1st Prairie dog shoot - What to bring/expect.

J

joeranger

New member
OK, I custom built my AR, I bought a 17hmr for in close, I bought a jeep, found an Indian guide to take me into the rosebud, SD tribal lands. I booked a TeePee at the Salt Camp B & B.
Any advice on what to bring for a one day shoot?
The Guide is $75/day, do they just stand around and wait? We will be on tribal lands so he has to be within sight of me.
Any advice for a 1st timer so that I don't embarrass myself?
 
Give the guide a spotting scope. He can help you by telling you if you missed or need to adjust your sight picture/scope settings. BEHAVE. The indigenous people don't want hassles; they have plenty already. Shoot well; they like good stories.
 
+1 the post above. Always be courteous. Take LOTS of ammo, cleaning kit, Breakfree CLP (or your personal preference of lube), spotting scope and rangefinder (if you have one or know someone you can borrow it from). As you're breaking in the new rifle, be sure you clean it often (with a single-piece rod, no screw-together) to be sure it gets broken in properly. Let the barrel cool down now and then.

#1 importance: Make sure your rig is sighted in prior to arrival. No point in wasting ammo trying to dust'em while spinning the knobs trying to get on target. I'm reminded of a retired Marine Gunny Sgt personal friend who I offered to let him zero his .308 before heating out to Wyoming (from IL) on his first Antelope hunt. He told me, "Naw, it's been zero'd already, last year."

He spooked 4 with missed shots before finally hitting 1... then had to chase it over a mile, putting 3 more rounds in the poor beast before finally stopping it. When he got back he said, "I'll take you up on that sight-in offer at your range next year!"

Enjoy your hunt! Can be a lot of fun.
 
Thanks, that's exactly the kind of advice I am looking for. I don't want to be disrespectful, nor do I want to be taken for a ride because I am from out of town.
All advice appreciated.
 
Long range rifle, medium range rifle, a 22LR rifle, binoculars, a good spotting scope, a shooting mat, water jugs, a sunshade, gloves. If you want to do it the most efficient way, take lots of ammo, powder, primers, bullets and a portable progressive press. My friends and I used to take along a Lee Turret press, but I would probably take along my Lee Pro 1000 now. May not be the best, but it will load ammo at night a lot faster than an RCBS single-stage press, and it's a lot more portable than a Dillon.
 
Might throw in a water jug, some samwiches, jerky, etc. Also, grab one of those $9.00 velcro-on brass catchers with a zipper on the bottom. Maybe I'm getting old, but I really don't enjoy crawling around pcking up brass as much as I used to.... Wait a minute- I've never liked that very much!

Also, remember to tip the guide at the end of the run, show respect, appreciation, and leave the hunting area as clean or cleaner than you found it.

OH! AND TAKE A CAMERA! Record the layout, scenery, the guide, carnage, etc. Photos are great for pulling in new shooters to the sport.
 
Since you have already booked a guide, why not contact him directly & ask him for advice. Although I usually hunt alone, I have used a number of guides in several countries over the years. I have always found hunting guides friendly & full of information regarding what to take, as this is their job & they rely on repeat bookings and word of mouth to remain in business. I have never had a guide suggest you bring reloading equipment along for a one day hunt- as has been suggested in a previous post.
 
Sunscreen and as someone suggested water. Prairie dog towns are out in the open and there is no protection from the sun. Hats and a large umbrella or some other form of shade is nice to relax in while you let your rifles cool down or do some cleaning on them. I don't know how much stuff your guide provides but I'd talk to him as well to see what he thinks you might need.
 
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