Prairie dog hunting - need recommendations!

[ufg8r93]

Esteemed Grendel owners (some of you, anyway):

I've promised my seventh grader that if he gets straight As all year, I'll take him on a prairie dog hunt. So far, so good - so I need to book a hunt. Here's what I'm after - 3day/3 night hunt, combo PDs and yotes. Semi-guided is fine, but want lodging and food included. Not too picky about location (plenty of freq flier miles to spend). Would prefer the cost be less than $1500 for both of us (appears most places discount rates for kids, which is nice).

Any suggestions? The good ones appear to be filling up fast.

[bwaites]

Something I've always wanted to do, but never found the right circumstances.

Please keep us up to date on how it goes!

[Hafast]

I used this ranch 2 years ago and was very impressed with Gordon's service. Two of us nailed 700 prairie dosg in the 2 days we were there. Great food and lodging.

http://www.bossranch.com/new/hunting.htm

[Lead Chucker]

Esteemed Grendel owners (some of you, anyway):

I've promised my seventh grader that if he gets straight As all year, I'll take him on a prairie dog hunt. So far, so good - so I need to book a hunt. Here's what I'm after - 3day/3 night hunt, combo PDs and yotes. Semi-guided is fine, but want lodging and food included. Not too picky about location (plenty of freq flier miles to spend). Would prefer the cost be less than $1500 for both of us (appears most places discount rates for kids, which is nice).

Any suggestions? The good ones appear to be filling up fast.

WOW! I made straight A's this year too, can I go?
Thats awesome, good for both of you! Wish I had some info for you but I have always wanted to go myself. Had a buddy go last year somewhere and had a blast, shot a butt load of ammo and just had a great time! Have fun and enjoy it with your time and burn some powder!

[skyfish]

I will see what I can find for ranches that I have heard good things from people I know that have actually used them and liked. I think some are 150-250 a day, with room and board.

What equipment are you using? I have shot several with the Grendel, but by far the most with my 204 Ruger. It is my hands down favorite, better range than 223, shoots as flat as 22-250 with less recoil and powder. Uses small rifle primers. While I have shot over 500 rounds a day, usually with 3 people or so, I find I shoot about 100-200 rounds. We almost have one dedicated spotter with binos. Then one or two shooters. I like to keep it less than 400 yards. Some times you can wait ten minutes between shoots. I've also had prairie dogs almost 270 degrees around me and shoot 150 rounds as fast as I could load and acquire targets from 80-180 yards. (that cost me a barrel).

I keep within 400 yards for this reason. A 40 gr V-max(or 39 Blitz, Vmax is cheaper) zeroed at 200 yards, point blank to 260 or so. Only 4.5" low at 300, dog standing, I can aim at top and still easily hit body. I use 40(or 39)gr bullets for better wind drift. I use Kentucky windage to 400 and have great luck. I don't like to dial turrets on dogs, move to much. I've used 17's, didn't care for. Wind blew easily. I find I blink on a 22-250, I use a AR in 223 for second rifle when 204 is cooling. You'll have a great time, don't get caught up on equipment you don't have. I used a 257 Roberts for 4 years on dogs, pushing 75gr HP's. Still had lots of fun.

[Hafast]

The West Texas wind is what got me into the Grendel. There were times we had 35mph cross winds that required amazing amounts of hold off. Gordon pays a bounty on coyotes and we each got 1, mine at 450 yards and my partner got his at about 550 yards. The Grendel makes for a bunch less windage allowance.