The targets now available worldwide run the gamut from prairie dogs and groundhogs in North America to rabbits and small feral animals in New Zealand to jackals in South Africa. Unquestionably, going on a varmint shoot is the best possible practice for shooting at big game animals, as it presents the same problems one encounters when shooting big game - shooting at angles of elevation and depression, wind drift, heat mirage, range estimation and bullet drop. Anyone who can consistently hit prairie dogs at 250 yards can easily hit a mule deer or antelope at 300 yards or an elk at 350 yards. With all that in mind, here's a glance at some of the high-quality varmint shoots being offered these days in various parts of the world.
US West: An oufitter in Montana by the name of High Caliber Hunts is the Cadillac of varmint outfitters. Partners Dave Kidd and Glen Nepil offer all-inclusive three-day prairie dog shoots for groups of six or more hunters at $1,500 per person during July and August. The shoots take place primarily on private land out of customized rigs with special rifle rests. Clients stay in a very comfortable lodge and eat wonderful food. This is the guiding service the shooting industry uses when it wants the best available arrangements.
If you are really serious about prairie dog shooting and want to get an in-depth, highly technical education about the subject, you should attend the annual Prairie Dog Conference. It moves from year to year, and this year will be held on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It's a kind of grand rendezvous, consisting of 2 1/2 days of intensive shooting, learning from industry reps and expert shooters,........(continued)
