Need info on prairie dog hunting

[onestar]

Hey guys, I have been away from here for a while and I have started back reading on here when I have time. My father in law and I were kicking around the idea of shooting some dogs out west since my wife is a Delta Airlines employee her father and myself both have flight benifits so the airplane trip is covered. We were not wanting to spend a lot of cash on this, really the only reason we were thinking about this is the flight benifits. We could never imagine traveling from North Carolina out to shoot any other way. If anyone has any info on where to go or who we need to speak with please feel free to PM or post on here. We ahve no definate time frame we would both have to ask for vacation from our jobs and of course load up some ammo! We would love to just go shoot in a public land place but would be willing to pay someone to help us get to the location. I would like for the person to be knowledgeable about the shooting and hunting of the dogs and I would like to know if we would need any special licenses or permits to do such a thing. Thanks for any replies, you guys always have a wealth of knowledge about just about anything that a person could ask.

[Bear57]

Check out the local chamber of commerce in one of the towns in a state you would like to shoot. They are a good source of info on where to shoot and who to contact. Good luck.......:)

[ranger]

In the situation you describe, I would suggest flying into Rapid City, SD and renting a car to travel in Wyoming. Just over the border. Nerwcastle. Thunder Basin.

*********BEWARE areas closed for black footed ferrets. Fed Endangered. Shoot there and you won't be happy if they catch you!!!******


No license needed in Wyo last I knew. Contact Wyo Nat Resources, I would guess.

[First question? You can bring guns on a plane? [Loved the joke about the man who said he wanted a plane ticket to Kansas City and this bag to go to Chicago and this bag to go to Omaha... Ticket agent said "we can't do that?" He replied, "Why not? You did it the last time.] And a couple thousand rounds of ammo? Each? ... ??]

As said, the chambers of commerce can be most helpful. Public lands are managed by the Forest Service and BLM (Bureau of Land Management, well duh...) Years ago there was a kiosk on the interstate south of Wall, SD (town is north of interstate) and they had maps of public land. Photo copies. FREE. That ended during the Clintons. SD extenstion had a list of ranchers begging for shooters. SD Native American Indian Reservations promote big time. Bring money. Lots. Rosebud. Pine Ridge. Standing Rock. Lower Brule.

Douglas Wyo had help thru the BLM office and the "dog town" was alledgedly 26 miles in diameter. Lists of ranchers are not uncommon.

But you have to negotiate stupid rules. The one ranchers list I handled (and I was obviously not the first or tenth or hundredth, it was worn) had addresses, BUT rules prevented the agency from giving out phone numbers. It rested on the phone book, also well thumbed!!!

BEWARE: There is "plague" in the furballs. Don't handle the pieces (if there are any) without preparation. Transmitted by fleas. Cureable today, but why bother. Leave the goodies for the scavangers.

#2). There are "closed areas" for re introduction of the black footed ferret (a weasel popular with tree huggers.) Shoot there and it is fed slam, confiscation, etc. You won't like it! Find them, the areas. Avoid them. OR ??

VHA (Varmint Hunters Assoc.) is in Pierre SD. Magazine. 800 number. parties. Range. Point: Magazine has ads for guides if you don't find anything more suitable.

Frankly, I never got to Montana. Ran out of ammo in Wyo. CO has dogs but they practice "catch and release" some with that varmint vacuum truck... as reported on t.v. And I think there is a season... And licenses... Nothing organized in NE or KS. Beware the NE sandhills. Real hills of sand. Few dogs. Tunnels/burrows collapse.

This is doable. With cost of gas, much more expensive, but still can be a great deal of fun at a reasonable price. [Like ammo is cheap anymore...] I'd start with Newcastle Wyo Chamber of Commerce and I think they have a BLM office too. Phoning is cheap enough. LUCK!

[ranger]

"Black Hills" ammo is in Rapid City, too, if you don't mind the cost of factory. Save problems with the fly boys (and girls). ??

Another thought, since you have the "fly free" access.

A cousin had this "free- fly", I digress. She took her 4 yr. old son and parents on a tour of Europe. Her father had flown over during WWII before jumping out of the plane (riding the silk--parachute). Jumped into Battle of Bulge (and survived). Much rebuilt. Point: Her son got to see Europe before starting school. In Kindergarten the teacher showed pictures of the ruins of ancient Greece and he said, "Yeh, I've been there..." She all but called him a liar... Parents had to come to school and explain that, yes, he had visited there last year... Give you any ideas?

Thought: Knew a man with an air line employed friend, same deal. Baggage handler? Ticket agent? Not a pilot. Anyhoooooo... He would take the free flight to Australia. Down under the kangaroo is a varmint. Country is a bit touchy about guns, NO pistols, some rifles frowned on, limited import of ammo, but he took all that he could and with a popular caliber gun that he could buy more for easily and blasted and blasted and blasted... Maybe twice in 3 years... You have to do your own homework. luck.

[LanceInOregon]

"Black Hills" ammo is in Rapid City, too, if you don't mind the cost of factory. Save problems with the fly boys (and girls). ??


You mean that Blackhills has a company store at their headquarters that one can purchase from???

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[ranger]

You mean that Blackhills has a company store at their headquarters that one can purchase from???

.

Frankly, never had the occassion. If the factory does not have access, then I suspect that there are at least a few FFLs who would be happy to help. Point is, if you can find the product locally and it works in your gun, then buy in the area. They did have reloaded military cases in .223... But I cannot answer directly that one. luck

[Doug Roberts]

Frankly, never had the occassion. If the factory does not have access, then I suspect that there are at least a few FFLs who would be happy to help. Point is, if you can find the product locally and it works in your gun, then buy in the area. They did have reloaded military cases in .223... But I cannot answer directly that one. luck

A pass through Rapid City always means a visit to First Stop Guns. (Not to be confused with Jack First Guns) That's a "given" for us! I've bought cases of Black Hills .223 there several times, including "seconds", but there was a 5 box limit last year. You will find a rifle or three there that will call your name! Across the street is the Firehouse Brewing Company pub which is also worth stopping in for a meal. Never been to the Black Hills factory but I've also never heard of anybody buying directly from BH.