Prairie dogs!!

[wynn24]

I will be adventuring out in the spring on my very first prairie dog hunt. I live in Missouri and was leaving my options open as to where to go. I was thinking of Nebraska or western Kansas. I will not pay "comercially" to shoot Pd's i dont know if i am old fashioned or just plain cheap. Although i would compensate a local farmer to allow me to hunt and take care of a few of his pest. Any information would be greatly app. from you experinced pd killers.

[Elk Hunter]

I would love to give you some advice. What info are you looking for? Ammo, guns, gear, where to go?

[wynn24]

Mainly where to go. Like I stated we are open about where to go. I was thinking western Kansas, but a man from our community has be going into nebraska. We live in the southwest part of Missouri and will travel within reason the the best dog towns we can find. Thanks for your reply.

[iiranger]

#1). There has been a drought in the plains, grasslands... things are not at their best so don't expect that. You might start by contacting the Forest Service Office, 125 N. Main St., Chadron, NE 69337; (308) 432-0030 (I think). They have charge of the grasslands from OK north to Canada and west of the Rockies. There is a National Grassland in the SW corner of KS. Probably closest to you. Cinnamon Nat. Grassland. (Cimmaron actually). The law requires the forest service to manage for "multiple uses" which include hunting/shooting. See what they have to say...

I had a buddy who said he had an army buddy who grows wheat just north of the grassland and we were going to go burn up a couple cases of ammo at varmints. He came down with heart problems and that never happened... But he raved... nice guy. Miss him.

BEWARE. (TWO MORE THINGS). i). There is bubonic plague / BLACK DEATH  in the furballs. Carried by fleas. Today they say they can save you with much antibiotics and life support... Why bother? Don't handle parts (get a bigger gun or closer!) and let the coyotes clean up... If you must save a trophy, plan accordingly. Flea powder. Plastic bags/ gloves... etc.
ii). There has been the re introduction of the black footed ferret in some mighty fine p'dog areas AND they are OFF LIMITS too shooters. A house cat disease almost extincted the ferrets, poor weasels--tree hugging Democrats (and their Repub allies) cannot do enough for them. All they like to eat is p'dogs, but they hunt at night... regardless, Uncle Sam has restricted these areas. Find them. (Forest Service help) or risk Fed. Slam, confiscation... DON'T. You won't like it... 

Oh yes, this is the wide open spaces. You may find yourself 75 or 100 miles from a McDonalds or Burger King or Wendy's or Pizza Hut... . Plan carefully to NOT break down. Bring plenty ammo AND water... It is DRY... and without french fries...

#2). I have heard, never bothered to go, that in OK and TX there are many, many p'dogs, but it is "pay to hunt" and if you don't have the big bucks, you don't hunt. Wyo is FREE. No license. No nothing. Well, gas, grub, lodging, like that. Open arms welcome. You won't hurt an oil derrick with a varmint gun. Thunder Basin is NW of Douglas.  CO is full of tree huggers who will turn you in and costly licenses. MT is o.k., just farther. Zortman Garage & Motel used to advertise. NE, nothing organized. You need small game license if you are out of stater. Grand Island west.  SD MARKETS! (The "injuns"...)  Rosebud Reservation, south center of state, wants you. $125. reservation license. I think 10 days was $25.00. And you need the state small game license... too. Some years guides are required on reservation. North Central, Eagle Butte, Northern Cheyenne Rez. SD Pine Ridge is a mess. They drink to much and fight... but you might find p'dogs. Off Rez, Buffalo Gap Nat. Grassland... beware ferret restrictions.  ND is less commercial, farther, drought...  luck...

[skb2706]

I will be adventuring out in the spring on my very first prairie dog hunt. I live in Missouri and was leaving my options open as to where to go. I was thinking of Nebraska or western Kansas. I will not pay "comercially" to shoot Pd's i dont know if i am old fashioned or just plain cheap. Although i would compensate a local farmer to allow me to hunt and take care of a few of his pest. Any information would be greatly app. from you experinced pd killers.

Drought has little if any direct effect on the prairie dog population.............12,000 acres of dryland farm property gives me an opinion on that subject. May not have wheat or corn but the dogs go on forever..........

Anyone who touches a prairie dog has got to be out of their mind........dead or alive they are the carriers of all kinds of bad things.

