Prairie dog hunting in the US?

retoxtony

retoxtony

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Just wondering if anyone has gone on a prairie dog hunt in the states?

I'm down in South Dakota with my family for a vacation and while driving through montana I was blown away by the amount of prairie dog towns I saw. I have shot thousands of gophers (ground squirrels) in my years farming in SK and I've never come across anything like I saw in Montana with those prairie dogs. I was honestly a little shocked by the sheer numbers of them. I'm tempted to try to go on a hunt in the future down here but I don't have a clue where to start or what would be involved.
 
Greetings…Our most excellent PD hunting adventure was back in 1993. 2 newbies from Ontario drove out into Montana in a little Mazda RX7 loaded to the hilt with guns and ammo. Stopped at a gun shop in Malta and were advised to go down the road and stop at the BLM office and ask to purchase the their PD hunting map $5.00.
It listed about 60 PD towns, locations, owners, population densities etc. etc…
If these maps are still offered it would be a great place to start. Asking at a local breakfast/coffee shop also resulted in invitations to shoot them pesky PDs. We had a blast but continued into Alberta and Saskatchewan for gophers and we still go to Saskatchewan. Pro tip, don’t drive a sports car on prairie roads especially after a heavy rain. Good luck and good shooting.
 
'Been to Colorado twice to shoot PD's...
We took the easy route and paid an outfitter to take us out...
'Cost some money, but didn't have to spend any time looking for a place to shoot.
The trailer with the swivel shooting benches was nice too.
All you really need is a F6NIA from the BATF for the guns and ammo your taking... IIRC we didn't need any sort of hunting permit because we were on private lands... Those rules differ state to state though I bet.
 
I did find lots of outfitters doing hunts but prices were surprising. Anywhere from $250 a day to over $1000 depending on what came with it. Looks like I need to do some research to see if i can make it work.

Funny thing is I'm looking at finding a outfitter for hunting prairie dogs in the US and a neighbor of mine in SK is trying to figure out how to take American hunters on gopher hunts around home. I guess everyone wants a little variety in their hunting.
 
I've been invited to a couple of PD hunts further south, but always wanted to cross over from AB into Montana and do my own thing with a little legwork in advance. I have a brother in the US who is half-interested in trying it too, so when he's ready and the Cheeto has done all the damage he can do....I'll spark-up the topic with him again.

For now, gophers in Canada are a massive distraction and I'm cooking-up 2026 plans already. I'm about 99% sure we've seen a prairie dog in AB at least once, very far south too which makes sense.

I know PD hunting will be pricey based on our dollar alone, and since I assume it's largely centerfire work due to their size? Even bigger departure from gopher shooting.

I'll do it at some point anyway, until then=gophers look great in my Burris E1 reticle. Helps you clip the running ones too.
 
retoxtony said:
Just wondering if anyone has gone on a prairie dog hunt in the states?

I'm down in South Dakota with my family for a vacation and while driving through montana I was blown away by the amount of prairie dog towns I saw. I have shot thousands of gophers (ground squirrels) in my years farming in SK and I've never come across anything like I saw in Montana with those prairie dogs. I was honestly a little shocked by the sheer numbers of them. I'm tempted to try to go on a hunt in the future down here but I don't have a clue where to start or what would be involved.
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Stop by a local gun shop.
They will have some of the answers if not all of what you need.
Save for actual permission on which land to hunt.
 
PGW Steve said:
25 years ago, Precision Shooting magazine used to have a media/industry PD shoot on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. We stayed in Valentine NE, and guides would take us to a town in the morning. It was non-stop shooting, as far as you're capable of shooting.
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That was a great publication. Sadly missed. - dan
 
Donny Fenn1 said:
That and "Varmint Hunters Association" magazine were awesome.
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The Varmint Hunters Magazine issue #3 is what inspired me to drive out west to Montana to shoot PDs back in the 90’s. Shortly after I took out a lifetime membership in the VHA and they went bankrupt with the next 6 months. Same thing with the 2 fitness clubs I joined, they went tits up within the next few months. I’m seriously thinking of taking out a membership in the Liberal Party of Canada next…wish me luck.
 
.22LRGUY said:
I've been invited to a couple of PD hunts further south, but always wanted to cross over from AB into Montana and do my own thing with a little legwork in advance. I have a brother in the US who is half-interested in trying it too, so when he's ready and the Cheeto has done all the damage he can do....I'll spark-up the topic with him again.

For now, gophers in Canada are a massive distraction and I'm cooking-up 2026 plans already. I'm about 99% sure we've seen a prairie dog in AB at least once, very far south too which makes sense.

I know PD hunting will be pricey based on our dollar alone, and since I assume it's largely centerfire work due to their size? Even bigger departure from gopher shooting.

I'll do it at some point anyway, until then=gophers look great in my Burris E1 reticle. Helps you clip the running ones too.
Click to expand...
Center fire work due to distance. My understanding is you need to be far enough away they can’t see you well.
You can be 10 ft away from a gopher but most likely 100 yards plus away from a PD.

Gophers are <1 lb in weight and <12” nose to tail.

Prairie Dogs are 2-4 lbs in weight and ~15” in length.

No doubt a 22LR, 17HMR or 22WMR would be adequate to dispatch a prairie dog one would need more oomph at longer distances. Speaking with a rancher down at Val Marie, SK he stated that you may see hundreds of them but you might only be able to get a shot off at 6 as they see you and go down their hole quickly. Be interesting to go on a PD hunt.
 
retoxtony said:
Just wondering if anyone has gone on a prairie dog hunt in the states?

I'm down in South Dakota with my family for a vacation and while driving through montana I was blown away by the amount of prairie dog towns I saw. I have shot thousands of gophers (ground squirrels) in my years farming in SK and I've never come across anything like I saw in Montana with those prairie dogs. I was honestly a little shocked by the sheer numbers of them. I'm tempted to try to go on a hunt in the future down here but I don't have a clue where to start or what would be involved.
Click to expand...
Start at a BLM office. They will point you to good spots and will explain what you'll need as a non resident.

I went in WY and CO based on their advice even when living there and always had a great time.
 
Was a member of the Varmint Hunters Association, went to the Jamboree in Pierre SD, had a great time, met lots of nice people , great dinner. Bring lots of ammo, hard to get a read of the wind with the short grass and not many trees and back then no range finders, what you thought was 400 yds was really 600.
 
The one pic I have from the first trip to Colorado for PDs...

qqk6gUL.jpeg
 
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