Author Topic: Prarie Dogs are evolving!!!  (Read 853 times)

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Offline Dogshooter

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Prarie Dogs are evolving!!!
« on: June 05, 2003, 04:50:38 PM »
Here in Wyoming, the prarie dog population looked like it was falling over the last few years. The areas I used to hunt had fewer and fewer every year. The areas I hunted were always open areas where you could see 5 to 6 hundred yards across, usually devoid of any sage brush. I'd take out my Swift or my 2-250 for those 3 to 4 hundred yard shots. I went out across the sage a few days ago, searching for new pd towns, and noticed that there were mounds all over the place, but now, they are almost all in some pretty thick sagebrush. I spent four hours glassing and picking off dogs in some pretty thick stuff. I used my 17 HRM since the farthest I shot was 200 yards, the shortest was about 75. I used up 5 boxes of those "scarce" 17's. Guess the dogs finally realized they'd have a better chance to survive in cover than in their traditional "towns".  Prarie dog evolution. Who'd have guessed.
Perception is everything. For instance, a crowded elevator smells different to a midget.

Offline Kirkned

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Evolution
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2003, 08:44:59 PM »
I have to ask which side of the divide you hunt, east or west?  As if it is the west the white tailed PD has always lived in the smaller towns, thicker sage areas.  If it is the east side then that is news as the Black tailed PD has always favored the wide open short grass prairies.   :grin:

Offline Dogshooter

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Prarie Dogs are evolving!!!
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2003, 12:29:09 PM »
I'm on the west side. Never noticed them being in the thick before. Always had some pretty wide open shooting in years past.
Perception is everything. For instance, a crowded elevator smells different to a midget.

Offline Kirkned

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PDs Evolving
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2003, 06:02:57 PM »
I've been hunting them for years 30+, near Rocksprings and some years they are in the sage and then a few years later they are in the clear.  I believe that they eat them selves out of habitat and have to move to find food close enough to stay alive.  I can not prove or disprove this.  It is just my observations over 30+ years of control work :-D. I only wish my real job was this much fun.   :(  Take care Dogshooter and if you are near Kemmer or Lyman in the next week let me know I'll be up in that area doing control work.  :wink:

Offline KN

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Prarie Dogs are evolving!!!
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2003, 06:33:08 PM »
Just got back from SD a couple weeks ago and the land owner there told me that people there are seeing them migrating across roads alot more than normal.  KN