Posted: 2/22/2008 1:25:21 PM EDT
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I have already posted this in GD, but thought I would bounce it around here as well, in case some of you didn't see it in GD. And yes, I already read the previous post about shooting PD's. I don't see how anyone could afford $150/day/shooter just to shoot prairie rats!!!!! I used to hunt prarie dogs on on a friend of mine's land near the Rosebud reservation in Southwest SD, about 40 miles north of Valentine, NE. It was great shooting, but I called him to go out there this Spring and he and his neighbors have poisioned all of their dogs recently and I don't have any other leads (other than Indian Reservations) at this time. I was hoping to shoot on some non-reservation land as I have heard quite a few horror stories involving theft toward hunters and questionable Indian guides when hunting on Indian land...not to mentioned the added expense involved with dealing with the reservations. I was hoping some of you might have some suggestions for me in regard to shooting in western NE or SD for free. Money is very tight and this would be the only vacation for me this year. I reload my own ammo with a cheap-o single stage reloader, so the only main expense would be gas and $25/night for a hotel in some small town somewhere, which is affordable for me at this time. Also, I was looking online and some of these people want $300/day to shoot prarie dogs! YIKES!!!! I know there are ranchers out there that don't mind if you shoot on their land. I was wondering if any of you knew anyone I could get in touch with via telephone to maybe get permission to go out there and shoot on their land? Thanks, Joel |
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Yeah, the $150 a day, including Truck, shooting trailer, and housing was a friggin bargain. Too bad he appears to be done with all that. But, I still want to shoot pdogs, and hey, I'll gladly shoot at them for free even! So, long, round about way to say: Tag for info. |
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This all started for me when my 1st trip was to CO and a 12 hr drive each way. We went w/a person who said all we had to do was drive around and ask people to shoot. We wasted to 1st day looking for public land that was nonexisted for PDogs. The 2nd and 3rd days consisted of scouting/driving all day for literally less that 50 shots, between 5 of us. I wasted 5 days and spent easily over 300.00 on extra gas, extra lodging and the 2 extra days of driving. KS PDogs--I was very happy w/it cause we didnt have to drive to 12hrs to CO or 24hrs to WY or ND for unknown hunting, and the KS price included lodging, and a shooting platform (and his truck to pull it). If it was my land and I noticed that many interested people wanting to hunt my land, at some point I would seriously consider treating it as a business opportunity. Quite frankly, who would pass up bringing in $900-1500+ in CASH money each week for very little effort. I believe most of the the hunting in SD is on Indian reservations and requires a hunting fee, and an Indian "guide", all at your expense, plus you also need to stay in a hotel 10-30 min drive away. $ Comparison w/another popular hunting trip (Hog hunting): 2 days of SHOOTING prairie dogs in KS for 10+ hours each day w/lodging: $300.00 2 days of hog hunting w/lodging (and getting to fire ONE shot at ONE hog) 400.00-495.00. scottMO |
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I did some calling around and found that there are a few resources at my disposal. Apparently there is the Winner Chamber of Commerce, which keeps a list of landowners that allow shooters on their land. This is in Winner, SD. However, I don't know if these owners charge or if they just want shooters out there. The Cheyenne (SD), Lower Brule (SD), and Standing Rock (ND) reservations all allow shooting on certain landowners land (within the res.) if you pay the one time yearly fee of anywhere from $100 and up, depending on the res. They said that some of the landowners try to charge but THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED TO, according to the Indian broad I talked to at the Cheyenne Res' Game and Parks office. They also recommend to call the numbers of hte landowners listed to find out ahead of time if they are still accessible or if they don't want shooters anymore. The Indians are supposed to update their land owner "list", as well as the state updating the Winter Chamber of Commerce land owner list, but they don't always get to it as quickly as they would like. Anyway, I'll keep you updated. I can't believe it is so complicated to shoot dogs. They are supposed to be a pest, for Christ's sake! Joel |