Prairie Dog Shoot help

plodder · April 20, 2013, 01:54 PM

I am trying to organize my first prairie dog shoot and would like to find a place in the Eastern to Central Dakotas. I had some hopes of getting confirmation from some acquantances, but they have fallen through. I am willing to spend a few bucks on a lease or fee but I am not looking for a $500 outfitting deal.

Late May or June would be my timeframe and only 1-2 days.

Anybody out there able to help out a fellow THR'er with some ideas or info?

redneck2 · April 20, 2013, 09:26 PM

Might try at Varmint's Den. It's obviously all varmint whackers.

FWIW...this question comes up over there too. Most guys aren't gonna give out their favorite spots, just like you don't tell anybody about your deer hunting or fishing hot spots.

Might try to contact the F & G Dept closest to where you want to go. Some have lists of ranchers that let you hunt.

Horribilus · April 22, 2013, 07:58 AM

There aren't many prairie dogs in eastern South Dakota. You'll have to go to the west side of the Missouri for them. Try the Fort Pierre National Grasslands south of Pierre for some good towns.

plodder · April 22, 2013, 08:43 AM

Thanks Horribilus:
I know I will have to do some investigation and legwork, and I am studying the DNR website, maps and Atlas. But in general can you just drive into the National Grasslands, find a PD Town, set up a bench & start shooting or is there a lot of private property and restricted zones?

gunnysmith · April 22, 2013, 09:27 AM

PD villages are like "fishing holes" never tell anyone your "honeyspots". LOL

Horribilus · April 22, 2013, 01:54 PM

There are a restrictions for off-road travel in the grasslands since they are federal rather than a state resource. Maps are available and useful to plan access on the various roads into the interior of the grasslands. If it rains, access can be difficult. As always, be careful of richochets because some private land and homes are around. Another possibility is hunting on one of the reservations but I don't have info on them.

Davek1977 · April 24, 2013, 06:38 AM

I'd look strongly into private land options before resorting to hunting tribal ground. While the license fee is only $60-$80 bucks for tribal ground, utilization of a guide service is MANDATED, raising costs significantly. Truth be told, there are far fewer prairie dogs in my area of SD (south central, Wood area) than there used to be. Ranchers attempt to control and/or eliminate priaire dogs on their property, as they tend to damage pastures and create dangerous conditions with their holes, and are generally seen strictly as a pest or target of opportunity. I credit most of my long gun skills to hours spent in prairie dog towns as a kid. There's no better way to learn windage and holdover than shooting dogs with a .22 rifle at 100 yards or better, IMO!

rule303 · May 3, 2013, 10:28 AM

In my experience hunting western SD and NE Wyoming, most ranchers that have pdogs will gladly let you shoot them. I have even knocked on a few doors where the rancher said he didn't have any, but got on the phone and called other landowners in the area that did, and arranged access for us.

flyingfeathers · May 5, 2013, 11:42 PM

Xxxx

Patocazador · May 6, 2013, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingfeathers

Xxxx

Mods:

Perhaps "flyingfeathers", aka Xxxx, should have his posting privileges restricted until he changes his juvenile ways.

flyingfeathers · May 7, 2013, 09:12 PM

No..just rather disgusted at the lack of conservation ethics by so many on this site...seems only animals you can shoot matters...and don't even suggest certain animals ought to be laid off...few hunters are willing to do that...according to so many people here, the status quo is just fine...no problem with anything..but people dont usually change until it is too late..

flyingfeathers · May 7, 2013, 09:16 PM

small wonder that animals that depend on dogs are declining with their demise...with poison, bulldozers, and shooters..the dogs are going down pretty fast..but few here gives a crap about that..

Certaindeaf · May 7, 2013, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingfeathers

small wonder that animals that depend on dogs are declining with their demise...with poison, bulldozers, and shooters..the dogs are going down pretty fast..but few here gives a crap about that..

