What rig(s) would you folks recommend for hunting prairie dogs? I'm thinking .223 or .22-250, but am wondering if the .243 might be a good choice as well. Also what power/brand of scope would you recommend? I would like to be able to have a multi use firearm and the .243 seems to be a better choice. Thanks in advance for responses.
Best Prairie Dog rig
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Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
If you're not experienced in shooting at small targets out beyond 300 yards, I'd stay with a .223.
For PDs out between 200 and 300, I'd think a 14X variable would be good. A 4.5x14 can be useful on other rifles for deer hunting and such, if budget for multiple rifles is of importance...
If you expect to do casual shooting, that is, a dog here and a dog there with a minute or two between shots, a sporter-weight barrel would work. For working over a PD "town" and lots of shooting in a short while, a heavy barrel would be better.
If you handload your own ammo, the .22-250 and .243 become much less costly than factory ammo. If you do lots of PD shooting, you'll repay the first-cost of the equipment fairly soon.
Just for starters,
Art
For PDs out between 200 and 300, I'd think a 14X variable would be good. A 4.5x14 can be useful on other rifles for deer hunting and such, if budget for multiple rifles is of importance...
If you expect to do casual shooting, that is, a dog here and a dog there with a minute or two between shots, a sporter-weight barrel would work. For working over a PD "town" and lots of shooting in a short while, a heavy barrel would be better.
If you handload your own ammo, the .22-250 and .243 become much less costly than factory ammo. If you do lots of PD shooting, you'll repay the first-cost of the equipment fairly soon.
Just for starters,
Art
RavenVT100
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Just out of curiosity, do prarie dogs regenerate their "towns" frequently? How many prarie dogs can one afford to take and still keep the population at a flat level?
I understand you can't eat them, or can you?
I understand you can't eat them, or can you?
cidirkona
Member
lycanthrope
Member
It depends on your meaning of "multi-use".
A good AR-15 in .223 can provide sub MOA accuracy and be converted to a plinker or home defense weapon quite easily. Ammo is also very cheap.
If you're thinking about shooting larger game (up to deer size) later, go with a bolt action in .243. Ammo will be substantially more expensive though.
A good AR-15 in .223 can provide sub MOA accuracy and be converted to a plinker or home defense weapon quite easily. Ammo is also very cheap.
If you're thinking about shooting larger game (up to deer size) later, go with a bolt action in .243. Ammo will be substantially more expensive though.
Smoke
Member
Art is (once again) spot on.
I shoot a Kimber 84M 22-250 with a Burris Signature Select 4 - 16x44
Back up rig is a Remington VSF in 223 with a Leupold 4-12x40 VX-II.
A good bipod or rest of some sort is a must. Portable shade is a nice thing to have too....along with a cooler. Especially when doing a long stand.
Most ranchers do not want to "maintain" the population, they want to eleminate it...shoot accordingly.
I wouldn't, but if you would ever consider eating a rat than a prairie dog wouldn't be a far reach for you.
Smoke
I shoot a Kimber 84M 22-250 with a Burris Signature Select 4 - 16x44
Back up rig is a Remington VSF in 223 with a Leupold 4-12x40 VX-II.
A good bipod or rest of some sort is a must. Portable shade is a nice thing to have too....along with a cooler. Especially when doing a long stand.
Most ranchers do not want to "maintain" the population, they want to eleminate it...shoot accordingly.
I wouldn't, but if you would ever consider eating a rat than a prairie dog wouldn't be a far reach for you.
Smoke
i've got a little different twist...
i say it depends on what you think a 'doggin trip is supposed to be about. for me, it is shooting small targets as far away as i can find them (meaning, i don't shoot them if they are only 1 or 2 hundred yards out, no matter how many big fat ones are dancing around at 200 yards). so, my prairie dog rig is built a little different, and is most certainly not something i would ever try to hunt w/ - gun is just too heavy. 22's of any variety, sks, ar-15, ak, or whatever else is not something i'd use.
if you just want to go hose a town down, then any gun you grab will work. as for caliber, for true dual purpose, i don't think a 25-06 can be beat.
for scopes on a dual purpose gun, i would reccomend: vx-3 4.5-14, 6.5-20, or 8.5-25... or, vx-2 4-12, 6-18... it just depends on specifics. if you'll shoot more prairie dogs than deer/coyote hunt, then bigger is nicer. if you'll use it more for bigger game, you'll prefer to go w/ a lighter, smaller scope.
agree w/ smoke on population... besides, you will not be able to eliminate them all unless you use chemicals. and they do re-populate pretty fast.
agree w/ smoke on eating them... probably only one way to get sicker, faster, and that's to handle them w/ your bare hands... i've never touched a prairie dog, and the thought of eating one is pretty repulsive...
