Prairie Dog Shooting Questions

dball01 · March 1, 2010, 04:37 PM

Dang, I hate to admit it, but it sure is difficult for me to get in the prone position, and up again, when shooting at prairie dogs (well, I am 76). Sooo, what is your favorite way, with a longer bipod so you can shoot in the sitting position, or a table of some sort so you can use rest and rear bag? Any particular brands? Thank you all.

hogdogs · March 1, 2010, 04:46 PM

While I never hunted PD's or any game I could just stay in one spot... I would think the table type setup would be best.

Place for food and drinks as well as optics and ammo. Then the gun is on a nice high clean spot to rest and cool with the action open.

I have seen contraptions that range from a simple card table and folding chair on up to real snazzy easy take down wooden rigs.

Brent

hogdogs · March 1, 2010, 04:54 PM

BTW, I am only a young 41 but I have engaged in harmful activity since I was 7 and aspired to be a stuntman... from toes to the top of my noodle bowl, I have seen severe injuries all my life and now proning out would hurt going down and up not to mention the sore neck from looking forward from prone.
Brent

joeseabee · March 1, 2010, 05:06 PM

I would go with the table type setup. If you did have to be very portable, I've used a folding chair and shooting sticks.

Dave R · March 1, 2010, 09:29 PM

I use seated position, and Stony Point expedition bipod, which is long enough to use in seated position.

oldcspsarge · March 1, 2010, 09:57 PM

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...m_campaign=655

best portable shooting bench for the money...read the reviews !
lots of features for $ 99

cornbush · March 1, 2010, 10:14 PM

I have a few spots I like to go, they all have old fence posts or other junk to use as a rest.
If you can find an old stump, car, hay bale, etc....... use it, works great for cover too.

Buzzcook · March 1, 2010, 10:16 PM

Last few years I've used a camp stool and a fence rail for deer hunting. I'd bet that the same thing for varmints would work to.

Singlesix1954 · March 2, 2010, 09:55 AM

Well when shooting P-dogs in big numbers at long ranges it is sometimes good to be mobile. The tables that rotate are good but don't always lend themselves to the uneven hills the the targets favor. They tend to be cumbersome and not as portable as one likes. I have a short folding stool and shooting sticks. This gets me up enough to avoid that "neck cramp" and is still light and solid. Every shooter has to find thier own nitch but on live targets mobility is still king.

sc928porsche · March 2, 2010, 11:37 AM

Card table and a coleman folding chair works good for me. They are light weight and fold up nicely.

gkdir · March 2, 2010, 11:46 AM

Personally I have been using a carbon fiber camera TRI-POD, with a rotating gun rest head on it, along with folding chair of the type that collapses into a roll up bag. Had an upholestry(sp) shop modify an old canvas back pack to accomodate both the tripod and chair,,room enough for ammo, water, snacks, first aid kit. Its the same rig I take with me when setting up for ground blinds when deer hunting. The tripod has shown to be alot more stable than sticks, although probably not as precise as prone;; none the less I still manage to account for most of my shots inside 400yds.

Scorch · March 2, 2010, 12:56 PM

Call me "old school", but I use a shooting pad (for laying or sitting on), and shoot from prone or sitting position most of the time. I occasionally use trees or posts as rests, but I prefer and I am used to field expedient positions. I never use a bipod, tripod, monopod, shooting sticks, or whatever, I use a sling. I never use a shooting chair, I sit in the dirt (I know. Eeeeeeeuuugghh! Gross!).

Art Eatman · March 2, 2010, 07:30 PM

I tilt the steering column up to use as a brace, and set the window height as appropriate. A folded towel pads the glass. I believe in comfort.

Otherwise, some sort of shooting table in the bed of a pickup seems reasonable.

golfballshootr · March 2, 2010, 07:39 PM

If you have an old utility trailer, 2 wheel trailer about 8'-10' long, put a jack on each corner and two tables on top. Makes it sturdy, a place for you and a hunt partner and an elevated position to view from, especially the longer shots, you have a spotter. I don't have pics of mine, but the wife and I use it and it works great. Trailer was bought used for $150 and the jacks are about $30 each, but hey, its portable.

BUZ · March 2, 2010, 08:15 PM

I say get yourself a good portable bench, I hate laying on the ground for long periods of time.

Singlesix1954 · March 2, 2010, 09:37 PM

Hey you bent my ear! Got pics? Sounds worthy of study. I may want to try it out. I hunt a lot with handguns and this may be great for longshots.

birdshot · March 2, 2010, 10:09 PM

i don't know if his idea is original or not but a buddy of mine took a mechanics crawler and using his ingenuity he fitted it with 20 inch bike tires. he propels himself along using his feet to push himself forward and never has to stand up.

