Looking for guidance for a p-dog hunt

[nkyshooter]

Hello guys ...

I would like to fulfill a life long dream of my aging father. He has wanted to go on a prairie dog hunt for many years and as a result of his age/health, I am approaching the end of the window of opportunity for him to realize this dream.

I'm looking for some guidance/advice on how to cost effectively maximize chances of success. Guides seem to be a great way to maximize success (I think anyway) but at $400-$450/day per hunter, this is challenging for us when all the other costs are factored in (travel, ammo, licenses, etc, etc)

So - I have heard much good about p-dog hunting in South Dakota but am open to other locations ... we'll most likely be driving in from Ohio so we're trying to combine a decent blend of minimized drive time with good quality, cost effective hunting. That said, we're not married to the idea of South Dakota and are open to other good options.

Please offer any advice guidance you can on the subject? If we need to just 'bite the bullet' and hire a guide - let us know that ... if hiring a guide is throwing money away, please let us know that ... if you were in my shoes trying to do what I'm trying to do and get in 2-3 days of good hunting, how would you go about it.

Much thanks in advance from myself and an old retired preacher (my Dad) ...

Tim

 

[wyowinchester]

There is no license fee in WY. If you have access to a public land maps...Xmaps... check out Google Earth and compare the two.
If you want to shoot dogs with out all the home work, pay for it.
A friend of mine https://www.guidefitter.com/wyomingsfinestoutfitters guides in WY. Don't know if there is any openings or the cost, but you can check him out.

 

[Timnterra]

I have a very good friend that is a rancher in South Dakota who offers p-dog hunting to a few folks a year. He is a full time rancher so I think his style is simi-guided, meaning he shows you where the dog towns are and let's you have at them. He also has a bunk house with kitchen on the property so you wouldn't have to drive an hour into town every evening and spend an hour driving back out every morning, and you could bring food and prepare your own meals to save the restaurant cost. I think his prices are very reasonable compared to the quotes you mentioned. I'll send you a pm and if you would like more info you can contact him. His ranch is also pretty cool, it was one of the film locations for "Dances With Wolves" and he has some interesting stories to tell about that. I hope you and your dad find a good place to go regardless. And bring lots of ammo, you could easily shoot 300-500 rounds a day.

 

[huntaredlab]

Most outfitters I have used over the last 2 decades have kicked up their daily fees to about $800 per. This is for the most part All Inclusive. The only reason they charge $800 is because they can't charge $900 per. An outfitter is going to be one of the easiest way to get access to the remaining prairie dog colonies. The poisoning effort in the region has been quite effective. It is not so easy to locate or gain access as it was 15 years ago. If the cost is considered too high, save for an additional year and go. It is rewarding even if you only get to go once.

 

[DonT]

Since the guide I had previously used in CO raised his price to $350/day, I switched to the Rosebud Reservation in SD. $100 for a license and $75-$100 a day for a guide seems reasonable. Salt Creek Cabins is the only place to stay on the rez but Charlie Moe has decent prices. The Rosebud Casino is another option for a bed. The tribe website has a listing of guides. There was plenty of dogs last year and I'll try again in a few weeks. The guides don't provide benches though.

 

[toasty]

You don't need a guide in SD or WY, all you need is a good set of maps. Head to the national grasslands in SD and find a town and start shooting. SD puts of a book that has maps and information about where to hunt in it. I went there for vacation last year and had great shoots, took a couple hours to find a town and then had to stop because my barrels got too hot. You're not going to get 500 rounds a day like with a guide, but you can get a couple hundred rounds a day.

In WY, bind BLM land with pdogs on it and start shooting, make sure you don't shoot from the roads in WY.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Since the guide I had previously used in CO raised his price to $350/day, I switched to the Rosebud Reservation in SD. $100 for a license and $75-$100 a day for a guide seems reasonable. Salt Creek Cabins is the only place to stay on the rez but Charlie Moe has decent prices. The Rosebud Casino is another option for a bed. The tribe website has a listing of guides. There was plenty of dogs last year and I'll try again in a few weeks. The guides don't provide benches though.

Did you have any troubles with the native americans in that part of the country. I lived in western SD in the 70's and early 80's and there was still a lot of friction.

 

[DonT]

I didn't notice any friction. Everyone seemed open and friendly. Of course I was spending money!

 

[budlight]

AS a 30 plus year PD hunter........ I've never paid for a hunt and have been offered pay to help out.

South Dakota

 

[Predator 22]

Do not pay for shooting Prarie dogs! If someone wants paid for you to help them with there pest problem let them continue to have the problem. They are disgusting, crop/property damaging maggots. You are helping the property owner! Don't let them tell you otherwise. There are people all across Colorado that will gladly let you shoot to your hearts content, and not charge you!