Prairie dawg shooting in CA?

[dwalker]

This time last week I was out at the Pawnee Grasslands on a ranch shooting prairie dogs. Man what a great time! Is there anywhere in CA that such fun can be had? Last week we were using 22WMR rifles _ I had a Magnum Research and my buddy a Volquartsen, instead of the usual .223 bolt gun/ARs. I hit a couple out past 300 yards, which is challenging. The rancher was super happy to have us out there because we are responsible folk who do not tear up his property and with the price of ammo not as many people have been helping to control the varmints. He said he had tried poison but it was fairly expensive, so we could shoot all the prairie dawgs we want anytime we want, and it looks like he will let us hunt antelope there in the fall.
Would love to find such a place in CA, but its probably illegal to kill the cute little prairie rats...

[sigstroker]

Wow, 300 yards. I have a cheap one that's a tack driver (shooting rubber bands at 30 yards, lol) but 300 yards must slow the bullets to almost nothing.

[dwalker]

Wow, 300 yards. I have a cheap one that's a tack driver (shooting rubber bands at 30 yards, lol) but 300 yards must slow the bullets to almost nothing.

We ranged the furthest hit at 330 yards. I was shooting Hornady 30gr Vmax, which apparently is pretty hot compared to the Fiocci 40GR I shot later in the day. 22WMR is nothing like 22LR...

[RandyD]

I have read that there are a few prairie dogs in some parts of Northern Arizona, and I have read conflicting reports that Colorado protects them. I have seen them in Eastern Utah as I drive to an annual prairie dog hunt in Wyoming. I have never heard of prairie dogs in California. The next best alternative is to go to Oregon or Surprise Valley area for ground squirrels.

[john myers]

gs

Alturas in northern ca has a bazillion ground squirrels
its a long drive for me but lots of fun
march april is the best time to catch them out of there burrows and after the alfalfa is mowed
just ask the farmers they are usually glad to get rid of them

[dwalker]

Thanks Randy!

IN some areas of CO there are specific species of prairie dogs being protected, but its all in Metro areas where you cant shoot them anyway, despite a big deal being made about "shooting them", the law is actually to prevent people from poisoning them. In a funny aside, the prairie dog problem in the metro areas has gotten so bad, and the cities are unable to issue airgun permits etc for people to control them, they cant poison them, etc, that they are actually putting in predator roosts around problem areas so the hawks and falcons will help to control the problem. This is of course failing miserably. The alternative is a sort of huge vacuum machine that sucks them out of thier holes for relocation, but I am sure someone somewhere is protesting the mental anguish being caused to the wee little grass rats.

[bigbearbear]

There is a 25th Annual Squirrel Roundup and Banquet coming up in Surprise Valley, sounds like you might want to give it a go.

Details here: http://www.surprisevalleychamber.com/events.htm

EDIT: Sorry just realized the date is past already. But I think you can still contact the farmers there and ask if they'll let you shoot.

[JAFGO]

Ground squirrels are the game in CA. Don't know of any PDs. Do some leg work and ask landowners for permission to shoot. Don't know where you are at, but I was successful some years ago finding two prime private property spots to shoot GS in Livermore. (no, I won't share the locations out of respect for the landowners)

I actually ran an ad in the local classifieds asking, as a responsible shooter, for permission to shoot GS in the Livermore area and had one positive response and he gave me a referral to another land owner plagued with GS. Great shooting, though due to the rolling hill terrain most shots were under 250 yards. I picked up my brass and any trash I found when there and would toss the GS carcasses in the back of the pickup to show the owner my success rate.

Be polite, respectful and dress neatly when approaching a landowner and you may find a place to shoot close to home. Just gotta do your homework.

[dwalker]

Thanks for the heads up! I will poke around and see what comes up.

[Fjold]

There are no prairie dogs in California, the closest are in south east Arizona and Utah.

Ground squirrels are the main varmint in California

We go to Wyoming for prairie dogs during our antelope/coyote hunts. My personal best on prairie dogs is 799 yards.

[Baeleron]

The last time I shot gophers was when I was 16, a long time ago. I was having a good time until I hit one with some kind of freak shot that basically flipped it out of its skin. I have no idea how it could happen, but it did. When I came up on it, it was trying to run away with its skin inside out. I never hunted gophers again.