Who Goes Prairie Dog Hunting?? - Page 2 - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

RuffRidr · 07-23-2007, 10:05 AM

Just a note, I don't think prairie dogs harm crops in any way, but I could be wrong. Western South Dakota has a lot of them, and they are a nuisance there on ranching lands. The prairie dogs dig their tunnels all over the place, which makes lots of holes all over the place. Then the cattle's legs sometimes fall into these holes and you get broken legs and such.

I grew up in eastern South Dakota, and like GSH341 I also shot at "ground squirrels". They can be fun as well, but you don't see near the concentration of them in one place like you do with prairie dogs.

--RuffRidr

Krackels · 07-23-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CopeyXD

well, I know there is a difference, but around here, I hunt groundhogs. on G-ma's farm, AVERAGE shot is 200-300 yards. Killed one at 523 yards this weekend. 300 Weatherby Mag, 4-12 X 50 Simmons Scope.

Here, groundhogs damage more tractors than crops. damn groundhog holes!

Anybody else read this and think overkill?

It prolly makes them plenty dead though.

chupacabrachus · 07-23-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krackels

Anybody else read this and think overkill?

It prolly makes them plenty dead though.

Nah... I say it's more humane if anything since they aren't being shot to eat anyway. Might as well use something that is guaranteed to eliminate the pest if you can afford to. A fella I know uses .308 pretty regularly for P-dog hunting.

CopeyXD · 07-23-2007, 12:52 PM

lol its the only thing i have that will reach out that far and touch something. my 308 isnt sighted in since the new scope, but I use these 2 guns for deer, so my varmint hunting is my practice for these rifles. if I can hit a groundhog off-hand, i can hit a deer offhand. (note, long range shots get a dead rest)

with the 300 mag, you dont have to worry about anything walking off after a hit. lol.

at 75 yards, my 300 with blow a groundhog completely in half. pm me for pics if interested. (i never said i was completely sane)

hog713 · 07-23-2007, 02:03 PM

I haven't gone on a prairie dog shoot in a while but I was using a remington 700bdl in 22-250 all handloaded. Best time I ever had killing something. The great thing about the small fast calibers is the reaction when you hit the dog. It explodes. Completely explodes. After a day of shooting dogs in Canarodo(north of Goodland) we walked the field and found nothing but chunks, the occasional paw or ear, but mostly chunks. Great fun. I would suggest the xd though because of snakes and also some chaps because of cactus. A bipod is a must and if you can go with a boat tail hollow point bullet you double your fun. I always shot sierra spitzer 50 grain myself. Really want to get back into it. Best places I have found in this state are the above mentioned and also Elkhart and the surrounding areas. Most farmers and land owners will be happy to let you shoot their land after a hour conversation. Good luck and enjoy.

cjive134 · 07-23-2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Those Texas prairie dogs must be smart. I used a friends Ruger 10/22. Longest shot was 100 yards.

I agree. Colorado prairie dogs must have a low IQ. Driving down a dirt road in Colorado you can count on a few prairie dogs standing in the middle of the road and whacking their heads against the oil pan because they were too stupid to move to the side of the road. This is during the day too. At my Uncle's ranch they are all over the place. Probibly 10 to 1 prairie dogs to cattle ratio. Problem is you shoot a coyote to keep him from harming the cattle and then you end up getting more prairie dogs as a result.

**jnclement** · 07-23-2007, 05:19 PM

I misspoke, an AR will work. I shoot my 16" at steel plates at 500 yards all the time. I'm sure a 24" varmint AR would work great, but at about 3 times the cost of a good bolt gun. And yeah, our prairie dogs are pretty smart, and not tame. They're easy to find though........just look for a big area where all the grass, weeds, and mesquite are gone. They eat it down to almost bare dirt.

brian40 · 07-23-2007, 08:29 PM

I shoot my A-bolt in 25-06 with 75 gr v-max. There is only about one other thing I would rather do.

GaryTx · 07-23-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjive134

I agree. Colorado prairie dogs must have a low IQ. Driving down a dirt road in Colorado you can count on a few prairie dogs standing in the middle of the road and whacking their heads against the oil pan because they were too stupid to move to the side of the road. This is during the day too. At my Uncle's ranch they are all over the place. Probibly 10 to 1 prairie dogs to cattle ratio. Problem is you shoot a coyote to keep him from harming the cattle and then you end up getting more prairie dogs as a result.

Yeah, I guess we need to kill 'em all.

CopeyXD · 07-23-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian40

I shoot my A-bolt in 25-06 with 75 gr v-max. There is only about one other thing I would rather do.

shoot your XD?!?!?!?!?!?!

07-23-2007, 12:52 PM	#14
CopeyXD XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Rural Pennsylvania Posts: 868	lol its the only thing i have that will reach out that far and touch something. my 308 isnt sighted in since the new scope, but I use these 2 guns for deer, so my varmint hunting is my practice for these rifles. if I can hit a groundhog off-hand, i can hit a deer offhand. (note, long range shots get a dead rest) with the 300 mag, you dont have to worry about anything walking off after a hit. lol. at 75 yards, my 300 with blow a groundhog completely in half. pm me for pics if interested. (i never said i was completely sane) __________________ one short gun and lots of long ones! When you carry, leave your middle finger at home!

07-23-2007, 02:03 PM	#15
hog713 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 145	I haven't gone on a prairie dog shoot in a while but I was using a remington 700bdl in 22-250 all handloaded. Best time I ever had killing something. The great thing about the small fast calibers is the reaction when you hit the dog. It explodes. Completely explodes. After a day of shooting dogs in Canarodo(north of Goodland) we walked the field and found nothing but chunks, the occasional paw or ear, but mostly chunks. Great fun. I would suggest the xd though because of snakes and also some chaps because of cactus. A bipod is a must and if you can go with a boat tail hollow point bullet you double your fun. I always shot sierra spitzer 50 grain myself. Really want to get back into it. Best places I have found in this state are the above mentioned and also Elkhart and the surrounding areas. Most farmers and land owners will be happy to let you shoot their land after a hour conversation. Good luck and enjoy. __________________ Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while! As yelled at me by B. Moses while on the range at the academy.

07-23-2007, 05:19 PM	#17
jnclement XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Texas Posts: 2,599	I misspoke, an AR will work. I shoot my 16" at steel plates at 500 yards all the time. I'm sure a 24" varmint AR would work great, but at about 3 times the cost of a good bolt gun. And yeah, our prairie dogs are pretty smart, and not tame. They're easy to find though........just look for a big area where all the grass, weeds, and mesquite are gone. They eat it down to almost bare dirt. __________________ Contrary to what sells magazines, not all of us are, or want to be SpecOps, SEAL, Recon, Delta, CQB, Ninja, firearm-knife-tactical-death-touch instructors.

07-23-2007, 08:29 PM	#18
brian40 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,535	I shoot my A-bolt in 25-06 with 75 gr v-max. There is only about one other thing I would rather do. __________________ Brian "Did I say that outloud?"

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07-23-2007, 10:05 AM	#11
RuffRidr XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 101	Just a note, I don't think prairie dogs harm crops in any way, but I could be wrong. Western South Dakota has a lot of them, and they are a nuisance there on ranching lands. The prairie dogs dig their tunnels all over the place, which makes lots of holes all over the place. Then the cattle's legs sometimes fall into these holes and you get broken legs and such. I grew up in eastern South Dakota, and like GSH341 I also shot at "ground squirrels". They can be fun as well, but you don't see near the concentration of them in one place like you do with prairie dogs. --RuffRidr