I am looking for any hints or leads on place(s) for my husband and I along with one, possibly two other people to go shooting the little varmints in South Dakota. We would like to go over the first or second weekend in April. The land would have to be private or tribal for shooting them then due to prohibited prairie dog shooting on public lands from March 1 to June 14. Any input would be much appreciated! The private land I used to go shooting them on is no longer an option--hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Thanks!!!
Help for Prairie Dog shooting in SD
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Moondoggie
Member
It's been 20 yrs since I shot Prairie Dogs in SD, and I didn't know about the "season" prohibiting them...first I've heard of it, but we always went in summer so it probably just never came up. We used to shoot on BLM land about 20 miles south of Wall.
I'd be very careful about shooting on tribal lands....IIRC, some tribes prohibited possession of weapons by non-tribal members in their "nation". Check it out first to be on the safe side. The county sheriffs could advise you, or the tribes probably have a website whereby you could contact them.
I'd suggest doing a search for farmer's/rancher's associations in/around Wall. (Also check for gun clubs in SD.) Contact them to see if they know of any of their members who encourage/allow shooting on their land. You could also contact the county sheriffs in that area, you might get ahold of someone on the phone or via email who could steer you in the right direction. The SO's out there are pretty small-time outfits that you will probably find to be very helpful and friendly. After all, hunting is a type of tourism...good for local business since you'll need to eat and sleep somewhere.
I'd be very careful about shooting on tribal lands....IIRC, some tribes prohibited possession of weapons by non-tribal members in their "nation". Check it out first to be on the safe side. The county sheriffs could advise you, or the tribes probably have a website whereby you could contact them.
I'd suggest doing a search for farmer's/rancher's associations in/around Wall. (Also check for gun clubs in SD.) Contact them to see if they know of any of their members who encourage/allow shooting on their land. You could also contact the county sheriffs in that area, you might get ahold of someone on the phone or via email who could steer you in the right direction. The SO's out there are pretty small-time outfits that you will probably find to be very helpful and friendly. After all, hunting is a type of tourism...good for local business since you'll need to eat and sleep somewhere.
Thanks much, Moondoggie! 
I will try some searches and contacts with what you suggested. Last I went out shooting prairie dogs, the public land season issue was not an issue for our party either. At that time, I had some private land to hunt near Chamberlain where the landowner was overjoyed to have me shoot them, as they were causing problems for his cattle. Unfortunately, he no longer owns land.
I will try some searches and contacts with what you suggested. Last I went out shooting prairie dogs, the public land season issue was not an issue for our party either. At that time, I had some private land to hunt near Chamberlain where the landowner was overjoyed to have me shoot them, as they were causing problems for his cattle. Unfortunately, he no longer owns land.
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Bean:
I just stumbled onto this thread. Here's a start for you: Call the Faith (SD) Chamber of Commerce office at 507-967-2001 and they'll FAX a list of landowners who will let you shoot. Some are reservation propertiy, others off-res. Some charge you to hunt. All accept donations, I presume... I'm new to the game; never been there.
My son and I are probably heading out later this month to shoot. Faith is west of Gettysburg. We're also in Minnesota.
Sonny bought a new Tikka .223; I'll be using a heavy-barrel AR. I ordered some 68-grain Black Hills ammo to test, as 55-grain bullets aren't too dependable in either of our rifles.
JB
I just stumbled onto this thread. Here's a start for you: Call the Faith (SD) Chamber of Commerce office at 507-967-2001 and they'll FAX a list of landowners who will let you shoot. Some are reservation propertiy, others off-res. Some charge you to hunt. All accept donations, I presume... I'm new to the game; never been there.
My son and I are probably heading out later this month to shoot. Faith is west of Gettysburg. We're also in Minnesota.
Sonny bought a new Tikka .223; I'll be using a heavy-barrel AR. I ordered some 68-grain Black Hills ammo to test, as 55-grain bullets aren't too dependable in either of our rifles.
JB
Whoo!
Thank you, THANK YOU for your post, JonnyB!! W!ill contact them! That would be super. We are now looking at the May 20th weekend....
