Prairie dogs are the tree squirrels of the grasslands. No trees so they live in holes in the ground like rats, mice, rabbits, etc. All cousins. Rodents. You might find ONE in Iowa or Missouri.. probably lost. Towns where few trees.
In the northern plains, drop a line N-S thru Pierre SD and Grand Island NE and you will be pretty certain of good populations west of the line. Some, a few, east. Farming tears up the burrows and thins populations alot.
More complicated: there are long grass prairie, mid grass prairie and short grass prairie. P'dogs do well in short grass prairie. Taller grass and the things that eat them have easier time sneaking up on them. Tall/long grass prairie runs out in Iowa. Mid grass prairie runs about 1/3 into Nebraska. It depends on rainfall and the line moves a bit each year with different rainfall amounts.
You mention TN. Closest would be Western KS (Cimaron Nat. grasslands, SW corner KS) and OK and TX panhandle. Colorado has them but a bunch of tree huggers that catch and relocate them... (that is like catching and relocating rats [4 legged] in New York City!]. Wyo. does not require a license (last I knew). Wide open east of mountains and north of air base near Cheyenne. SD markets. VHa (Varmint Hunters Assoc. varminthunter.org) has headquarters in Pierre and 800 number... Native Am Indians sell access to reservations. Rosebud, S. Central. Northern Cheyenne, North Central. Pine Ridge, more SW corner. Google them for current rules, costs. luck....
