading at night when you could be hooting with the owls!