Weather conditions during prairie dog hunting on the plains

[His lordship.]

I am thinking of driving out to North or South Dakota for a Spring prairie dog hunt, Summer would work out better for my schedule.  I have heard that the early months are better before the grass gets high which would make it hard to see the targets.

I have read of some hot weather being encountered, and I have also noticed in all the photos in magazines, etc. that it is always sunny.  Doesn't it rain during typical prairie dog hunts?  What methods have the experienced shooters used to deal with the hot sun, I have seen large umbrellas used, I have a smaller clip on type that I use for outdoor pistol shooting, but quite frankly I think it would be miserable in 95 degree heat with high humidity, and the rifle barrels would take along time to cool down after heating up.

I don't have a camper with air conditioning like I read of one guy doing, shoot a little, go into the air cooled camper, refresh, go back at it.  A day of rain torrents would be bad too, a great way to cause rust problems on the rifles!

I have lived in two states and each year there was a noticable pattern in the weather, for example, it usually rained in early June in the Portland, Oregon area, and parts of September have a pattern for rain in Central Minnesota.  I figure if you are going to do something like this the weather should be decent, or it would not be a fun thing to pursue.  Any suggestions or comments from some experienced prairie pin shooters? :?

Thanks

[KN]

I shoot in SD usually at the end of may. You better be preparred for all kinds of weather. It'll change in a heartbeat out there. I have shot in 90+ heat one day and 55 the next. Yes the sun can really do a number on you. Take a good hat, something with a soft bill. I find a hard bill gets in the way of your scope. I'm working on a trailer with a canopy top on it now for next year. It'll get me up in the air a little and that will help with seeing some of them. Plus I won't have to load and unload the truck every time we move. The reason you see them shooting in the sun all the time is because them critters go under when the weather turns cold and rainy. The only time they come out in bad weather is when they get hungry.  KN

[Double D]

In 2000 the week before Memorial day it was in the 80's temeprature wise in Montana. That weekend we got 28 inches of snow. The following week it was back in the 70's.  The weather only stops off in Montana on it's way to the Dakotas.

[DeeGee]

Well Chris:
My two sons and I have been shooting dogs in SD for about 12 years now. When the sun is out the dogs are out.  July is almost too hot to shoot. Hard to even hold the gun on target let alone the heat on the ammo.   June is very good.  Usually before July 4th weekend.  September is great because most kids are back in school so mom and dad are home again.  Weather is more stable as well.  
Where to shoot?  Don't shoot the Rosebud.  That's Mellett and Todd Counties.  The indian tribe has just too many expensive fees.  I'd suggest Dewey, Ziebach, and farther south, Bennett Counties of South Dakota. We shoot 22-250's and Hornets.  Take along a 22LR for an occasional shot.

If you have any specific questions I'd be willing to help.  
DeeGee

[KN]

I shoot private land around Rosebud and the land owners told me this year the Indians backed off on their fees and stuff. I'm guessing they lost too many shooters to the high fees.  KN

[Double D]

It wasn't 2000 like I said in my previous post, but 2002.  May 22nd to be excact.


Sweetgrass MT, May 22 2002.

But you know what's neat with weather like this. The gophers burrow out and are like black dots on the snow.  Hits are easily confirmed!

DD

[His lordship.]

I read that New Mexico has been having some real hot weather recently and a lady in the article gave me a good idea that I have tried.  Put ice cubes into a cooler with a wet towel on top, then close the cover.  When the heat bothers you, put the towel on your head, neck, and upper chest for a short while, it really refreshed me, and the ice cubes stick to the towel adding more cold contact.

I have been avoiding trap shooting and use of the handgun range during the summer at my gun club for years due to the heat, usually staying at the rifle area with the roof over our head for shade.  I use a ground mounted, spring loaded, and portable clay pigeon thrower for trap, and with all the moving back and forth, loading, and pushing that spring on the thrower in the hot sun, man, it was too much in the heat during the past.  Tried the towel trick and it really helped.  I need to go out to the pistol range on a 90 degree day with my umbrella and then try it to be sure! :grin:

I had also heard that the Rosebud was trouble too.  I guess I would feel better about shooting on private property to remove the prairie dogs as a rancher's pest.  The info you guys posted (including the photo!) says it all, be prepared for all kinds of weather.

Would I be better off hunting North or South Dakota?  I know that ND is trying to get more people in to help the tourist industry, hotels, etc.  South Dakota is known as the best for pheasant hunting, but there has been some areas of hostility to the outsiders that have gotten into the courts.  For example there was a recent legal case, a farmer tried to say that pheasant hunters were not allowed on the side of the road in the ditch area, he felt it was his private property.  The hunters disagreed, this went all the way to the State Supreme Court of SD and the judges sided with the hunters.  The locals have also wanted to make the first few days of hunting opener only for SD resident hunters, resenting the "Rich outsiders who come in and throw around their money with the best land access", etc.

We as prairie dog hunters are helping the ranchers!  And yet the Indians on the reservations were charging more money with an additional fee in addition to the state license, the last time I checked this for SD, a few years ago.  Charge us to help them?!!  :x

I know we are doing it for recreation, but still it should be free!

Thanks again for your input on the times of the year and some of the counties in SD that I can consider.

[DeeGee]

Thought I'd give you some thoughts on the Rosebud.  Our group also shot on private range.  When the Rosebud Tribe started pushing "guides" for tribal land shooting they also started a program to encourage shooters to convert to the tribal land.  They had an active program to fire shots over the heads of shooters on the private or deeded lands.  needless to say their program really worked for us.  We haven't been on the Rosebud for two years now and will NEVER return.  Not saying the tribe sanctioned the "wild" rounds.

Mellett County sheriff just shrugged his shoulders when we reported the situation.  
DeeGee

[dakotashooter2]

I know of no ND Ranchers that will turn down a prarie dog hunter. Most of the towns in this state are on Federal Land which was/is still open to dog hunting in this state last time I asked. Towns are probably not as big as other areas but neither is the competition. Weather can be a wild card but as a general rule is hot and dry. The clouds usually don't dump till they hit the east end of the state. You may get some overcast days but usually without rain (the kind I like). I'm not sure late summer/early fall is much better. I spend a week bowhunting every year near the end of September and it always seems to be in the 80's during the day and 40's at night and probably35-40 trips covering  20 years have only experienced significant rain once.