Say again in English?

allaroundhunter · May 7, 2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingfeathers

small wonder that animals that depend on dogs are declining with their demise...with poison, bulldozers, and shooters..the dogs are going down pretty fast..but few here gives a crap about that..

Jeez, ff, either cite us a dang source for your incessant complaining or just stop....

flyingfeathers · May 7, 2013, 10:19 PM

I no longer will support hunters...if they only care about their selfish quotas then so be it....why i dropped the republican party for no party..lies and lies...hunters only care about the game they harvest...and they will never give one inch when something else is going down...i have been lied to all these years...mr moderator..dump my account..i give and will continue to give to conservation orgs but not one penny to hunters orgs...places like this smell like a political party...keep in line and dont think...GOOD RIDDANCE!

Certaindeaf · May 7, 2013, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingfeathers

I no longer will support hunters...if they only care about their selfish quotas then so be it....why i dropped the republican party for no party..lies and lies...hunters only care about the game they harvest...and they will never give one inch when something else is going down...i have been lied to all these years...mr moderator..dump my account..i give and will continue to give to conservation orgs but not one penny to hunters orgs...places like this smell like a political party...keep in line and dont think...GOOD RIDDANCE!

Don't let the screen door hit you in the ass.

flyingfeathers · May 7, 2013, 10:22 PM

if you are uninformed about wildlife issues..then it is a reflection on what you value...

Certaindeaf · May 7, 2013, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingfeathers

if you are uninformed about wildlife issues..then it is a reflection on what you value...

I thought you opted out.

allaroundhunter · May 7, 2013, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingfeathers

if you are uninformed about wildlife issues..then it is a reflection on what you value...

You are flat out wrong in thinking that we here on THR are uninformed on wildlife conservation issues. However, it seems as if you are uninformed on current proper grammar practices.

colonelhogan44 · May 10, 2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Don't let the screen door hit you in the ass.

^^This.

T.R. · May 11, 2013, 11:08 AM

This gun shop in Rapid City can line you up with "tresspass fee" prairie dog shooting: Jack First Gun Shop 605-343-8481

Good shooting to you.

TR

April 20, 2013, 01:54 PM	#1
plodder Member Join Date: January 1, 2011 Location: Deep in a bunker behind the cheddar curtain Posts: 160	Prairie Dog Shoot help I am trying to organize my first prairie dog shoot and would like to find a place in the Eastern to Central Dakotas. I had some hopes of getting confirmation from some acquantances, but they have fallen through. I am willing to spend a few bucks on a lease or fee but I am not looking for a $500 outfitting deal. Late May or June would be my timeframe and only 1-2 days. Anybody out there able to help out a fellow THR'er with some ideas or info? __________________ NRA Lifetime (no, NRA isn't perfect but it's our best option) Legend in my own mind All around good guy

April 20, 2013, 09:26 PM	#2
redneck2 Member Join Date: December 25, 2002 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,328	Might try at Varmint's Den. It's obviously all varmint whackers. FWIW...this question comes up over there too. Most guys aren't gonna give out their favorite spots, just like you don't tell anybody about your deer hunting or fishing hot spots. Might try to contact the F & G Dept closest to where you want to go. Some have lists of ranchers that let you hunt. __________________ I have three AR-15's. One is for precision target, one is specifically for deer hunting. The third is for anyone who tries to take the first two.

April 22, 2013, 08:43 AM	#4
plodder Member Join Date: January 1, 2011 Location: Deep in a bunker behind the cheddar curtain Posts: 160	Thanks Horribilus: I know I will have to do some investigation and legwork, and I am studying the DNR website, maps and Atlas. But in general can you just drive into the National Grasslands, find a PD Town, set up a bench & start shooting or is there a lot of private property and restricted zones? __________________ NRA Lifetime (no, NRA isn't perfect but it's our best option) Legend in my own mind All around good guy

May 5, 2013, 11:42 PM	#9
flyingfeathers Member Join Date: February 10, 2013 Posts: 59	Xxxx Last edited by flyingfeathers; May 6, 2013 at 12:30 AM.