Rembrandt · March 3, 2010, 10:32 AM

We've used several ideas.....one is long Harris bipod while sitting in a beach chair. Pretty comfortable being low to the ground, plenty of area around the chair to keep ammo, drink, spotting scope etc. When not using the bipod I prefer a camera tripod that has been fitted with a quick attach leather rest.

One of the guys at work built this prairie dog trailer with swivel benches and rests.....pull it to your hunt, unhook and start shooting.

rdmallory · March 3, 2010, 10:57 AM

Nice trailer.

I use a portable table and chair. Too many snakes for me to lay on the ground.

Doug

Bones · March 5, 2010, 11:58 PM

I've used a "Work Mate" portable bench/vise, and a folding stool. Also I will drape "camo" around the bench and me.

XD Gunner · March 6, 2010, 02:17 AM

Quote:

One of the guys at work built this prairie dog trailer with swivel benches and rests.....pull it to your hunt, unhook and start shooting.

I've been seeing some of those here in Kentucky, I wasn't aware of Prairie Dogs in Kentucky? Perhaps Coyote?

Anyway, for coyote and crow, we use fold out Camping Chairs and "forked sticks" for mono-pods. Total investment is $5/chair + whittling time. It's not the fanciest, or most stable, but it get's the job done.

montana man · March 7, 2010, 04:41 PM

Telescoping mono-pod or telescoping shooting stick. I have one that will adjust from the sitting all the way to standing postition. You can step onto the foot peg on it to firmly set it into the ground. It keeps you off the ground and also comes in handy for big game season.

tyrajam · March 8, 2010, 01:22 PM

I like to be somewhat mobile. I have always used a pad to sit on and a bi-pod to shoot from. I have been thinking about taking my turkey vest since it has the back support, and I love the camera tripod idea. I would hate a bench, because I like to move quite a bit.

robhof · March 8, 2010, 02:04 PM

Hey, XD did you forget about our(KY) big fat prairie dogs, also called ground hogs, gophers, ect...One of my wife's uncles has hunted from northern Tenn to central Ky for gophers for about 50 years, he had pic's of his trunk full of lil hogs. He had permission from over 50 farmers to eradicate as many as he could. Unfortunately his eyesight failed a few years back and put an end to hin shooting.

March 1, 2010, 04:37 PM	#1
dball01 Member Join Date: March 14, 2008 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 28	Prairie Dog Shooting Questions Dang, I hate to admit it, but it sure is difficult for me to get in the prone position, and up again, when shooting at prairie dogs (well, I am 76). Sooo, what is your favorite way, with a longer bipod so you can shoot in the sitting position, or a table of some sort so you can use rest and rear bag? Any particular brands? Thank you all.

March 1, 2010, 09:29 PM	#5
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	I use seated position, and Stony Point expedition bipod, which is long enough to use in seated position. __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

March 2, 2010, 09:55 AM	#9
Singlesix1954 Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: Rural Ne Posts: 580	Well when shooting P-dogs in big numbers at long ranges it is sometimes good to be mobile. The tables that rotate are good but don't always lend themselves to the uneven hills the the targets favor. They tend to be cumbersome and not as portable as one likes. I have a short folding stool and shooting sticks. This gets me up enough to avoid that "neck cramp" and is still light and solid. Every shooter has to find thier own nitch but on live targets mobility is still king. __________________ Luke 22:36 Single six 1954

March 2, 2010, 11:37 AM	#10
sc928porsche Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2008 Location: now living in alabama Posts: 2,433	Card table and a coleman folding chair works good for me. They are light weight and fold up nicely. __________________ No such thing as a stupid question. What is stupid is not asking it.

March 2, 2010, 11:46 AM	#11
gkdir Member Join Date: March 27, 2009 Location: Oklahoma/Kansas Posts: 89	Personally I have been using a carbon fiber camera TRI-POD, with a rotating gun rest head on it, along with folding chair of the type that collapses into a roll up bag. Had an upholestry(sp) shop modify an old canvas back pack to accomodate both the tripod and chair,,room enough for ammo, water, snacks, first aid kit. Its the same rig I take with me when setting up for ground blinds when deer hunting. The tripod has shown to be alot more stable than sticks, although probably not as precise as prone;; none the less I still manage to account for most of my shots inside 400yds. __________________ "Normal "is just a setting on your dryer.

March 1, 2010, 04:46 PM	#2
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	While I never hunted PD's or any game I could just stay in one spot... I would think the table type setup would be best. Place for food and drinks as well as optics and ammo. Then the gun is on a nice high clean spot to rest and cool with the action open. I have seen contraptions that range from a simple card table and folding chair on up to real snazzy easy take down wooden rigs. Brent

March 1, 2010, 04:54 PM	#3
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	BTW, I am only a young 41 but I have engaged in harmful activity since I was 7 and aspired to be a stuntman... from toes to the top of my noodle bowl, I have seen severe injuries all my life and now proning out would hurt going down and up not to mention the sore neck from looking forward from prone. Brent

March 1, 2010, 05:06 PM	#4
joeseabee Member Join Date: February 6, 2010 Location: SE Ohio Posts: 49	I would go with the table type setup. If you did have to be very portable, I've used a folding chair and shooting sticks.