If you are set on "not paying to shoot them" (the thought never even crosses my mind) then you need to be a good ambassodor for the sport. There are hundreds of places around here you can shoot them if you are willing to take the time to ask and willing to treat their property with respect.
Unfortunately so many times people don't ask, shoot everything they see including signs, fence posts, buildings and equipment that giving permission becomes a gamble at best.
I am in CO, I am not a tree hugger, you do not even need a hunting license to shoot prarie dogs on private property (anyone who tells you different doesn't own property in CO). Read CO small game regulations 325 A and B.

Make sure you have facts BEFORE your adventure..................

[iiranger]

The game biologists with whom I have talked indicate that, as said, p'dogs have to be under extreme pressure like LONG drought for it to show MUCH. But there is a cycle and unless observed closely and by focussed scientists, easy to miss. Population goes down some then back with next breeding season and they can do 2 or 3 breeding seasons per year... At the same time, conditions during drought are more rough for someone out in the "big sky country..." Beware...

I was generalizing for someone completely new to the area/activity/ etc.

b). I was advised by a resident of CO, but not a rural property owner as I understood him that you needed a small game license if you were a non resident to uncase your gun. I stand corrected. At the same time, in Denver there are gun hating, tree hugging boobs. Big advisory about flying thru Stapleton?-- Denver airport--, with guns... And the motherly types catching and releasing p'dogs as Denver grows. It was on tv. Had the p'dog vacuum truck too... Hoot, but no shooters...

I agree that handling a p'dog is not wise. I have had them in my lap in tourist traps in my younger days. Like a big hamster... Feeding them peanuts. They would run up and down my fingers with those teeth (rodents, sharp teeth that can go thru about anything) but never broke skin. Got to the peanut and then bit... Then came the warnings about "black death"... With what city/tourist people try, I feel wise to advise against things like this or make great preparations...

I also concurr with the request to treat the land/property/land owner VERY well. Ham. Fruit basket (well, not around Broke Back Mountain...). Case of Coke. Bottle of Some hand out business cards, (calling themselves varmint exterminators in one case)... to reassure the property owner...

My purpose is to start you on the road to the facts... I cannot "tell you all"... You are aware of "the Varmint Hunters Assoc.?" varminthunter.org --Pierre SD,  magazine, 800 number, club... more facts if you like their operation... Again.. LUCK.

[skb2706]

I usually compensate my sister by doing repairs on their combines or bringing meals during harvest. I get compensated by getting right of way to hunt big game on other folks properties.

Once you are out in the rural farm lands you will find little if any resistance to hunting or shooting as long as you are respectful.

If you are shooting private land and have asked for and recieved permission always ask when or if they have poisoned. Poisoning will usually kill off about 85% (if done correctly) so fields that have been poisoned are not to great for shooting....you will see a few dogs but very few and they won't look good. Not too many dry land farmers can afford to poison well enough to eliminate pds but to get the most bang for your buck find the most productive fields (locals know where these are).

You will have to trust that I have "real world" experience when it comes to prairie dogs.

[The Sodbuster]

The last couple years I have driven from Missouri to Elkhart, KS to shoot prairie dogs on the Cimarron Nat'l Grassland.  There are a good number of dog towns but none are real big.  I think those dogs see a fair amount of pressure because they're pretty shy.  You can drive by a town along a road and see dogs out, but as soon as a truck slows down most will scurry for their burrows.  I get some shots inside 200 yards, but most are 300-400 (I might be off here some; I'm not great at estimating range and my rangefinder doesn't do me much good in a flat landscape).

In each of the last 2 years I've hunted for a couple days and gone through about 130 rounds of ammo each time.  I'm not too disappointed in this because I haven't been "spoiled" with 500 round days anywhere. 

Non-resident license is about $75.  Camping is an option on the grasslands and there are a couple reasonable motels in Elkhart.  I'd recommend late April to early June when young pups are out.  Access is good on the grasslands as there are a number of service roads you can drive on.  My truck's 2WD and I get around fine, although it's been dry when I've been there (they only get about 16" of rain a year there).  In addition to prairie dogs, I see jackrabbits, pronghorns, turkeys, burrowing owls, rabbits and quail.  It's a nice place, but in the future I might check with local extension agents about landownders who wouldn't object to someone shooting dogs on their place.

[wynn24]

I do appreciate each and every response. I would like my first trip to be a good experience, so i am just trying to gather as much infor mation as i possibly can. Again thanks to everyone who has respones so far.