South Dakota PD Safari

General discussion and information about the .204 Ruger.
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Joe O
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South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Joe O »

Just got home from a long trip to the Crow reservation in South Dakota.Shooting was great.Enjoyed shooting in the wind three out of 12 days.Cold days and warm days.Two rain days gave us time to visit Pierre and Mitchell(Cabelas).We hauled a 16' trailer with two UTVs and shot from them,every day.Being mobile gives more access to the dogs.Shot 4 guns;TC G2 20Ackley Bee,Ruger K1V 204,Savage LRPV 204,and a Rem/Hart 243 Ackley.The little 20 Ackley Bee impressed me and never got hot with the small powder charges,loaded with 32gr Nosler Blitz.The Ruger accounted for the most dogs,topped with a Hawke 6.5-20x42.Turns out it was the most practical scope for shooting PDs.My VX3 and Bushy 6500 tac required more movement to get a clear sight picture.I'm not a turret twister,so use the reticle and target size for hold off.The 20 AB had a Vortex with a dot.Worked well for me.I shot 1278 dogs and my partner shot over 2000.Pictures later next week,if I can get them up.We had a guide that worked hard and was reasonable.Access is the key.We shot
10 different fields,repeating one ranch 3 times and killed over 900 there.Had a ball.Left early because of a rear end problem with my cart(got stuck in a stream bed with a steep mud bank),So cut 3 more days of shooting.
Sth Oz Dan
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Sth Oz Dan »

Looking forward to the photos Joe.
Glad to hear the "rear end problem" was with the cart.
Hearing all these PD tales makes me wanna be on the other side of the world
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Joe O
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Joe O »

Sth Oz Dan wrote:Looking forward to the photos Joe.
Glad to hear the "rear end problem" was with the cart.
Hearing all these PD tales makes me wanna be on the other side of the world

My rearend was stuck for awhile as well.LOL You would love the shooting,.It's the most fun you can have with a rifle,IMO.
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Bodei
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Bodei »

Wondering what your idea of "reasonable" is regarding the cost of your guide? Does he have a website? I'm guessing you are recommending him. Sounds like a great trip, please get some pics posted!
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Joe O
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Joe O »

Bodei wrote:Wondering what your idea of "reasonable" is regarding the cost of your guide? Does he have a website? I'm guessing you are recommending him. Sounds like a great trip, please get some pics posted!

Prices vary among guides on that reservation (25-50 a day).John Bird,our guide is on the lower end.We were out there for over2 weeks,and my partner has used this guide for 8 years.He was $20 a day,but went up some, due to higher fuel costs.You will need to agree on a price as to the length of your trip,and cost per shooter per day.His name is John Bird,and I do have his phone number.He spotted for me on most of my shots,was on foot as I moved in my cart.He was worth every penny,plus the $50 tip after the hunt.License is $82 per Year.Casino Hotel is $50 per night all inclusive.
Can't seem to get pictures up.PM me your Email and/or Phone Number I will send a few,and call at best time you state.
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bow shot
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by bow shot »

$20 a day !!???????
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Joe O
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Joe O »

bow shot wrote:$20 a day !!???????

That was last year.He went to 25 this year.We bought his lunch each day (sandwich),paid him every day and gave hin a $50 bonus the last day.Total $350 for 12 days shooting,each.A bargain for what access he provided.A no hassle deal for us,and he opened and closed all the gates.
Mike
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Mike »

That sounds like a very good deal, Joe. I'm glad that you had a great trip.
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Bodei
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Bodei »

Wow, that IS reasonable. Even $50/day is pretty reasonable. I'm not sure if I want to go all the way to S.Dak, Wyoming is closer. I am more interested in camping out at or near a dog town and just getting a guide to put us on some good spots. I don't need them to stick around. I'll PM you when I am closer to deciding on when/where to go. Good info, thank you!
PS-Watched your vid and pics on the other site, you weren't kidding about the wind! Looks like 25-35 mph! Though I half-expected a skirmish line of Yankees to advance on you at any minute ;-)
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inKYfromSD
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by inKYfromSD »

JoeO, looks like you had a great time in my home state. That's a long time to be away from home but from the report you kept busy and entertained. Not much there to block the wind once it starts to blow. I took my .204, .223 AR, and a .243 early last fall. Wind was terrible but that's to be expected. The .20 cal bullets got blown around a lot past about 250 yards. The .243 with 70 Nos BT and 87 VMax's accounted for most of the kills. Did your .243 AI get much trigger time? Run into any snakes or coyotes? Curious to hear what you thought about my hometown (Pierre).
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Joe O
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Joe O »

