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Old November 22, 1999, 11:27 PM   #1
SEshooter
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Join Date: November 5, 1999
Posts: 11
Some friends and I are really interested in Varmit hunting. Praire Dogs are of special interest. But as we don't have them here in Alabama, we where wondering where the closest place would be that would offer some PD hunting. Thanks for any info or suggestions.
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Old November 23, 1999, 03:46 PM   #2
Art Eatman
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Great Plains states. The Dakotas, eastern Montana & Wyoming. Maybe Nebraska and eastern Colorado.

Unless you really have the time to do a lot of driving, take up coyote-calling. It's a lot of fun, and quite challenging--not to mention good for the quail.
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Old November 23, 1999, 11:11 PM   #3
Long Path
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Art, if we're going to take up varmint-hunting for the quail, I can recommend no finer boon to your local quail population than to thin out every stray housecat in the area. They are HARD on the coveys.

(Feral) Housecats are harder to kill than they look, believe it or not-- a .22 WMRF is suggested medicine, with Hornets and .222s and .223s being better still. I've found that #2 high-brass 12 ga. is an excellent killer on 20 lb toms at 25 yards.

Although it can be done with .22 L.R. R.F., it takes a careful ear-shot, or a good neck-shot, to be sure you put it down. Mere cranial shots can riccochet off very easily, and shoulder shots tend to send 'em running.

Feral cats are a real pest to the semi-rural neighbors, too, who have problems with the toms raping their housecats, and the whole lot of them ripping into their garbage and fighting over the domestic cats' food.
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Old November 25, 1999, 12:19 AM   #4
Art Eatman
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I've taken more than one putty-tat from a deer-stand, possibly messing up a chance at a deer.

At one time, the state of Wisconsin law was well publicized that all feral housecats be shot on sight. A study done there by their fish/game department alleged that one house cat eats some 100 songbirds per year. They further estimated a farm/ranch/feral housecat population, statewide, of one million.

A .243 up the south end of a northbound feral cat is, er, devastating. Gratifyingly so.

A leftover cooked dove or quail wired to a bush, surrounded by a sprinkling of bulk catnip available from your local Hoggly Woggly or pet store, is good bait. It works on mountain lions, also.

, Art
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