Prairie dog hunting

A couple of us are looking to book a trip for a hunt. Have never gone before, seems like South Dakota is a prime state for it. Does anyone have any recommendations of where, who, and what time to go?

The Helm family on lower Tongue River used to do Prairie dog hunts out of there bed and breakfast. They are about 20 miles south of Miles City Montana. If you can't find anything on them send me a PM and I will do some digging.

A friend of mine offers Prairie Dog Hunts but they quit for the time being because it's just to dry and he doesn't want to risk starting a wildfire .
Two Leggins Outfitters Hardin Mt

So is Montana the place to be to go after these guys?

Yes you could say that , Dave is busy and has nice accommodations for their clients .

Check with the Lower Brule Reservation in central SD they have a pile of dogs there not sure what the guide issue is if you decide to go send me a PM I’ll bring you up to speed on the local survival tips. LOL

When I was in SD in the mid 70's, I'd go to a ranch near the badlands. An indian owned the ranch and welcomed us to shoot prairie dogs. I would climb up on my jeep utility wagon and shoot from that one spot until I ran out of ammo. That was probably around 200 rounds. It was a lot of fun. I don't know if that's still available in that area, but man there were tons of prairie dogs there.

We go out to the Standing Rock Reservation on the Missouri river and shoot 100s of dogs daily. We set up the shooting bench in the back of the ranger, sit in the truck bed, and sit on a trailer with the beach umbrellas. The ranches that border the badlands are also a good place as they have a huge issue with the prairie dogs as you're not allowed to kill prairie dogs at all in the badlands. So if they poison or shoot a town out more move in from the badlands. Honestly anywhere west river is a pretty good spot but those are the only two spots I have actually seen.

Went p-dog hunting near Rose Bud one year...had a ball! Actually got tired of shooting. First time shooting a 50 BMG...wow!

I've got a couple honey holes, wild horses couldn't drag it outa me, But if you look up "walk in's", get them on a satalite map, scroll in real close, you can actually see the PD towns.

Thank guys, I have talked with Dave two leggings, what a guy!

I have shot the Fort Belknap Reservation in north central Montana twice. Once with my son when he was ten the second time with my bird hunting partner. That was twenty plus years ago. Both times we stayed in Zortman at the Buckhorn Cabins and Cafe. They were both great trips. Having said that I don't believe non reservation members are allowed to hunt at this time. You will have to check. Both trips we burned up a LOT of ammo, 17 Mach IV, 222, 6mm, 6mm AI, 22-250 were all put to good use. There are a lot of dog towns between Zortman and Malta once you get off the beaten path. Knocking on a few doors we've never been turned down. It's always good form to stop and thank the rancher when you are done shooting, always got us an invite back. Even got us a couple invites to come back in the fall and whack some antelope.

As for timing, we've found that the best time to go is the last week of May or first week of June. The pups will be just old enough to be venturing out of the dens - yet young enough to not know what's going on in the world. This translates into a lot of shooting. A lot. It isn't uncommon to see 3 (or more) little ones perched on the top of a mound. You settle your crosshairs on the one on the left and turn him into a red mist. The others just sit there wondering what just happened to "Bob". With your crosshairs now on the one on the right you send it and the critter explodes into several pieces. Yet the center pup just sits there looking left and right as if to say, "Well, isn't this an interesting turn of events. I wonder what is going on." Etc.

Seems like all he has left is later in the year July/august. I’ve read that tall grass may be a factor. Is that a thing?

Pdogs keep the grass mowed down, part of why ranchers hate them. I was laying prone calling on a town yesterday and could see pdogs 600 yds out fine. They are snake magnets though so keep your eyes and ears peeled.

I also shot prairie dogs in the zortman area. This is a great do it yourself shoot area! We camped in the campgrounds outside of Zortman, on the south end of the little Rockies. Lots of BLM ground there, also the little store in Zortman has a map of known Prairie dog towns they will give you. Late spring , early summer are best when the younger ones are out. Might just have to get over next spring for old times sake. I believe it is about 3 hrs north of Hardin.

p dog hunting is something I would like to do once in my life for sure.

Don't pay. Find any dog town (West of the big river) and knock on the door. They will let you shoot.

And I wouldn't call it "hunting". It's just shooting.

Lots of public grasslands West River that's open to the public maybe call the BLM in Ft Pierre and see what they can tell you.

Yes Dave is quite a character, he's a good friend of mine and yes there's places you can just go to then ask permission and like anywhere else if you got onto the wrong side of the fence so to speak it could get expensive .

Are prairie dogs good to eat?

What do they taste like?

Keith

I liked talking to Dave, super laid back, my kinda people. As a guide myself I don’t mind paying for local
Knowledge and hospitality. Seems like he’s got both.