Advice on Prairie Dog Hunt

[Little FR]

My wife wants to take a vacation this year. Ive never willingly taken a vacation before but she said she wants to go out west to shoot prairie dogs for a couple days and swing by a giant ball of yarn or a dinosaur gift shop on way back.

Any ideas on how to go about that? I hate to say it but should I get an outfitter? Or one of y’all have a moderately creepy uncle out west with a ranch?

I had several ideas that sounded equally fun to me but if that’s what she wants to do, then, I want it to be the best possible trip we can have (ie: target rich and safe).

 

[riverboss]

Seen a crap load of them in South Dakota but don't know about hunting them, but I can guarantee you you will see some great sites and beautiful country!
I will be going back the end of May and spending a week.

 

[JR in KY]

The areas around the Rosebud Injun Rez still have a lot of PDs. It has got extremely commercial...read expensive. I went to that area for about 6 years, plague hit and WE paid the Indians to poison the dogs. Population got low....we moved to Hollly Colorado area...Plague and Drought decimated them there. Then we moved on to Montana and I went for maybe 4 more years. Our best ranch was hit by Plague and they went to Zero. There are areas North of Billings Mt that still have quite a few.
Around Memorial Day for 4 weeks is the best shooting as they get Gun shy when shot up much.
I have friends still going that I can ask for info if you really serious bout it, but it sure Ain't what it Was.

 

[Little FR]

The areas around the Rosebud Injun Rez still have a lot of PDs. It has got extremely commercial...read expensive. I went to that area for about 6 years, plague hit and WE paid the Indians to poison the dogs. Population got low....we moved to Hollly Colorado area...Plague and Drought decimated them there. Then we moved on to Montana and I went for maybe 4 more years. Our best ranch was hit by Plague and they went to Zero. There are areas North of Billings Mt that still have quite a few.
Around Memorial Day for 4 weeks is the best shooting as they get Gun shy when shot up much.
I have friends still going that I can ask for info if you really serious bout it, but it sure Ain't what it Was.

I’m dead serious about it. That’s what she wants to do. I’m not asking to ask.

I would appreciate it.

 

[1wildcatfan]

My wife wants to take a vacation this year. Ive never willingly taken a vacation before but she said she wants to go out west to shoot prairie dogs for a couple days and swing by a giant ball of yarn or a dinosaur gift shop on way back.

Any ideas on how to go about that? I hate to say it but should I get an outfitter? Or one of y’all have a moderately creepy uncle out west with a ranch?

I had several ideas that sounded equally fun to me but if that’s what she wants to do, then, I want it to be the best possible trip we can have (ie: target rich and safe).

I've shot prarie dogs in Wy a couple of times. We were in the Kaycee area once (pretty desolate) and Sheridan twice. Don't need an outfitter. Find a property with a dog town and knock on doors.

 

[Little FR]

I've shot prarie dogs in Wy a couple of times. We were in the Kaycee area once (pretty desolate) and Sheridan twice. Don't need an outfitter. Find a property with a dog town and knock on doors.

I’m a little nervous hinging my whole vacation on the kindness of strangers in a foreign land but if that’s the only way, we may be better off hog hunting.

We are decent folks but I am not very approachable, haha.

 

[1wildcatfan]

I’m a little nervous hinging my whole vacation on the kindness of strangers in a foreign land but if that’s the only way, we may be better off hog hunting.

We are decent folks but I am not very approachable, haha.

Can't tell you how much fun you and your bride would have popping dogs. My two boys, 9 & 11 the first time, went through a couple hundred rounds each of 17 hmr. My thumb was literally bleeding from loading their magazines. We were sitting in the middle of a 600 acre dog town, whack-a-mole at its finest. You could shoot as little or as much as you wanted. Wife gave up loading for the boys and sat back and laughed.
Called a tresspass fee out there, offer the landowner $50-$100 each if they're hesitant.

 

[Little FR]

Can't tell you how much fun you and your bride would have popping dogs. My two boys, 9 & 11 the first time, went through a couple hundred rounds each of 17 hmr. My thumb was literally bleeding from loading their magazines. We were sitting in the middle of a 600 acre dog town, whack-a-mole at its finest. You could shoot as little or as much as you wanted. Wife gave up loading for the boys and sat back and laughed.
Called a tresspass fee out there, offer the landowner $50-$100 each if they're hesitant.

