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Posted: 11/27/2023 9:55:14 AM EDT
I've been invited out for a 2-day hunt.
plan on taking for myself 2 AR's & a Tikka SV in 223 . the AR's are a heavy 16 and a 20 inch Bull , need to figure out what's a good bullet for the critters. they say shots can be out to 1 K for myself i will try to keep everything under 700 and being my sweet spot 4 to 600 yds . I've been shooting a lot of the Midway blems 77 because they are 14.00 a hundred all of my rounds will be my hand loads , on scopes on the AR's Vortex PST gen 1&2 5/6X25 and the Tikka wears a Bushnell XRS all have good triggers mainly asking for any tips and one can give , never been on a prairie dog hunt so it should be fun with my Grandson & Son-in-law . the place we are going is below. Thanks for any replies TS2 Here's the place we are heading out to https://www.prairiehighlandslodge.com/prairie-dog-hunts-south-dakota/ |
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Posted: 11/27/2023 10:16:43 AM EDT
[#1]
That is going to be fun, especially if you can go out as a private group.
I haven’t done it for years (that GWOT thing got in the way for a couple of decades) but used to on private and public land in northern AZ. It looks like your shoot will be guided/sanctioned so you won’t have to scout out towns on your own. Hopefully you will submit an after action report! |
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Posted: 11/27/2023 10:35:58 AM EDT
[#2]
Talk to @ Pumpkinheaver
Him and a friend go every year to someplace West of Mo and spend a week slaying them. They take multiple rifles, a truck load of ammo, a table and other gear to set up all week and non-stop blasting. |
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MO, USA
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Posted: 11/27/2023 11:03:21 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Pumpkinheaver]
[#3]
I take a couple of 5.56/.223 ARs and a 22/250 every trip, sometimes I’ll take a .17 HMR.
77 OTM that you mention in your post will kill them but you won’t have any impressive air time or splat factor when you hit them. I suggest a 50-55 soft point, hollow point or tipped bullet, if I had to pick one bullet it would be the 53 Vmax. |
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MO, USA
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Posted: 11/27/2023 11:07:12 AM EDT
[#4]
A good range finder and binos are a necessity. The wind blows a significant amount of the time in South Dakota so you need to play the wind. A kestrel helps but is not a necessity.
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Posted: 11/27/2023 11:30:26 AM EDT
[#5]
Ive been out a few times and shot 40gr ballistic tip 22-250 or 50gr blitz king 223 out to 700 yds.
Good SPLAT effects. Most fun Ive had shooting! |
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USA
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Posted: 11/27/2023 11:55:01 AM EDT
[#6]
Bring a couple rifles to match your ammo selection.
16" barreled AR with a slower twist does amazing with some 45 or 50gr VMAXs. 24" HBAR AR with heavier bullets, 69 to 77gr, for the longer shots. And a .220 Swift with some mid-weight 55 and 60grs to really pop them at moderate distances. |
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USA
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Posted: 11/27/2023 2:35:46 PM EDT
[#7]
Shoot whatever your rifle will stabilize out that far. 77 gr pills means you prob have a 1:7 barrel. It is fun. Takes a big scope to nail them out that far. I used a 1.5-6x and felt underscoped at 200 yds. Your AR will prob work if it shots good.
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ON, CAN
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Posted: 11/27/2023 2:46:08 PM EDT
[#8]
'Loves me some varmint shootin'...
You're going to have a blast. I've done a few Colorado guided shoots.. They were all epic. 'Last few years it's been gophers in Saskatchewan. They're much smaller than PDs. but the numbers are extreme. I've gone through 1000 rounds over a couple of days. |
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Posted: 11/27/2023 3:13:24 PM EDT
[#9]
Find a town that hasn't been shot, kill them with a .22 pistol! I usually use my .17 WSM as ricochets are very limited with it, usually stay inside 200 yards.
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/27/2023 3:33:07 PM EDT
[#10]
Went years ago on a buddy's ranch in SW CO...a few years prior to that the "world championship prairie dog shoot" was held on his place - as he liked to say: "shoot all you want, we'll make more!" LOL
As a rancher, he hated the doggies...due to the holes and his cattle and also messing with his irrigation channels. I actually bought a Winchester Model 70 Heavy Varmint for this (it had a decent 20x scope on it), got a bipod and we went shooting! Anything under 200 yards was a "gimme" so we started going for doubles and the elusive triple! After 75 rounds I got tired of shooting...bolt-action and all...didn't have an AR at the time but that would've been the hot ticket then. The best time, however, was when the rancher's son and I took our 10-22 rifles out and walked the field "whack a mole" style...it vastly improved my shooting / reflexes! |
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Posted: 11/27/2023 3:52:40 PM EDT
[#11]
I hate the little fuckers too! Walking a town is a good way to rattlesnake hunt.
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Posted: 11/27/2023 5:03:47 PM EDT
[#12]
Bring a .22lr and a few bricks of hollow points. We always start with rimfires on a dog town before letting the centerfires bark.
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Posted: 11/27/2023 5:19:00 PM EDT
[#13]
Buddy, son and I go every summer to friends ranch in Colorado. We hunt a few of his buddies properties also.
