Prairie dogs

[jetpopt]

We have not seen them on our property, but there certainly are many in the area, as seen when walking by pastures and driving by smashed ones on the highway. They do not feel safe in places with tall grass or brush, and I hope they don’t get desperate enough to spread into such habitat.

That said, I’d like to be ready if it happens. My goal is that by next spring, I’ll be be good enough to quickly kill vermin. (I’m also figuring out what to buy for a second air rifle, plus a scope that works well with it. Gonna leave the 880 with iron sights as is, and I’ll keep it.)

I assume that .22 caliber pellets would do the job. Are .177 out of the picture, or is that doable? People have posted pics and videos of squirrels shot w/.177, but PDs are fatter. At least they stay on (or under) the ground instead of climbing up trees! They’re also not that scared of humans.

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Regarding the 880; slap a Barska on it(I think mine was $30)

Bottle cap accuracy on mine @ 50yrd and comes with 11mm dovetail mounts.

 

[woogie_man]

Having shot more than a few with .177, .22, .25, and .30 I would not go any lower than a .22 slug gun. If you can swing it I would go for a .25 or larger for prairie dogs. They can be quite tough critters, and you need to make sure you anchor them so they don't crawl down the hole and die.

 

[BigVitamin]

Having shot more than a few with .177, .22, .25, and .30 I would not go any lower than a .22 slug gun. If you can swing it I would go for a .25 or larger for prairie dogs. They can be quite tough critters, and you need to make sure you anchor them so they don't crawl down the hole and die.

Why would them crawling in the hole and dying matter?

 

[woogie_man]

Why would them crawling in the hole and dying matter?

Because if you are shooting something you should make sure it is dead and not suffering. Now that is not to say from time to time something happens, but you shouldn't be trying to just wound an animal.

 

[BigVitamin]

Ok, I see your point, thank you!

 

[jetpopt]

Regarding the 880; slap a Barska on it(I think mine was $30)
View attachment 368540
Bottle cap accuracy on mine @ 50yrd and comes with 11mm dovetail mounts.

I like it with the open sights and don’t want to install and remove a scope repeatedly. I actually thought of just buying another 880 or a 901 and putting the scope on that. The price makes it easy to do that, but I’d like the other gun to be a bit different. Also, I’d like the second gun to allow more than one shot before having to repump and reload. That’s why the Nova Freedom was of interest.

 

[jetpopt]

Having shot more than a few with .177, .22, .25, and .30 I would not go any lower than a .22 slug gun. If you can swing it I would go for a .25 or larger for prairie dogs. They can be quite tough critters, and you need to make sure you anchor them so they don't crawl down the hole and die.

I do have the option of using a .22 rimfire rifle, which is probably the most common gun used to kill PDs. It wouldn’t hurt to practice with that anyway. Thanks for the advice, though—especially since you’ve shot PDs with several calibers.

 

[Mr303]

Always use a weapon with enough ummph to kill not wound, within range a .25 or .30 cal air rifle will work but beyond 50 yds I only use 22 rimfire or more.
Killing is never honorable or to be celebrated.
(Let’s not worry about great shot placement or distance etc here [those acts are worthy of praise though.])
As hunters we should strive to kill game/pests quickly and effectively.