A mobile blind for prairie dog hunting?

chills1994 · 06-06-2006, 12:48 AM

Hey there everyone!

I'll be going on my very first prairie dog hunt next week, along with about 4 other guys, who have all gone before.

Everybody is going to be packing a .17 HMR. There might be one .22 Hornet and one .22-250 also.

Yeah, yeah....I know I have heard different and not so good things about the .17 HMR.

It looks like after 300 yards that little 17 grain bullet's trajectory and energy really drops off.

The main reason everybody in my crew likes the .17 HMR is because of the low report.

I bought a tall bipod for my Savage model 93. I'm thinking I'll try to do most of my shooting from a sitting (on a bucket) or a kneeling position.

I went to a fabric store today and they have two types of desert/tan camouflage material I think would be good for making a mobile blind out of. The fabric and some small diameter PVC pipe and fittings should do the trick.

I would think this would be a good way to get closer to the dog towns and increase my kill to shot ratio.

What do you all think?

I've read elsewhere that using a whistle is good for getting the prarie dogs' attention and for drawing them out of their holes.

Any other tips?

Thanks,

Chills

lefty o · 06-06-2006, 01:40 AM

i dont know yet myself, but i am going in a week and a half. my understanding is that they aren't the brightest critters, and you'll probably not need a blind.

alraicer · 06-06-2006, 01:52 PM

In my experiences you don't need a blind, I go with friends and we just wear jeans and t-shirts and the p-dogs still come out of their holes and don't seem to notice us.

Oxford · 06-06-2006, 07:10 PM

Don't know where you're hunting...but on a trip to Mount Rushmore (SD) we also drove about 90 miles southwest of there, on over to Wyoming to see Devil's Tower. On Federal Parkland roads leading there, and about a half mile short of getting to the awesome Devil's Tower, there was a large meadow along the road, and places for tourists to pull over and stop and view the unusual scene.

There must have been thousands if not millions of p dogs scurring in and out and all around watching us as we watched them. I would liked to have been allowed to legally unload on a few dozen of them.

Here's a link to view Devil's Tower...and to learn more about the P Dog colony just a short distance from the natural rock phenomenon.

http://www.outdoorplaces.com/Destina...vTow/dtnm3.htm

chills1994 · 06-07-2006, 11:39 AM

Thanks for the replies everyone. Just so happened that two guys in my IDPA SO class last saturday had just gone PD hunting. Just like you said, alraicer, they went in jeans and T-shirts. The one guy must have used a short bipod and said he wished he had elbow and knee pads. I'm assuming he shot from the prone position most of the time.

I've heard chiggers can be a problem, so I would rather not lay on the grass anyway. All the more I like my tall bipod by Caldwell. I think I'm going to bring a 5 gallon bucket along. I'll throw a kneeling pad/roll, a sitting pad, my mags, and a bunch of ammo in the bucket. When I find a good spot, I'll just unload the bucket, flip it upside down, put the pad on top of that, and blast away at the PD's.

It might have been this forum that I read about some PETA protestors trying to disrupt a PD hunt. They made a whole bunch of noise which actually brought more PD's out of their holes. So their whole plan backfired on them.

Yep, those PD's must not be too smart.

Dale · 06-07-2006, 04:00 PM

I don't know of anyone around here that uses a blind.

I know of some that take tables and chairs out in the middle of the city and the doggies will pop up one after another just out of curiosity.

They are naturally inquisitive and I know four guys that just got back from south of Grand Canyon area and they said they pitched their tents in the middle of a well populated are and just sat outside their tents in the camp chairs plinking them.

They reported over 150 killed in two days.

Fun little buggers to snipe.

BTW..a .17HMR is not a bad little round providing there isn't a lot of high crosswinds....in addition to the distance you already mentioned.

alraicer · 06-07-2006, 09:43 PM

Just got back from prarie dog hunting, it was a lot of fun like usual and I cann't wait until I get a .22-250 bolty for better long shots my Iron Sight AR isn't doing the trick and a .22WMR just isn't the best all around round for my area.

chills1994 · 06-08-2006, 12:11 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Sounds like actually using a blind may be counter productive. If they can't see you, then they can't be curious about you.

Unless I bring a whistle along, then they might be like "Where's that whistling noise coming from?" while they stand up for a better look.