March 1, 2010, 09:57 PM	#6
oldcspsarge Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2008 Location: Rocky Mountains Posts: 441	http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...m_campaign=655 best portable shooting bench for the money...read the reviews ! lots of features for $ 99

March 1, 2010, 10:14 PM	#7
cornbush Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: The retarded place below Idaho Posts: 1,408	I have a few spots I like to go, they all have old fence posts or other junk to use as a rest. If you can find an old stump, car, hay bale, etc....... use it, works great for cover too.

March 1, 2010, 10:16 PM	#8
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	Last few years I've used a camp stool and a fence rail for deer hunting. I'd bet that the same thing for varmints would work to.

March 2, 2010, 12:56 PM	#12
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Call me "old school", but I use a shooting pad (for laying or sitting on), and shoot from prone or sitting position most of the time. I occasionally use trees or posts as rests, but I prefer and I am used to field expedient positions. I never use a bipod, tripod, monopod, shooting sticks, or whatever, I use a sling. I never use a shooting chair, I sit in the dirt (I know. Eeeeeeeuuugghh! Gross!). __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 2, 2010, 07:30 PM	#13
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I tilt the steering column up to use as a brace, and set the window height as appropriate. A folded towel pads the glass. I believe in comfort. Otherwise, some sort of shooting table in the bed of a pickup seems reasonable.

March 2, 2010, 07:39 PM	#14
golfballshootr Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 185	If you have an old utility trailer, 2 wheel trailer about 8'-10' long, put a jack on each corner and two tables on top. Makes it sturdy, a place for you and a hunt partner and an elevated position to view from, especially the longer shots, you have a spotter. I don't have pics of mine, but the wife and I use it and it works great. Trailer was bought used for $150 and the jacks are about $30 each, but hey, its portable.

March 2, 2010, 08:15 PM	#15
BUZ Member Join Date: June 24, 2009 Posts: 28	I say get yourself a good portable bench, I hate laying on the ground for long periods of time.

March 2, 2010, 09:37 PM	#16
Singlesix1954 Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: Rural Ne Posts: 580	gkdir Hey you bent my ear! Got pics? Sounds worthy of study. I may want to try it out. I hunt a lot with handguns and this may be great for longshots. __________________ Luke 22:36 Single six 1954

March 2, 2010, 10:09 PM	#17
birdshot Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2008 Location: north platte nebraska Posts: 344	mechanics crawler i don't know if his idea is original or not but a buddy of mine took a mechanics crawler and using his ingenuity he fitted it with 20 inch bike tires. he propels himself along using his feet to push himself forward and never has to stand up.

March 3, 2010, 10:32 AM	#18
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 2,108	We've used several ideas.....one is long Harris bipod while sitting in a beach chair. Pretty comfortable being low to the ground, plenty of area around the chair to keep ammo, drink, spotting scope etc. When not using the bipod I prefer a camera tripod that has been fitted with a quick attach leather rest. One of the guys at work built this prairie dog trailer with swivel benches and rests.....pull it to your hunt, unhook and start shooting.

March 3, 2010, 10:57 AM	#19
rdmallory Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2009 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 953	Nice trailer. I use a portable table and chair. Too many snakes for me to lay on the ground. Doug

March 5, 2010, 11:58 PM	#20
Bones Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2010 Posts: 122	I've used a "Work Mate" portable bench/vise, and a folding stool. Also I will drape "camo" around the bench and me. __________________ READY on the "LEFT!"....READY on the "RIGHT!"...PULL!

March 7, 2010, 04:41 PM	#22
montana man Junior Member Join Date: January 12, 2010 Location: south east montana Posts: 3	Telescoping mono-pod or telescoping shooting stick. I have one that will adjust from the sitting all the way to standing postition. You can step onto the foot peg on it to firmly set it into the ground. It keeps you off the ground and also comes in handy for big game season.

March 8, 2010, 01:22 PM	#23
tyrajam Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 467	I like to be somewhat mobile. I have always used a pad to sit on and a bi-pod to shoot from. I have been thinking about taking my turkey vest since it has the back support, and I love the camera tripod idea. I would hate a bench, because I like to move quite a bit.

March 8, 2010, 02:04 PM	#24
robhof Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2007 Posts: 712	robhof Hey, XD did you forget about our(KY) big fat prairie dogs, also called ground hogs, gophers, ect...One of my wife's uncles has hunted from northern Tenn to central Ky for gophers for about 50 years, he had pic's of his trunk full of lil hogs. He had permission from over 50 farmers to eradicate as many as he could. Unfortunately his eyesight failed a few years back and put an end to hin shooting.