Prairie dogs

I think if you mean like an outfitter that takes you out, you are pretty much looking to go in to the States.

Have lived in SK and AB, and never heard of anyone doing more than being friends of friends who knew someone.... Or simply driving the areas you were interested in, and knocking on doors.

I think Ontario is pretty short of gophers or prairie dogs, but the chuck hunters there do OK.
Even in Southern SK, not too many Prairie Dogs, but a couple different ground squirrels, Richardson's Ground Squirrels being the most common 'gopher' to target.
 
Prairie dogs are a protected species in Sask. The only place you’ll find them here is in Grassland National park. Go to Montana or Wyoming if you want a good P-dog shoot.

If gophers are of interest, come out to the Tompkins/Piapot/Maple Creek area in June and knock on some doors. Most farmers will be happy to see you, some may even throw you a brick of ammo for helping out.
 
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Not at all hard to get permission to shoot Richardson's ground squirrels most anywhere in Saskatchewan.
The idea of paying money to shoot them is amusing.
Visit any small town in SK with lots of pasture nearby, camp in the local campground, talk to people at the local cafe, gas station or Co-op. You'll be connected with someone with a gopher problem pretty quickly.
 
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No prairie dogs in Ontario, and woodchuck are few and far between these days. AB is your best bet for a spring shoot.
 
There are lots of southern AB gophers on agricultural lease grazing land as well as private land. The leaseholders are pretty good about giving permission if you seem like a responsible person (fire is a huge concern) although they sometimes are reluctant when it comes to out-of-towners. They are supposed to give permission as long as there isn't a good reason not to...but they can make up some story to keep you out :). Apparently some people from Calgary have been a bunch of yahoos, driving off the road and what-not. I've never had a problem getting permission but I'm local to where I shoot. The leaseholders' contact info is shown on a free mapping website called Alberta Rec Access. Cross reference that map with satellite imagery looking for numerous gopher hills and you're in business!
 
coyoteking said:
Prairie dogs are a protected species in Sask. The only place you’ll find them here is in Grassland National park. Go to Montana or Wyoming if you want a good P-dog shoot.

If gophers are of interest, come out to the Tompkins/Piapot/Maple Creek area in June and knock on some doors. Most farmers will be happy to see you, some may even throw you a brick of ammo for helping out.
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There's a small colony between Moose Jaw and the Air Base there, but they are escapees from the Wild Animal Park there, that have naturalized.

There are more than a few places in BC that have Ground Squirrels, but you need a special Permit to shoot them on Crown Land, it's pretty much a Private property only thing as a result.
Which, given the number of landowner/trespasser interactions I see, read, and hear about, thins the options down an awful lot too.

There are a couple guys over on the Saubier Small Caliber forum that could likely point you at some places stateside, and picking up a copy of one or more of the Predator Hunting magazines and following up on some of the advertisements, might find more.
 
Thank you all for the clues.
Inspector Clouseau is on the case.
Hopefully will report back after the summer.
Will get my 204 ready for action
 
Load lots, in s Ab we’ve shot 6000+ in a week. Just 2 of us. There is someone in s Ab that was taking customers out, not sure on who. Just find some pasture and ask. They will tell you what field are best.
 
Lots of gophers in some areas of SK. There are pockets in places where they aren’t considered very common. Lots of good advice in the previous posts. Sort of “gold is where you find it”. A few years back I drove past a field in west central Manitoba that was crawling with gophers. I shot there for four days in that little field. The farmer was more than happy to let me shoot there. Some places centerfire isn’t so good, but rimfire is fine.

I love to spend time out in the sun on a nice day. When the attack becomes overwhelming, I use a shotgun. :ar15:
 
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Will do
I have whacked PD in Dakota many years ago And went with a pair of 223.

My old Yankee hunting buddie who is now in PD heaven also brought a pair of 223’s, literally we had to piss on the barrels that one stage. They were popping out everywhere.

We were reloading every night in the RV until we ran out of components then we shot commercial and clear out the local wallmart store.

Now that he is gone I have to find my own pastures. Thanks for the tip

Now I plan to bring a pair of 204’s and HEAD WEST....
 
There is NO legal prairie dog shooting in Canada. They are a protected species at the very Northern edge of their range in Canada. People who don't know the difference are always confusing prairie dogs with our Richardson's Ground Squirrels. They are similar, but not the same. Imagine the difference between hares and rabbits - kinda like that. Farmers in Southern Saskatchewan have plenty of ground squirrels ( gophers) to share. A plague some years in some spots. Last time I was seriously pursuing them as a shooting opportunity, I actually had several offers from farmer hosts to supply .22 ammo if only I'd come and shoot more. Paid gopher shooting is a silly concept in Saskatchewan. Doesn't happen as far as I know. Buy a municipal landowner map, knock on some doors and ask at coffee row at the local cafe. If you are in the right spot, you will get permission and lots of shooting.
 
Are you in Canada? Last couple years , the numbers are way down from a few years ago, I have never really understood 223 for a gopher, but than I shot some very good 22 rimfires.
Gophers are totally different thing from P.D. They seem to run in cycles, not from shooting, but weather, food, disease is the bid one, I think.
 
If you want Prairie Dogs just go to Zortman Montana. You will get a migraine from the smell of burnt powder before you run out of targets. Many are shot at ranges beyond 500m
 
marshall said:
Are you in Canada? Last couple years , the numbers are way down from a few years ago, I have never really understood 223 for a gopher, but than I shot some very good 22 rimfires.
Gophers are totally different thing from P.D. They seem to run in cycles, not from shooting, but weather, food, disease is the bid one, I think.
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I understand 223 for gopher just fine! LOL! Launch a couple 'helicopters' and you generally get the idea of why! Same with planting a bullet on to the rock that the gopher is standing on. Instant elevator!

We used to sit on blankets on a hilltop spotting for each other after a morning of walking shooting with the .22 rimfires. Much entertainment, talking smack about your shooting buddies marksmanship, and having it chucked right back at you when you missed too!

Every now and then we'd get a hawk come in and grab one of the recently deceased, always an interesting sight. Trying to get more than one with the one shot, too, when the babies are out and crowding around the hole! You can occasionally get a double with a .22RF, but you have good odds of a bunch with the CF guns.
 
Yes I am in Ontario

Gophers , p dogs , ground squirrels makes no difference. Of course have to observe local laws. Looks like I have to head south again.

Before I went I had plans for all sort of exotic calibre until my Yankee buddy told me to buy a pair of identical 223. By day 3 it all makes sense. Literally we were shooting the throat out. This is before the days of thermal and silencers....

He did bring little toys like 22 lr and the little buggers started to get smart and keep a good distance

So every morning we start around 100 metres and by the end of the afternoon we were shooting 400 - 500 metres out.

Honestly I was younger and learnt so much about wind doping during those 10 days.

Now it comes like second nature. I think varmint shooting is a must for all hunters to savour.

Got many leads now from varminters forum.

Going daily rate in Montana is not expensive.

Going south..
 
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PD in Montana is going to cost around usd 2500 including travelling so alternative will be baboon bashing in Africa.

At the moment BB tops the list....
 
Prairie dogs in Colorado... 'Woot..!
Unfortunately now it's us who are experiencing "plague"

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