i say it depends on what you think a 'doggin trip is supposed to be about. for me, it is shooting small targets as far away as i can find them (meaning, i don't shoot them if they are only 1 or 2 hundred yards out, no matter how many big fat ones are dancing around at 200 yards). so, my prairie dog rig is built a little different, and is most certainly not something i would ever try to hunt w/ - gun is just too heavy. 22's of any variety, sks, ar-15, ak, or whatever else is not something i'd use.
if you just want to go hose a town down, then any gun you grab will work. as for caliber, for true dual purpose, i don't think a 25-06 can be beat.
for scopes on a dual purpose gun, i would reccomend: vx-3 4.5-14, 6.5-20, or 8.5-25... or, vx-2 4-12, 6-18... it just depends on specifics. if you'll shoot more prairie dogs than deer/coyote hunt, then bigger is nicer. if you'll use it more for bigger game, you'll prefer to go w/ a lighter, smaller scope.
agree w/ smoke on population... besides, you will not be able to eliminate them all unless you use chemicals. and they do re-populate pretty fast.
agree w/ smoke on eating them... probably only one way to get sicker, faster, and that's to handle them w/ your bare hands... i've never touched a prairie dog, and the thought of eating one is pretty repulsive...
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Your way is definitely very good, dakotasin, but you'll note I raised the question of experience. I don't think I'd recommend starting out by playing Ma Bell...
I guess we need for RandyB to come back and tell us more.
, Art
I guess we need for RandyB to come back and tell us more.
, ArtActually you are all on target (ok except the .50 BMG, A wee bit much ) for my basic ideas. The basic options that I see are:
1. An AR-15 format in .223/5.56 like the Bushy Varmiter
2. A bolt .243/6mm/25-06 (I actually like the idea of the .25 calibers maybe the .25 WSM?) Can hunt varmits to deer and would be a good gun for my kids when they get older.
3. Get a .22 mag or .17 HR as a closer range gun.
As far as shooting experience mostly woodland stuff 100 yards and under. I have shot competition with blackpowder, but ranges are 25-50 yards mainly.
Hope that helps define the parameters a bit more.
) for my basic ideas. The basic options that I see are:1. An AR-15 format in .223/5.56 like the Bushy Varmiter
2. A bolt .243/6mm/25-06 (I actually like the idea of the .25 calibers maybe the .25 WSM?) Can hunt varmits to deer and would be a good gun for my kids when they get older.
3. Get a .22 mag or .17 HR as a closer range gun.
As far as shooting experience mostly woodland stuff 100 yards and under. I have shot competition with blackpowder, but ranges are 25-50 yards mainly.
Hope that helps define the parameters a bit more.
Kamicosmos
Member
I have a Bushmaster Varminter all setup and ready to go praire dogging. 6-24x 50mm scope, bipod, got a good consistant sub MOA handload worked up for it.
Now, if I can just find a place with a prarie dog problem, within a day's drive of Kansas City, and where I can actually shoot them without running into Prairie Dog Sympathizers/Saviours...I'm good to go!
Now, if I can just find a place with a prarie dog problem, within a day's drive of Kansas City, and where I can actually shoot them without running into Prairie Dog Sympathizers/Saviours...I'm good to go!
cidirkona
Member
I wish we had prairie dogs here... it seems like it'd be the adult version of Whack-a-Mole.
-Colin
-Colin
On the subject of shooting prairie dogs, can anyone recommend a good portable shooting bench for this? I had a couple of friends come home last summer from a PD trip with a bad case of "sand chiggers" after shooting off the ground. 
Thankfully this hasn't happened to me, but I am hoping to find a bench. We usually have to walk in a ways to where we shoot or in some spots can take the ATV's in.
Thankfully this hasn't happened to me, but I am hoping to find a bench. We usually have to walk in a ways to where we shoot or in some spots can take the ATV's in.Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
cidirkona, there is a fairly extensive PD town in northern AZ. Look on a map for old US 66, east from Kingman. It comes back to the Interstate some 40-ish miles east of Kingman, +/-. Just west of that intersection with the Interstate is the location, right along the highway.
I don't know anything about ownership or permission to hunt. I have seen guys parked with the back end of a pickup toward the fence, working from a shooting table.
bean, find a reasonably sturdy folding-leg card table. Add to or replace the top with a piece of 1/2" plywood. Not the world's greatest, but cheap and easy and works reasonably well.
You can even deal with the issue of uneven ground, with a little creative metal work. Find some galvanized water pipe with an ID = OD of the table legs. Drill and tap 12" sections of pipe for lock bolts (1/4" will do.) Then, just section six-inch pieces out of the legs of the table and adjust as needed.
