P’dogs

What is the earlest I can get in some good P'dog hunting in the Belknap area?

Second, What is the best month to hunt P'dogs.

 

Dan

I was told, I could get a permit to hunt the reservation. I just want to spend about 4-6 days shooting dogs with the least hassle possible. You don't happen to know a better place to shoot dogs?

 

Dan

Dan;

Oh so different!  You can buy a hunt there, but do lay in a supply of culture-shock pills.

Gophers are up now.  I got confirmation today.  These are either Richardson's or Cascade ground squirrels, not the true p-dog.  Mostly I go at them with various .22's of the rimfire variety.  Although once away from the ranch, we can use centerfire if so desired.  The gopher is basically a 1/2 to 2/3rd's size variant on the p-dog.

I am trying to pursue getting a virgin, un-shot, actual p-dog town for the reunion this summer if we can get that together.  Nothing certain there though at this point.

900F

   Keep in mind that you CAN'T shoot pdogs on state or fedral lands! That limits hunts to privet langs and that means permition. Most of our gophers arn't up yet some are only a round here(in town). We have seen some out but not in great numbers yet. It's not to far away. The huterite coliny up by Chester has Pbogs,and there new one on the Maris river,thay arn alwas willing to let people in to shoot them.

I thought it was banned for now from the fear of black plague, or is that just certain federal areas?

Prairie dog shooting is closed March 1 to May 31 on BLM lands in MT.  This is not the case for State or private lands where shooting is allowed year-round.  The CMR is closed year-long, as is the Forty-complex in south Phillips County because of black-footed ferret reintroductions (this only includes 9 towns if I remember correctly). 

Still lots of opportunities for shooting on public land and the price is right.  I would try the first part of June if you are looking for naive dogs and the temps. are not as bad either.  I have heard the res. is good, but I believe you need to hire a guide your first year and purchase a license.

Good luck.  Drop me a line if you have any questions.

gophers are up. if i see any and have a rifle at the same time....AND if i am in some unpopulated part of the world, they are dead!

best hunting for that area is late may through august. i am very familiar with the land and the people up there, dan; it's only about 25 miles from where i graduated from high school, so if you need anything, let me know.

mtmiller has the scoop on the closings and legalities. rely on his information as it is primary source material! if we can get permission to hunt on a colony, i think we'd be in great shape!

cb is only SLIGHTLY exaggerating the culture shock thing, but not by much. just treat the locals as you would want to be treated, and be prepared to pay something. while there, take the time to enjoy the little rockies and the missouri breaks!

Edited by TasunkaWitko

Dan,

Is their any chance this trip might bring you to northeastern Wyoming? If it does I would sure like to buy you a beer... or coffee your choice.

Wing master

Dan,

I have always tried to get out in to the dog towns the week before memorial day, but mostly in South Dakota and places south of there. The temps are moderate and the pups are weaned by then and big enough to make it after Mom takes The Big Trip. And family groups on top of mounds make interesting targets too. I have gone on into July when younger, but would quickly render down now if stuck out on the grass lands during a 100+ afternoon with no shade available. Rifles heat up too fast then as well. It sounds like a tall tale, but shooting one round a minute is slow shooting in a good town. Take several rifles and lots of cleaning stuff. An MTM cheap cradle is perfect. Shoot till one rifle is hot, stick it on the cradle and swab it down and get back to business after a while finish cleaning the first one and let #2 cool off. Take a rimfire. And a hornet or duece or fireball- or anything else to get to 150 or 200. And a big .22. And something with a high bc bullet over 3000. Expect to go thru 300 rounds a day or so not counting the rimfire. A man can shoot more if he don't care about roaching a throat, or has several rifles to switch off, or a shooting pal to take turns with, one spotting and one calling shots, in which case the ammo lasts longer. Don't leave the dirty patches to blow in the wind. Take a big straw hat and a nice white towell to soak in the cooler and drape across your neck, and a comfortable folding chair.

I don't think I ever shot 1000 rounds over 3 days of pretty good shooting, but my kids did back in the 60s and 70s. They were blood thirsty little beggars but were all shooting hornets or 222s so the wear wasn't so bad. I last went in 02 and used up maybe 400 rounds of center fire over 2 and 1/2 days. I did a lot of spotting, and spent some time lying to the Lakota quide, just to keep in practice. They are too polite to tella man he is full of bovine wastes, so I just kept piling it on deeper. After a while the quy just dozed off. Perfect response!