![\"Brett](\"http:\/\/198.154.244.69\/hunting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Blog_PD_2.jpg\")
<\/a>Brett from Bad River Bucks and Birds was a great host on this trip, and really knows the country and wildlife!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Lining up the shot with the FX Boss, the .303 and this rifle were a great combo for long range shooting,<\/p><\/div>\n
When the wind calmed down, I had a few shots out at about 125 yards, and the larger calibers had great terminal performance. One thing I like about using the mid bores for prairie dogs, is that you get a lot of field shooting with the same gun you’ll use for predator hunting, which will make you a better field shooter when a coyote is in the crosshairs.<\/p>\n
I set the hunt up with Bad River Bucks and Birds, they have a great lodge, lots of land with an incredible amount of game and several prairie dog towns. First day was overcast with some sun poking through and we hiked miles. I’d set up, shot three or four dogs as they’d slowly pop up out of their holes, then move a couple hundred yards away and repeat. \u00a0As I walked up they’d dive down the burrows, but ten or fifteen minutes later barking would start and a few minutes later a head would pop up.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Our Quarry, even though the weather didn’t cooperate, was out and about…. and fairly plentiful.<\/p><\/div>\n
I really enjoy this approach; using an airgun and working each dog as a quarry rather than sitting 300 yards away on a bench rest and viewing them as targets. This is not a high volume shoot, 40 dogs in a day is a good hunt, it’s more about how you’re getting them than how many.<\/p>\n
There are only a couple articles of gear I carry besides my gun and pellets; shooting sticks, binoculars, range finder, a buddy bottle in a messenger style day pack and a foam seat. I practice shooting from a sitting position of sticks frequently, and can lock up pretty solidly. The binos can help locate the little sage rats while they are peeking over the rims of the mounds, and the range finder is essential when dealing with the long shots as inches of trajectory is significant on a small kill zone.<\/p>\n
<\/a>We had great wildlife viewing along the way; we saw bison, mule and whitetail deer, pronghorn, and more pheasant, prairie chicken and waterfowl than you can imagine!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Beautiful landscapes, a great way to end the day.<\/p><\/div>\n
Anyways, I had a great time, and would say that if you want to have some outstanding shooting and hunting, get out on the dogs!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Unfortunately I was late getting out for P-dogs this season and worried the populations would be down and the dogs very wary. I’d had an invite to hunt a big ranch property in the Western part of South Dakota, so loaded up my (mountain of) gear and made the 7 hour drive. I got in … Continue reading