Art
I don't know anything about ownership or permission to hunt. I have seen guys parked with the back end of a pickup toward the fence, working from a shooting table.
bean, find a reasonably sturdy folding-leg card table. Add to or replace the top with a piece of 1/2" plywood. Not the world's greatest, but cheap and easy and works reasonably well.
You can even deal with the issue of uneven ground, with a little creative metal work. Find some galvanized water pipe with an ID = OD of the table legs. Drill and tap 12" sections of pipe for lock bolts (1/4" will do.) Then, just section six-inch pieces out of the legs of the table and adjust as needed.
Art
bean- a couple cans of 'off' applied to your skin, clothing, and blanket/towel you sit on will keep the chiggers at bay.
for a decent bench, look at cabela's... 30-ish pounds is about the best compromise between stability and portability. i think mine is called 'buck bench', and it works quite well. still will not stop the chigger problem by itself, but will keep them restricted to, most likely, below your knees... use 'off' to do more.
randyb- on a hot town, it is not unheard of to take 300 shots in a single day. as you can imagine, recoil/flinching becomes a problem. most noticeable w/ sporter weight guns and ar's w/ their steel butt plate. still, for dual purpose, it is awfully tough to beat a 25-06 (never shot the 25 wssm). might also have a look at remington's lvsf line (especially the 7-08 or 260) for dual purpose rigs...
for a decent bench, look at cabela's... 30-ish pounds is about the best compromise between stability and portability. i think mine is called 'buck bench', and it works quite well. still will not stop the chigger problem by itself, but will keep them restricted to, most likely, below your knees... use 'off' to do more.
randyb- on a hot town, it is not unheard of to take 300 shots in a single day. as you can imagine, recoil/flinching becomes a problem. most noticeable w/ sporter weight guns and ar's w/ their steel butt plate. still, for dual purpose, it is awfully tough to beat a 25-06 (never shot the 25 wssm). might also have a look at remington's lvsf line (especially the 7-08 or 260) for dual purpose rigs...
MilsurpShooter
Member
Smoke
Member
Jay,
Rimfire works great if you can get within 100 yrds of your targets.
Often, especially on towns worked pretty hard, the critters will get spooky if you get that close. Their tunnels are extensive and they can pop uo anywhere. I've seen towns cover well over 100 acres. If I was limited to 100 yards I could only work the edges.
Centerfire in quarter gauges works best....of course there is always the .17 Remington
Smoke
Rimfire works great if you can get within 100 yrds of your targets.
Often, especially on towns worked pretty hard, the critters will get spooky if you get that close. Their tunnels are extensive and they can pop uo anywhere. I've seen towns cover well over 100 acres. If I was limited to 100 yards I could only work the edges.
Centerfire in quarter gauges works best....of course there is always the .17 Remington
Smoke
redneck2
Member
If you're serious about doggin
you don't take "a gun"
you take GUNS
I'm going with my 3 very experienced friends this June. I'm taking
.22 rimfire and/or .22 mag
.223 700 Rem with 1.75x6 Leupold
AR-15 Bushmaster Varminter, 24" fluted barrel w/ 6x18 scope
22-250 700 with 6x18 B&L
custom 25-06 on 70 Winchester action with 4x12 Burris
7mm Rem Mag 700 with 8x32 Burris (for 700-1,000 yards)
I don't believe there's a "best". It depends on your conditions and the temperature. Rounds like the .22-250 heat the barrel pretty fast. If you shoot more than 2-3 rounds per minute, you'll cook the barrel. 223's make less noise and less recoil, and don't heat the barrel as much
If you can find a big town that hasn't been shot in a while, 500 rounds a day is possible. I had 4 friends that took 8,000 rounds for a 5 day shoot and used them all. Now, I know that sounds like a ton of ammo, but figure 2 shots per minute x 60 minutes per hour x 6 hours = 720 rounds/day. You'd only have to shoot a little over 1 per minute to use up 400/day. I just shot my 45LC over the week-end. Used up 150 rounds in about 30 minutes.
Do a Google on "exploding groundhogs" and you'll find a website about varmint hunting (I don't have the link right now). He's got plans for a low-budget bench. Also extensive info about .22-250 and 223..HTH
you don't take "a gun"
you take GUNS
I'm going with my 3 very experienced friends this June. I'm taking
.22 rimfire and/or .22 mag
.223 700 Rem with 1.75x6 Leupold
AR-15 Bushmaster Varminter, 24" fluted barrel w/ 6x18 scope
22-250 700 with 6x18 B&L
custom 25-06 on 70 Winchester action with 4x12 Burris
7mm Rem Mag 700 with 8x32 Burris (for 700-1,000 yards)
I don't believe there's a "best". It depends on your conditions and the temperature. Rounds like the .22-250 heat the barrel pretty fast. If you shoot more than 2-3 rounds per minute, you'll cook the barrel. 223's make less noise and less recoil, and don't heat the barrel as much
If you can find a big town that hasn't been shot in a while, 500 rounds a day is possible. I had 4 friends that took 8,000 rounds for a 5 day shoot and used them all. Now, I know that sounds like a ton of ammo, but figure 2 shots per minute x 60 minutes per hour x 6 hours = 720 rounds/day. You'd only have to shoot a little over 1 per minute to use up 400/day. I just shot my 45LC over the week-end. Used up 150 rounds in about 30 minutes.