I'll be using a Ruger MKII .223 and Browning A-bolt 22-250
My hubby uses a 700 VS Rem 223. the first time he went out he used Black Hills 52 grain match HP, and liked them, but wanted better...now he reloads his own. Best he found for his weapon was 26 gr of H335 w/50 gr Hornady V-max.
I shoot ammo I buy in da BOX. heh
Thanks again, (very much!) for your info!! and best of luck shootin varmints!
Eileen
Thank you, THANK YOU for your post, JonnyB!! W!ill contact them! That would be super. We are now looking at the May 20th weekend....
I'll be using a Ruger MKII .223 and Browning A-bolt 22-250
My hubby uses a 700 VS Rem 223. the first time he went out he used Black Hills 52 grain match HP, and liked them, but wanted better...now he reloads his own. Best he found for his weapon was 26 gr of H335 w/50 gr Hornady V-max.
I shoot ammo I buy in da BOX. heh
Thanks again, (very much!) for your info!! and best of luck shootin varmints!
Eileen
faith is a haul from minnesota...
finals are over tomorrow, my 7-08 lvsf project is in its final stages, my 300 win mag needs a little exterior ballistics testing, the 308 wants the 1000 yard kill by end of summer, the new h-bar ar is primed, the 22-250's are standing ready, the pups are comin' up... yeah, its time to go doggin'!
finals are over tomorrow, my 7-08 lvsf project is in its final stages, my 300 win mag needs a little exterior ballistics testing, the 308 wants the 1000 yard kill by end of summer, the new h-bar ar is primed, the 22-250's are standing ready, the pups are comin' up... yeah, its time to go doggin'!
redneck2
Member
Fwiw..
I have several friends that go every year. One has a motorhome set up for PD's. If you haven't gone before, things to consider....
several rifles. Just one (particularly hot calibers like 22-250, 220 etc) heat up quick. These guys usually take 3 or 4 apiece, but they go for 3-5 days of shooting. Make a rack to hold the rifles and let them cool. Take smaller calibers for closer shots. Not much challenge with a 22-250 at 100 yards. Small calibers are also quieter
Plastic tarp for the ground. Catches brass, keeps you cleaner, and helps eliminate ticks
Bug repellent. Shoot around your ankles for ticks.
Sunscreen, sunglasses
Might check over at the Varmint Hunter's Association website.
I have several friends that go every year. One has a motorhome set up for PD's. If you haven't gone before, things to consider....
several rifles. Just one (particularly hot calibers like 22-250, 220 etc) heat up quick. These guys usually take 3 or 4 apiece, but they go for 3-5 days of shooting. Make a rack to hold the rifles and let them cool. Take smaller calibers for closer shots. Not much challenge with a 22-250 at 100 yards. Small calibers are also quieter
Plastic tarp for the ground. Catches brass, keeps you cleaner, and helps eliminate ticks
Bug repellent. Shoot around your ankles for ticks.
Sunscreen, sunglasses
Might check over at the Varmint Hunter's Association website.
Thanks for the tips, Redneck.
up to 5 days of shooting.....wow....they must really bring a load of ammo!
Dakotasin--1000 yds!?!
last time out was by Eagle Butte. You're right, it was a haul to there, but a great time was had by all. At least we are very close to the MN/SD border to start with.
up to 5 days of shooting.....wow....they must really bring a load of ammo!
Dakotasin--1000 yds!?!
last time out was by Eagle Butte. You're right, it was a haul to there, but a great time was had by all. At least we are very close to the MN/SD border to start with.bean-
ok, my philosophy on prairie dogs... they are a reactive target i use to stay sharp for big game seasons. i sit on a hill and don't change positions all day. what this does is forces me to challenge myself w/ range. doesn't take long and all the 150 yards and in dogs won't come up, and the ones out to 400 or so yards don't stay still for very long. so, i am forced to make a relatively fast range and wind call, acquire the target and make a good shot.
while many people have a ball running all over a dog town and blasting away 50 yards and in, that ain't me. i tend to take 1, sometimes as many as 2 rifles at a time. i try to shoot long. i don't want the close shots. i already know that anything 250 yards and in is almost a guaranteed kill. where's the fun in taking sure shots?
so, you'll catch me on a dog town w/ 'deer' calibers. eg, i spend sufficient time w/ the 338 win mag, or 300 win mag, or whatever. this allows me to be proficient w/ the rifle, understand the cartridge's abilities and limitations, and know what things look like thru that scope (all my scopes are leupolds, but some are big, some are little, some are varix-2, vx-2, varix-3, vx-3, and compacts).
