Prairie Dog Hunt Questions

[Cherokee Mike]

Hi,

I'm fairly new to the forums and came across the NEF/H&R Prairie Dog Shoot topic.  Will there be a 2010 hunt in Oklahoma?  I live in Mountain Home, Arkansas and visit my dad in Pryor, Oklahoma several times a year.  I worked for the Corps of Engineers in Tulsa from 1986 to 1991, and traveled most of the state working on Corps lakes including the panhandle area.
 
I've never shot prairie dogs and would like to give it a try.  Right now I only have one NEF rifle in .17 HRM, but I would be willing to purchase another NEF rifle in .223 Remington since I have several other rifles in this caliber and handload for all of them.         

Since I'm recently retired, I can't afford to go to Africa or Alaska, but an Oklahoma prairie dog hunt sounds like it would fit my budget and be loads of fun.

Thanks,

Cherokee Mike     

[Wingman26]

Most likely will be, but it is up to Dan (dano), our host.

[Graybeard]

Almost assuredly we will but as Wingman said it really is up to Dan and Helen as they host us each year and Dan and his friends set things up with the landowners to allow us to shoot on their ranches. I know at the end of this year's event Dan said he'd see us again next year so unless something drastic happens I'd bet there will be another in 2010.

Lots of folks say they want to attend and lots of folks even get their name on the list then back out each year. You'll need to watch for the annoucement usually from Dan or Digger along about Jaunary or February of the exact dates set for it and then get your name on the official list thread one of us will start here. Even if the list fills up before you get on go ahead and add your name to the stand by list as the last 2-3 years EVERYONE on the stand by list got a chance to attend.

[d_hiker]

Practice for long shots, we went to the 2008 shoot and were taking shots out to about 500 yards in one location.  And the forecast will be for very windy conditions regardless of the date they select.

[LaOtto222]

I was doping the wind 48 - 60 inches - just guessing really. I am working a on project to help this out some. I think some .224 bullets that weigh 75-80 grains ought to do better than those 40 grain pills I was throwing into the wind. HMMM...22 BR, 1 -8" twist and 75 A Max just might do it.

[Oldshooter]

I'm thinking I would like to make the next one but if we are gonna shoot at over 500 do I need a howitzer or a varmit rifle!

Maybe the 6mm with 65 grain vmax!
Was thinking of the 17 mach ll, but that wont get me outa the parking lot! 

[LaOtto222]

I have only been on one hunt. It was very windy all 3 days and the closest PD I got a shot at was about 100 yards. Most were from 300 and out. I got a few in the 150 - 250 yard range, they seemed easy. We would drive by a field and there would be PD al over. By the time we got all set up do do some serious shooting they would all go down their holes and not come back up. Last year I took a 17 HMR for my close gun, but I never connected on one. I only had 1 real shot under 100 yards with it and the wind was gusting 30 mph+; I missed that shot - misjudged the wind and he never stuck his nose back up for a follow up shot. I understand the year before they were shooting lots up real close with 22 LR. I guess it depends on the weather and where you get to shoot at. Where I got the most shooting - there were cattle in the field, so we had to be careful about where we shot and where the PD were was 500 - 600 + yards out from the road. You could not drive out and no one felt like lugging all their shooting gear 300 yards out to get closer. Once in a while one would poke up in the 150-250 yard range. But like I said it all depends on where they set you up at and the weather. It got hot and the shooting really dropped of after 12:00 or so. I have a feeling that did it did not get so hot 100+ and the wind was not blowing so hard, the PD would have been out more playing around and maybe not spooked so much. I had a couple of 223's with me and I missed much more than I connected with in the 500+ range. The wind was blowing the bullets all over the place and were not the same from one shot to the next. Next year, I will have some thing along that will ride in the wind a little better - but I will still bring along a shorter ranged gun - because you just do not know.

[norm ks]

shot a lot of dogs less then 100 yards and 150 with 22 mag you have to be patient let the dog come looking for you they come back out some times just a head   we had been shooting for a hour and a dog 20 yards out crawed out of the hole and started eating a flower bud  my kid shot him was the closed shot i ever seen and plenty of 300 plus shots

[Wingman26]

Last year I had been shooting for a couple of hours when 3 pds came out and stood up on a mound not more than 25 yards in front of me!  It was almost too much to believe, but I overcame my surprise to take those pds out of the genetic pool!   

[iiranger]

No disrespect to the organization intended but you also want to remember the Cimmaron National Grassland in SW Kansas. Currently they have a "please do not shoot the p'dogs" on the web site, but in the area... West 1/3 of KS. You hit the diners and chambers of commerce and make some friends and you just might go broke supporting your addiction. Luck.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  I looked over this hunt a couple times...Since it is in Handi rifle section, does one have to have a handi rifle to make the hunt?

[Graybeard]

Not really. There are far more bolt actions and ARs used than handi rifles tho admittedly most folks do bring at least one even if they don't use it.