Do a Google on "exploding groundhogs" and you'll find a website about varmint hunting (I don't have the link right now). He's got plans for a low-budget bench. Also extensive info about .22-250 and 223..HTH
redneck2
Member
One of the guys uses a .17 HMR. Said it works great. No recoil, and quieter than .223 & 22-250 Little light for longer shots. Their long range rigs are 6.5-06's.
I suppose it's a little different for us. When we go, it's a 14-17 hour drive so we'll make most of a week of it. If someone (Dakotasin) lived in the area, you could take one rifle out and pop around a while.
the links (I think) to Exploding Groundhogs is http://www.egpworld.com. It's a hoot. You'll also want to check out the VHA (Varmint Hunter' s Association) site http://www.varminthunters.com
I suppose it's a little different for us. When we go, it's a 14-17 hour drive so we'll make most of a week of it. If someone (Dakotasin) lived in the area, you could take one rifle out and pop around a while.
the links (I think) to Exploding Groundhogs is http://www.egpworld.com. It's a hoot. You'll also want to check out the VHA (Varmint Hunter' s Association) site http://www.varminthunters.com
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
When walking around, sulfur powder sprinkled in/on the top of your socks keeps ticks off. The effect doesn't fade away like the patented bug-sprays do.
Dissolving some in warm water and drinking it will keep all manner of bugs away. Keeps your friends away, too, 'cause it makes you smell funny--particularly when you sweat.
Art
Dissolving some in warm water and drinking it will keep all manner of bugs away. Keeps your friends away, too, 'cause it makes you smell funny--particularly when you sweat.
Art
MilsurpShooter
Member
See that's always been my problem, I think small term and patience. I had a squirrel problem and instead of stalking I would sit and wait. Waited for 4 hours one night for this stupid thing to pop it's head out of the tree. Guess that gun wouldn't work well for long ranges and/if stalking
that's the beauty of prairie doggin'... there's no really right or wrong way to do it - just get out and do it. i try to make it out every other weekend or so when it gets warm enough to get out.
as far as number of guns... i rarely take more than two, and more often than not, just one... but, the long range style of shooting i do lends itself to long breaks for the barrel in between shots. if you aren't careful, and depending on what you're shooting, you can burn a tube out in one weekend - thus one of many reasons i like reaching out there.
as far as number of guns... i rarely take more than two, and more often than not, just one... but, the long range style of shooting i do lends itself to long breaks for the barrel in between shots. if you aren't careful, and depending on what you're shooting, you can burn a tube out in one weekend - thus one of many reasons i like reaching out there.
Moondoggie
Member
I used to shoot priarie dogs '83 - '86 with 5 friends in the Badlands (BLM Land)South of Wall, SD...staying North of the reservation (they have their own laws about hunting/firearms possession as I remember).
We would split up into pairs...one would spot with bino's while his rifle cooled as the other one shot.
For areas where we couldn't shoot prone (prickly pear, bugs) we carried 5 gal plastic buckets with padded seats (all of our junk inside the bucket) and used shooting sticks for support.
My rifle was a 700 BDL Varmint .223, Tasco 3X9 40mm wide angle scope. I've hit plenty of prairie dogs at 300 yds +. Others in the group shot 22-250's or 25-06 besides .223. We used to swap rifles, and my .223 was alot easier to lay behind all day.
I've eaten squirrels, but when it comes to prairie dogs I don't think there's enough meat on one to make it worthwhile. You hit one with a Hornady 55 gr SX bullet and there's not much left except for (what passes for) fur and alot of partially digested vegetation.
We would split up into pairs...one would spot with bino's while his rifle cooled as the other one shot.
For areas where we couldn't shoot prone (prickly pear, bugs) we carried 5 gal plastic buckets with padded seats (all of our junk inside the bucket) and used shooting sticks for support.
My rifle was a 700 BDL Varmint .223, Tasco 3X9 40mm wide angle scope. I've hit plenty of prairie dogs at 300 yds +. Others in the group shot 22-250's or 25-06 besides .223. We used to swap rifles, and my .223 was alot easier to lay behind all day.
I've eaten squirrels, but when it comes to prairie dogs I don't think there's enough meat on one to make it worthwhile. You hit one with a Hornady 55 gr SX bullet and there's not much left except for (what passes for) fur and alot of partially digested vegetation.
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