May 11, 2013, 11:08 AM	#21
T.R. Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Posts: 1,181	This gun shop in Rapid City can line you up with "tresspass fee" prairie dog shooting: Jack First Gun Shop 605-343-8481 Good shooting to you. TR __________________ Fire up the grill! Hunting IS NOT catch and release!

April 22, 2013, 07:58 AM	#3
Horribilus Member Join Date: November 27, 2010 Location: South Dakota Posts: 7	There aren't many prairie dogs in eastern South Dakota. You'll have to go to the west side of the Missouri for them. Try the Fort Pierre National Grasslands south of Pierre for some good towns.

April 22, 2013, 09:27 AM	#5
gunnysmith Member Join Date: July 8, 2004 Location: Wyoming Posts: 110	PD villages are like "fishing holes" never tell anyone your "honeyspots". LOL

April 22, 2013, 01:54 PM	#6
Horribilus Member Join Date: November 27, 2010 Location: South Dakota Posts: 7	There are a restrictions for off-road travel in the grasslands since they are federal rather than a state resource. Maps are available and useful to plan access on the various roads into the interior of the grasslands. If it rains, access can be difficult. As always, be careful of richochets because some private land and homes are around. Another possibility is hunting on one of the reservations but I don't have info on them.

April 24, 2013, 06:38 AM	#7
Davek1977 Member Join Date: January 2, 2008 Posts: 1,404	I'd look strongly into private land options before resorting to hunting tribal ground. While the license fee is only $60-$80 bucks for tribal ground, utilization of a guide service is MANDATED, raising costs significantly. Truth be told, there are far fewer prairie dogs in my area of SD (south central, Wood area) than there used to be. Ranchers attempt to control and/or eliminate priaire dogs on their property, as they tend to damage pastures and create dangerous conditions with their holes, and are generally seen strictly as a pest or target of opportunity. I credit most of my long gun skills to hours spent in prairie dog towns as a kid. There's no better way to learn windage and holdover than shooting dogs with a .22 rifle at 100 yards or better, IMO!

May 3, 2013, 10:28 AM	#8
rule303 Member Join Date: December 5, 2010 Posts: 686	In my experience hunting western SD and NE Wyoming, most ranchers that have pdogs will gladly let you shoot them. I have even knocked on a few doors where the rancher said he didn't have any, but got on the phone and called other landowners in the area that did, and arranged access for us.

May 7, 2013, 09:12 PM	#11
flyingfeathers Member Join Date: February 10, 2013 Posts: 59	No..just rather disgusted at the lack of conservation ethics by so many on this site...seems only animals you can shoot matters...and don't even suggest certain animals ought to be laid off...few hunters are willing to do that...according to so many people here, the status quo is just fine...no problem with anything..but people dont usually change until it is too late..

May 7, 2013, 09:16 PM	#12
flyingfeathers Member Join Date: February 10, 2013 Posts: 59	small wonder that animals that depend on dogs are declining with their demise...with poison, bulldozers, and shooters..the dogs are going down pretty fast..but few here gives a crap about that..

May 7, 2013, 10:19 PM	#15
flyingfeathers Member Join Date: February 10, 2013 Posts: 59	I no longer will support hunters...if they only care about their selfish quotas then so be it....why i dropped the republican party for no party..lies and lies...hunters only care about the game they harvest...and they will never give one inch when something else is going down...i have been lied to all these years...mr moderator..dump my account..i give and will continue to give to conservation orgs but not one penny to hunters orgs...places like this smell like a political party...keep in line and dont think...GOOD RIDDANCE!

May 7, 2013, 10:22 PM	#17
flyingfeathers Member Join Date: February 10, 2013 Posts: 59	if you are uninformed about wildlife issues..then it is a reflection on what you value...