Prairie Dogs

John/az2 · August 29, 1999, 09:56 PM

I went out this Saturday for a few hours to hunt prairie dogs...

I found that they have a good eye on you at about 150 yards and take the dive between 100 and 150 yards.

Shooting them ain't no piece of cake!

I had my .223 and had a couple of close shots, but not the results I desired.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

------------------
John/az

"The middle of the road between the extremes of good and evil, is evil. When freedom is at stake, your silence is not golden, it's yellow..." RKBA!

http://www.countdown9199.com

bergie · August 31, 1999, 07:48 PM

get a good scope, and practice long shots

B.

Art Eatman · August 31, 1999, 10:40 PM

Creates a lot of respect for those guys who kill those dogs at 400 yards and more, right?

Like you were told, get that gun driving tacks, and do a bunch of practicing. And maybe build a portable shooting table?

Challenges are more fun, right?

Art

John/az2 · September 1, 1999, 01:09 PM

That's right, Art!

Gotta go practice those long shots, Darn!

Currently, I have a Tasco 3-9x40.

Any other suggestions?

------------------
John/az

"The middle of the road between the extremes of good and evil, is evil. When freedom is at stake, your silence is not golden, it's yellow..." RKBA!

http://www.countdown9199.com

[This message has been edited by John/az2 (edited September 01, 1999).]

Bullmoose · September 18, 1999, 09:45 PM

I hope that I don't get flamed for this, but I really like shooting prairie dogs as I sit in my P/U using my Ruger 77 22 mag with a little 2.5-7x Weaver. I just relax out of the wind in my P/U and wait for the dogs to get settled and they come back up. I can get all kinds of shots from 60 yards on out to forever, but when the wind is blowing I really can't count on nailing one much past 150 yards (I really don't try much past this although my buddy does better than I do clear out to 200 with the little cartridge.) I am 65 years old and maybe that influences my eyesight a lot, but I really do not like using binoculers for locating them and an 18X or 20X scope on a 12 pound rifle for the shooting and trying to hold on one at 300-400 yards gets to be WORK. Guess that I am not a REAL varmit hunter, but I enjoy it and it helps control the little pests for my friends that own the property no matter what the gun or the distance, just the body count. Have fun, Jim
PS: anyone interested in a Ruger 22/250 with a 6-18X Redfield on it? (BG)

August 29, 1999, 09:56 PM	#1
John/az2 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 1999 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,729	I went out this Saturday for a few hours to hunt prairie dogs... I found that they have a good eye on you at about 150 yards and take the dive between 100 and 150 yards. Shooting them ain't no piece of cake! I had my .223 and had a couple of close shots, but not the results I desired. Any advice is greatly appreciated! ------------------ John/az "The middle of the road between the extremes of good and evil, is evil. When freedom is at stake, your silence is not golden, it's yellow..." RKBA! http://www.countdown9199.com

August 31, 1999, 07:48 PM	#2
bergie Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 1999 Posts: 567	get a good scope, and practice long shots B.

August 31, 1999, 10:40 PM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Creates a lot of respect for those guys who kill those dogs at 400 yards and more, right? Like you were told, get that gun driving tacks, and do a bunch of practicing. And maybe build a portable shooting table? Challenges are more fun, right? Art

September 1, 1999, 01:09 PM	#4
John/az2 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 1999 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,729	That's right, Art! Gotta go practice those long shots, Darn! Currently, I have a Tasco 3-9x40. Any other suggestions? ------------------ John/az "The middle of the road between the extremes of good and evil, is evil. When freedom is at stake, your silence is not golden, it's yellow..." RKBA! http://www.countdown9199.com [This message has been edited by John/az2 (edited September 01, 1999).]

September 18, 1999, 09:45 PM	#5
Bullmoose Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 1999 Location: Placentia,CA,USA Posts: 143	I hope that I don't get flamed for this, but I really like shooting prairie dogs as I sit in my P/U using my Ruger 77 22 mag with a little 2.5-7x Weaver. I just relax out of the wind in my P/U and wait for the dogs to get settled and they come back up. I can get all kinds of shots from 60 yards on out to forever, but when the wind is blowing I really can't count on nailing one much past 150 yards (I really don't try much past this although my buddy does better than I do clear out to 200 with the little cartridge.) I am 65 years old and maybe that influences my eyesight a lot, but I really do not like using binoculers for locating them and an 18X or 20X scope on a 12 pound rifle for the shooting and trying to hold on one at 300-400 yards gets to be WORK. Guess that I am not a REAL varmit hunter, but I enjoy it and it helps control the little pests for my friends that own the property no matter what the gun or the distance, just the body count. Have fun, Jim PS: anyone interested in a Ruger 22/250 with a 6-18X Redfield on it? (BG)