Help with Prairie dog equipment

[thumbs]

I plan to do some prairie dog hunting while in the west this summer. Never hunted them before.
What kind of rest are you guys using for your rifles? I will be in a fifth wheel so I do have limited space. Are you using some kind of folding bench or are shooting sticks fine? Money is an object and I really don't know if I will be able to hunt them again. I would like whatever I use to be as portable as possible and take up as little storage room as possible.
I am looking for the Ford Chevy setup not the Lexis variety. I want something that works without all the bells and whistles. If shooting sticks are fine that's fine also. I was told my shots will be 200 yards or so.

Time is running out so I would have to buy whatever it is at Cabela's since it's an hour away and I don't have time for mail order.

thanks for the help

 

[WI3Der]

Here are the two i use depending on if i can drive to the PD town. I have a 5 gallon pail with a seat that i carry my bags, ammo ect. in. Hope this helps. They are on sale also.

Cabela's: Caldwell® DeadShot® FieldPod™

Cabela's: Big Game Swivel Action Shooting Bench

 

[Joe King]

Proper use of a good quality military sling, or Harris Bipods.

 

[1tonpower]

Harris bipod with pivot is a good choice.. 200 yard shots a sitting position might prove to be fun.

 

[thumbs]

Thanks for the help guys. I got a chance to get to Cabela's and looked around for as many options as I could find that they had in stock. The key word is had in stock. I have a 9" bipod that may help Idono. Like I said this is my first pd hunt. I also wanted to get something as portable as possible and that I could use locally for groundhogs. I looked at the benches but they are to big and heavy. I don't have that kind of room I can dedicate to a shooting bench in the camper. I looked at the suggestions but they weren't in stock. I finally decided to get the Stony Creek Expedition tripod with the Tag Along attachment to help support the butt of the rifle. It's a compromise but I think it will work pretty well. I read the reviews and it rates pretty high. We will see. The big thing is it's about as small, light and handy as it gets. It can also be used as a mono pod or a bipod. No problem packing it or walking with it. I will be able to either sit, stand or use a chair with it. It's not a shooting bench but it holds the ar surprisingly well. Only time and the field will tell the story but I'll give it a try and hope for the best.

Hey thanks again guys.

 

[meatyrem]

Thanks for the help guys. I got a chance to get to Cabela's and looked around for as many options as I could find that they had in stock. The key word is had in stock. I have a 9" bipod that may help Idono. Like I said this is my first pd hunt. I also wanted to get something as portable as possible and that I could use locally for groundhogs. I looked at the benches but they are to big and heavy. I don't have that kind of room I can dedicate to a shooting bench in the camper. I looked at the suggestions but they weren't in stock. I finally decided to get the Stony Creek Expedition tripod with the Tag Along attachment to help support the butt of the rifle. It's a compromise but I think it will work pretty well. I read the reviews and it rates pretty high. We will see. The big thing is it's about as small, light and handy as it gets. It can also be used as a mono pod or a bipod. No problem packing it or walking with it. I will be able to either sit, stand or use a chair with it. It's not a shooting bench but it holds the ar surprisingly well. Only time and the field will tell the story but I'll give it a try and hope for the best.

Hey thanks again guys.

Shooting prone is fun too. Cheap carpet and cheap sand bag.

 

[1tonpower]

Just to clarify, I was talking about sitting unsupported or sling assisted. cross legged elbows to knees. When you get it right it's confertable and farly accurate.

 

[Nimrodmar10]

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Take a look at this sight:

portable shooting bench plans

I've been using benches like this for 30+ years. You can't get one any steadier than this and you can build it yourself, if you or one of your buddies can weld the pipe couplings to the plates.

Just screw the legs off for packing into the truck and screw them back on when you set up in the prairie dog town.

 

[thumbs]

Thumbs
Take a look at this sight:

portable shooting bench plans

I've been using benches like this for 30+ years. You can't get one any steadier than this and you can build it yourself, if you or one of your buddies can weld the pipe couplings to the plates.

Just screw the legs off for packing into the truck and screw them back on when you set up in the prairie dog town.

Thanks for the plans. My problem is with all the getting stuff together the last thing I thought about was a bench. I was originally going to go somewhere that had them but then it turns out to be way more than I can spend. Gotta fine private or public land. Anyway the problem is I thought about it to late. I just don't have the time to build one. I am hoping the tripod will work out.

A good sling is a great thing. Can't get much handier than that.

 

[meatyrem]

Thumbs
Take a look at this sight:

portable shooting bench plans

I've been using benches like this for 30+ years. You can't get one any steadier than this and you can build it yourself, if you or one of your buddies can weld the pipe couplings to the plates.

Just screw the legs off for packing into the truck and screw them back on when you set up in the prairie dog town.

Yep! I have one of those and it is awesome and sturdy too. Best money I spent.

 

[WildRose]

Shooting prone is fun too. Cheap carpet and cheap sand bag.

Definitely need to put a pad down out in front of the muzzle as well unless one has a very good side discharge brake. The dust signature and blowback can literally be blinding. A cheap tarp will do just fine.

 

[WildRose]

Thanks for the plans. My problem is with all the getting stuff together the last thing I thought about was a bench. I was originally going to go somewhere that had them but then it turns out to be way more than I can spend. Gotta fine private or public land. Anyway the problem is I thought about it to late. I just don't have the time to build one. I am hoping the tripod will work out.

A good sling is a great thing. Can't get much handier than that.

An aluminum surplus officer's cot makes a great above ground rest for prone or kneeling and keeps you low to the ground so as to not lett the little buggers know your exact location as easily.

If you can drive to the towns you can make a cheap/easy platform to lay across the bed of a pickup with a 36" wide full length piece of plywood and a 2x4 frame or you can use the tailgate as a platform and sit on a bucket.

 

[Nimrodmar10]

Thumbs
Any kind of shooting bench is better than trying to shoot off the sticks. I've got one word for you: Pricklypear. If you don't know what that is, goodle it. It's a cactus that covers most if not all of the prairie region of the U.S. If you're going to be shooting off your belly you better have a thick pad. And I won't even mention prairie rattlers.

If nothing else, buy you a small folding leg table or cut you a piece of plywood and buy a pair of the folding legs for about $20 and add them to the plywood. If all else fails you can shoot over your hood from sandbags, but put something on the hood to keep from burning the paint off. Shooting off the bipods sounds good, but trust me, it's not.

 

[Joe King]

Shooting off the bipods sounds good, but trust me, it's not.

Why not? I live in N. central Mt. (pretty much PD, gopher central) Bipods or sling is all I use, never saw the need for anything more. I've seen and used portable benches, but at the end of the day I was always left wondering why bother with it, just ends up being another piece of crap to load in the truck then unload afterwards. No offense just wondering why you think so, and stating my observations/conclusions.