We usually fire about 2000 rounds in 5 days. Shooting distances are normally around 200-400 yards. We do walk a few in at longer ranges.  Usually load up 50-55 grain soft points of some type. We use ar's, bolt 700 in 223 , and a 22-250 remington 700. The fun cant be beat. |
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Posted: 11/27/2023 6:32:27 PM EDT
[#14]
Hey Thanks for all of the replies , any other equipment
we might be needing ? the way i understand it when a aera. is shot out the guide will load every one up and go to another dog town , all meals and lodging is furnished . TS2 |
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Posted: 11/27/2023 6:46:36 PM EDT
[#15]
Rangefinder, binoculars, spotting scope, video scope, tripod, bipod, sunshade, blanket to lie on (not recommended), lots of water and some pocket meat. And ear plugs.
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ON, CAN
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Posted: 11/27/2023 6:52:20 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TargetShooter2: Hey Thanks for all of the replies , any other equipment we might be needing ? Sunscreen and a hat. Seriously... |
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Posted: 11/27/2023 9:14:50 PM EDT
[#17]
You will need a sturdy bench. Looks like they may provide one?
A bipod and rear bag. The soft squishy style of rear bag. GOOD optics, binos, range finder and scopes. You will be looking thru them for hours so a good test of your equipment. A few rifles so one can cool down as you blast with the other. Shell catcher if shooting an AR. 20rd mags for on the bench. 30s for walking around. Cleaning supplies. We would shoot 1k rounds per rifle in 3 days on a good trip. Its all day in the sun so hat, sun screen etc. Bring a Sharpie and cardboard for making signs.  Attached File Attached FileMake a little competition out of it! Its Fun! |
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MO, USA
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Posted: 11/27/2023 10:22:02 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TargetShooter2: Hey Thanks for all of the replies , any other equipment we might be needing ? the way i understand it when a aera. is shot out the guide will load every one up and go to another dog town , all meals and lodging is furnished . TS2 Do you know if your outfitter is providing a shooting bench? I’ve shot them off of tripods but a good stable bench is a much better tool. |
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MO, USA
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Posted: 11/27/2023 10:22:40 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Girlieman: Sunscreen and a hat. Seriously... Yes and lip balm, the prairie will dry you out!!! |
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IA, USA
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Posted: 11/27/2023 10:31:11 PM EDT
[#20]
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Posted: 11/27/2023 11:26:02 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Pumpkinheaver: Do you know if your outfitter is providing a shooting bench? I’ve shot them off of tripods but a good stable bench is a much better tool. Don't know just going on what i was told and the pics on their web-site , going to call them tomorrow , and get all the info i needed . TS2 |
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Posted: 11/27/2023 11:59:34 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By tornadochaser: Bring a .22lr and a few bricks of hollow points. We always start with rimfires on a dog town before letting the centerfires bark. This. My load out is as follows: Accurate 22 pistol 22 rifle 22 mag rifle AR15, I rarely bring two. But next trip I will probably bring a 223 and a 6 Arc. An accurate bolt gun 22-250, 243, 6.5 or 260. Your choice. We always end up having little pistol comps to see how far we can get a kill. After a couple thousand rounds are down range you look for more interesting or difficult shots. For bullets, in the ar my favorites are the 60 Vmax and the 55 Btip. In the bigger guns Btip or match ammo for the long shots. |
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Posted: 11/28/2023 12:02:35 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TargetShooter2: Hey Thanks for all of the replies , any other equipment we might be needing ? the way i understand it when a aera. is shot out the guide will load every one up and go to another dog town , all meals and lodging is furnished . TS2 Add a rear bag to your list. I take two in case I need to lift the rear for down hill shots. A good camera with a good lens. You can get some entertaining kill shots. |
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USA
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Posted: 11/28/2023 8:49:41 PM EDT
[#24]
Interested to hear how it goes, I have always wanted to go.
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OK, USA
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Posted: 12/1/2023 6:40:12 PM EDT
[#25]
Myself and a buddy did a two day prairie dog shoot years ago in South Dakota. We fired 3,500 rounds in two days. Longest hits were a bit over 600 yards with our Twenty Tactical AR's.
You need a nice optic on your gun, or you'll have horrible eye strain by the time you are done. You can't look through shitty glass for hours and hours at a time. Tony |
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Posted: 4/3/2024 9:00:16 PM EDT
[#26]
well the time is ticking , I'm down from 6 months to
a month and a half for our trip , all ammo has been loaded so I'm taking Ruger 1022 , AR's 223's & 308 a Savage bolt 308 & a Tikka SV in 223 308 loads 110 V max , 168 SMK , 175 SMK , 178 ELD 223 loads 52 SMK, 55 SPBT, 55 & 60 Vmax , 69 SMK , 77 SMK I've gone through the list that everyone shared and pretty much have everything that's been posted , I'm sure I will add something to the list before we leave . Thanks Again ... TS2   
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Posted: 4/5/2024 9:44:39 PM EDT
[#27]
Good load out. If you hit it right you will be ready for anything.
You may want to bring a small tripod for your range finder. A lot easier to laze a target and switch to the gun that way. The last shoot I did I actually took a recurve bow. I only got one with it but that counts. Enjoy! |
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