I would give a farmer $500 if I didn’t have to get a shotgun shoved in my face knocking on doors. 🤣

We shoot groundhogs here. Lucky to get more than 15 a day though. G thesis sounds more like a good day shooting crows on the river. My buddy said if I go to be sure and bring multiple rifles, he was overheating all 3 he took when he went.

 

[rdmallory]

Went a few times before the Plague and did not have any trouble getting permission to shoot. Farmers would let you shoot all you wanted for just asking. Went one time after the Plague and no dogs to be found, There were a few reservations had "guides" that would take you to towns to shoot but like someone said it got to be big income for the tribes. $500 a day per person to shoot empty towns. Spring was the best time when the young one were not gun shy yet. Summer and fall WATCH FOR SNAKES we saw plenty of rattle snakes looking for dogs. I took a.223, fiveseven, and 22-250. Some were shooting .243.

 

[1wildcatfan]

Went a few times before the Plague and did not have any trouble getting permission to shoot. Farmers would let you shoot all you wanted for just asking. Went one time after the Plague and no dogs to be found, There were a few reservations had "guides" that would take you to towns to shoot but like someone said it got to be big income for the tribes. $500 a day per person to shoot empty towns. Spring was the best time when the young one were not gun shy yet. Summer and fall WATCH FOR SNAKES we saw plenty of rattle snakes looking for dogs. I took a.223, fiveseven, and 22-250. Some were shooting .243.

When was this plague you speak of?

 

[BODAB1]

Check out this outfitter. https://www.prairiehighlandslodge.com/prairie-dog-hunts-south-dakota/ We have been here twice and it is a first class operation. The lodge is extremely nice and clean. Private rooms like in a motel. Home cooked meals that would rate 5 star. Lots of shooting. If it gets slow they will move you to another town. I just checked and the price has gone up. When we were going about 5 years ago it is was $400.00 a day. If you figure in the lodging and meals it is still a good deal. Highly recommend

 

[Little FR]

Check out this outfitter. https://www.prairiehighlandslodge.com/prairie-dog-hunts-south-dakota/ We have been here twice and it is a first class operation. The lodge is extremely nice and clean. Private rooms like in a motel. Home cooked meals that would rate 5 star. Lots of shooting. If it gets slow they will move you to another town. I just checked and the price has gone up. When we were going about 5 years ago it is was $400.00 a day. If you figure in the lodging and meals it is still a good deal. Highly recommend

Thank you. That’s pretty well, exactly what we had in mind when I asked.

We’re going to break a piggy bank this week, discuss our options and make a final decision.

Planning 3 vacations this year as a family. This was her wish, then the family collectively wants to go fly fishing and I’ve yet to choose what I want to do, I usually waste all my time off hunting Ky.

 

[1wildcatfan]

Check out this outfitter. https://www.prairiehighlandslodge.com/prairie-dog-hunts-south-dakota/ We have been here twice and it is a first class operation. The lodge is extremely nice and clean. Private rooms like in a motel. Home cooked meals that would rate 5 star. Lots of shooting. If it gets slow they will move you to another town. I just checked and the price has gone up. When we were going about 5 years ago it is was $400.00 a day. If you figure in the lodging and meals it is still a good deal. Highly recommend

Dang, $575 three yrs ago per person per day, two day minimum. Uber expensive to me. Cost my family of four around $50 each per day in Wy.; motel, food, gas and a little tresspass fee.

 

[JR in KY]

Prices like That one, is why a lot of the older folks have Quit.
That's about what I used to spend in Holly Colorado in an entire week.

 

[JR in KY]

Heres a field in Holly, Colorado that I have spent quite a bit of time in. White dots are PD holes

This is a Google Earth photo of a field near the other photo. Unretouched.
A Prairie Dog, plain as day formed by curving county roads or fenceline. We drove up 35 enroute to our main shooting spot of 4,000 acres.

Last time I went thru there, I didn't see a single PD.
@1wildcatfan has no doubt been thru Holly.