Prairie Dog hunting questions

[tahtah]

Anyone ever prairie dog hunted? I have not but am very curious/interested in trying to set up a trip. I've been looking online a bit and watching some YouTube videos, but I'm not having a lot of luck finding specific answers.

What caliber is best for prairie dogs? I'm seeing 22-250, .17HMR & .223. This will be a new rifle for me and I think I'm leaning toward .223.
What states or locations are best for prairie dogs? I've seen TX, WY, SD, but I'm sure most any western state has them.
Public or private?
Guided or DYI?
What's the best time of year?

Other considerations?

Thx

 

[TN Song Dog]

@vonb

 

[Travis G.]

You can use anything but if your on a good town it can be a barrel burner so lean towards something fairly inexpensive. 223 is about perfect in my opinion. 17 hmr is nice but it's usually windy so can be problematic. I love shooting PDs but have the fun is trying to shoot them with different things in my opinion from .22 lr to .22-250 and seeing how far you can shoot.
I would imagine the easiest way to get started would be "semi guided" or pay to play situations.

 

[AT Hiker]

My opinion(s) as a non Praire dog hunter but frequent western hunter;

1.) Go for a .223. I've actually been looking at the new Ruger American 2. I think it's a 1:8 twist, comes threaded and is priced decent at $600-ish.
You can varmint hunt with it as well as kill deer sized game at realistic distances with a proper bullet (77 grain TMK).
2.) Call the states G&F agency and inquire about opportunities. You might get lucky and get a landowner contact list or public ground intel.
3.) Id look more into early summer or early fall. Rattlesnakes will be an issue but outside of those times you'll run into weather issues like snow. I also have no clue if those critters hibernate but I have seen them up into October.
4.) If you go guided I'd make a trip out of it. Take a friend or better half and visit the Black Hills or Yellowstone. * assuming you go SD/WY.