06-06-2006, 12:48 AM	#1
chills1994 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3	A mobile blind for prairie dog hunting? Hey there everyone! I'll be going on my very first prairie dog hunt next week, along with about 4 other guys, who have all gone before. Everybody is going to be packing a .17 HMR. There might be one .22 Hornet and one .22-250 also. Yeah, yeah....I know I have heard different and not so good things about the .17 HMR. It looks like after 300 yards that little 17 grain bullet's trajectory and energy really drops off. The main reason everybody in my crew likes the .17 HMR is because of the low report. I bought a tall bipod for my Savage model 93. I'm thinking I'll try to do most of my shooting from a sitting (on a bucket) or a kneeling position. I went to a fabric store today and they have two types of desert/tan camouflage material I think would be good for making a mobile blind out of. The fabric and some small diameter PVC pipe and fittings should do the trick. I would think this would be a good way to get closer to the dog towns and increase my kill to shot ratio. What do you all think? I've read elsewhere that using a whistle is good for getting the prarie dogs' attention and for drawing them out of their holes. Any other tips? Thanks, Chills

06-06-2006, 07:10 PM	#4
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,110 Blog Entries: 4	Don't know where you're hunting...but on a trip to Mount Rushmore (SD) we also drove about 90 miles southwest of there, on over to Wyoming to see Devil's Tower. On Federal Parkland roads leading there, and about a half mile short of getting to the awesome Devil's Tower, there was a large meadow along the road, and places for tourists to pull over and stop and view the unusual scene. There must have been thousands if not millions of p dogs scurring in and out and all around watching us as we watched them. I would liked to have been allowed to legally unload on a few dozen of them. Here's a link to view Devil's Tower...and to learn more about the P Dog colony just a short distance from the natural rock phenomenon. http://www.outdoorplaces.com/Destina...vTow/dtnm3.htm __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right". Last edited by Oxford; 06-06-2006 at 07:23 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

06-07-2006, 04:00 PM	#6
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284	I don't know of anyone around here that uses a blind. I know of some that take tables and chairs out in the middle of the city and the doggies will pop up one after another just out of curiosity. They are naturally inquisitive and I know four guys that just got back from south of Grand Canyon area and they said they pitched their tents in the middle of a well populated are and just sat outside their tents in the camp chairs plinking them. They reported over 150 killed in two days. Fun little buggers to snipe. BTW..a .17HMR is not a bad little round providing there isn't a lot of high crosswinds....in addition to the distance you already mentioned. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me Last edited by Dale; 06-07-2006 at 04:02 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

06-06-2006, 01:40 AM	#2
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,111	i dont know yet myself, but i am going in a week and a half. my understanding is that they aren't the brightest critters, and you'll probably not need a blind.

06-06-2006, 01:52 PM	#3
alraicer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 134	In my experiences you don't need a blind, I go with friends and we just wear jeans and t-shirts and the p-dogs still come out of their holes and don't seem to notice us.

06-07-2006, 11:39 AM	#5
chills1994 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3	Thanks for the replies everyone. Just so happened that two guys in my IDPA SO class last saturday had just gone PD hunting. Just like you said, alraicer, they went in jeans and T-shirts. The one guy must have used a short bipod and said he wished he had elbow and knee pads. I'm assuming he shot from the prone position most of the time. I've heard chiggers can be a problem, so I would rather not lay on the grass anyway. All the more I like my tall bipod by Caldwell. I think I'm going to bring a 5 gallon bucket along. I'll throw a kneeling pad/roll, a sitting pad, my mags, and a bunch of ammo in the bucket. When I find a good spot, I'll just unload the bucket, flip it upside down, put the pad on top of that, and blast away at the PD's. It might have been this forum that I read about some PETA protestors trying to disrupt a PD hunt. They made a whole bunch of noise which actually brought more PD's out of their holes. So their whole plan backfired on them. Yep, those PD's must not be too smart.

06-07-2006, 09:43 PM	#7
alraicer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 134	Just got back from prarie dog hunting, it was a lot of fun like usual and I cann't wait until I get a .22-250 bolty for better long shots my Iron Sight AR isn't doing the trick and a .22WMR just isn't the best all around round for my area.

06-08-2006, 12:11 PM	#8
chills1994 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3	Thanks for the replies everyone. Sounds like actually using a blind may be counter productive. If they can't see you, then they can't be curious about you. Unless I bring a whistle along, then they might be like "Where's that whistling noise coming from?" while they stand up for a better look.