1000 yards on a prairie dog is a goal of mine... unfortunately none of my big game rifles have the accuracy for me to make a 1000 yard called shot. so, i have a dedicated long range gun (308). i can punch decent groups all day at 1000 on paper, but so far i haven't scored on a dog. usually it is because the dog will move just before or just after i hit the ignition switch... back to the big game simulation...
anyway, that is what a dog shoot is to me. a tune up for big game - and the closer we get to october (antelope opener) the more dog shoots i make; by august i have decided on the rifle that will be big game hunting that fall, and it is guaranteed to be on every dog shoot.
the 308... hehehe... when there's $20/shot laying on the dirt for shots in excess of 600 yards, you tend to take those shots seriously. my partner and i are about even dollar-wise, though i have the title for the longest kill between the two of us! lol! irritated him enough that he went out and had a gun built for this summer's activities. been carrying on this way for 7 years now. we'll see how it goes!
ok, my philosophy on prairie dogs... they are a reactive target i use to stay sharp for big game seasons. i sit on a hill and don't change positions all day. what this does is forces me to challenge myself w/ range. doesn't take long and all the 150 yards and in dogs won't come up, and the ones out to 400 or so yards don't stay still for very long. so, i am forced to make a relatively fast range and wind call, acquire the target and make a good shot.
while many people have a ball running all over a dog town and blasting away 50 yards and in, that ain't me. i tend to take 1, sometimes as many as 2 rifles at a time. i try to shoot long. i don't want the close shots. i already know that anything 250 yards and in is almost a guaranteed kill. where's the fun in taking sure shots?
so, you'll catch me on a dog town w/ 'deer' calibers. eg, i spend sufficient time w/ the 338 win mag, or 300 win mag, or whatever. this allows me to be proficient w/ the rifle, understand the cartridge's abilities and limitations, and know what things look like thru that scope (all my scopes are leupolds, but some are big, some are little, some are varix-2, vx-2, varix-3, vx-3, and compacts).
1000 yards on a prairie dog is a goal of mine... unfortunately none of my big game rifles have the accuracy for me to make a 1000 yard called shot. so, i have a dedicated long range gun (308). i can punch decent groups all day at 1000 on paper, but so far i haven't scored on a dog. usually it is because the dog will move just before or just after i hit the ignition switch... back to the big game simulation...
anyway, that is what a dog shoot is to me. a tune up for big game - and the closer we get to october (antelope opener) the more dog shoots i make; by august i have decided on the rifle that will be big game hunting that fall, and it is guaranteed to be on every dog shoot.
the 308... hehehe... when there's $20/shot laying on the dirt for shots in excess of 600 yards, you tend to take those shots seriously. my partner and i are about even dollar-wise, though i have the title for the longest kill between the two of us! lol! irritated him enough that he went out and had a gun built for this summer's activities. been carrying on this way for 7 years now. we'll see how it goes!
I am sure you have already hit this site: SD doggin' info
Most chambers of commerce west of the river should have some contact information for you. Prairie dogs are a nuisance to the cattle industry, but folks who don't have to deal with them on a regular basis think they're cute, so they were almost put on an endangered species list. The 6 week closed season is some of the fallout of that effort. Trust me, it wasn't our idea.
Shoot all ya want--they'll make more. Ted Turner has a huge population of them south of here, but they provide a community for his black footed ferrets and other exotica, so they are unmolested.
Enjoy!
Most chambers of commerce west of the river should have some contact information for you. Prairie dogs are a nuisance to the cattle industry, but folks who don't have to deal with them on a regular basis think they're cute, so they were almost put on an endangered species list. The 6 week closed season is some of the fallout of that effort. Trust me, it wasn't our idea.
Shoot all ya want--they'll make more. Ted Turner has a huge population of them south of here, but they provide a community for his black footed ferrets and other exotica, so they are unmolested.
Enjoy!
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