inKYfromSD wrote:JoeO, looks like you had a great time in my home state. That's a long time to be away from home but from the report you kept busy and entertained. Not much there to block the wind once it starts to blow. I took my .204, .223 AR, and a .243 early last fall. Wind was terrible but that's to be expected. The .20 cal bullets got blown around a lot past about 250 yards. The .243 with 70 Nos BT and 87 VMax's accounted for most of the kills. Did emmyour .243 AI get much trigger time? Run into any snakes or coyotes? Curious to hear what you thought about my hometown (Pierre).
After two days of shooting,we had a rain day,and went to Pierre to kill time and check out the gun stores.My shooting partner had just joined the VHA after stoping at my house and reading one of the magazines,so I thought he would be interested in going to Hq.I'm not currently a member ,as I've been off and on for the past 20 years.He wasn't interested in going there,so went all the way back to Chamberland,poked around and ate a Buffalo Burger at Al's Oasis.I lover the topography,especiall along the river.There were only two small groups of shooters at the hotel during the two weeks we were there,and they shot fo no more than 3 days.Mostly Boats and fishermen working on Walleye.
We shot in high gusty winds with 204s and had a good day in cold weather 38* two mornings in a row.I didn't turn down any shots,and just had fun.I need to sort out a ammo problem with the 243AI.I shot 120 rounds 20 fireformed cases with 95gr SMKs and 100 virgin brass with 70 SBKs.I had five blown primers on the virgin brass,which all chambered normally.Load was H414 ,44.5gr which is .5 under pub max.I have a .270 neck,so all brass gets turned to .268 or less.I'll ned to pull remaining bullets to see if any charges are over.Loaded with a Lyman DPS 3,with each charge on the money.Had to tap the bolt open with a plastic hammer,and two of the cases wouldn't eject.Removed the bolt and had to apply pliers to remove them.They were stuck on the ejector plunger. Head brass flowed around the pin,locking
it in.I'll get it sorted out.
No snakes or Cyotes.Saw lots of Phesants,Antelope,Mule and Whitetail,Buffalo(fenced)one jackrabbit(partner shot),and a cotttontail.Pressurewashed my buggy and dropped it off at the shop to fix the rear suspension.As you know PD hunting on state land,doesn't open till June 15th.We only saw a party of two shooters in a pasture as we were heading to our location.
Bayou City Boy

Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Bayou City Boy »

Just for directional purposes for anyone who might be interested in locating a place to shoot, are you referring to the Crow Creek Lakota/Dakota/Santee Sioux Reservation in South Dakota?

The only Crow Reservation (for native Crow Indians) in the area is in south central Montana.

-BCB
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Joe O
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Joe O »

Bayou City Boy wrote:Just for directional purposes for anyone who might be interested in locating a place to shoot, are you referring to the Crow Creek Lakota/Dakota/Santee Sioux Reservation in South Dakota?

The only Crow Reservation (for native Crow Indians) in the area is in south central Montana.

-BCB
Didn't we go through this before,, on Go Go Varmint site??.Yes they are Sioux.Our guide's father was the last Chief of the Crow Creek Reservation in SD. :wall:
Bayou City Boy

Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Bayou City Boy »

Joe O wrote:
Bayou City Boy wrote:Just for directional purposes for anyone who might be interested in locating a place to shoot, are you referring to the Crow Creek Lakota/Dakota/Santee Sioux Reservation in South Dakota?

The only Crow Reservation (for native Crow Indians) in the area is in south central Montana.

-BCB
Didn't we go through this before,, on Go Go Varmint site??.Yes they are Sioux.Our guide's father was the last Chief of the Crow Creek Reservation in SD. :wall:
Yes we did "go through this before"........... You got the name of the reservation wrong twice...... Here and on GGVG.... Double..... :wall: :wall:

I'm just trying to help anyone who isn't familiar with South Dakota who tries to locate a Crow Indian reservation there to shoot PD's. Again....... The Crow Indian Reservation is in Montana in case you plan to post the same mis-information elsewhere......

I apologize if being correct bothers you. Tell the chief's son "Hi" for me the next time you see him. I'm sure he'll be glad to know he's Sioux and not Crow as you posted.

-BCB
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Joe O
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Re: South Dakota PD Safari

Post by Joe O »

Bayou City Boy wrote:
Joe O wrote:
Bayou City Boy wrote:Just for directional purposes for anyone who might be interested in locating a place to shoot, are you referring to the Crow Creek Lakota/Dakota/Santee Sioux Reservation in South Dakota?

The only Crow Reservation (for native Crow Indians) in the area is in south central Montana.

-BCB
Didn't we go through this before,, on Go Go Varmint site??.Yes they are Sioux.Our guide's father was the last Chief of the Crow Creek Reservation in SD. :wall:
Yes we did "go through this before"........... You got the name of the reservation wrong twice...... Here and on GGVG.... Double..... :wall: :wall:

I'm just trying to help anyone who isn't familiar with South Dakota who tries to locate a Crow Indian reservation there to shoot PD's. Again....... The Crow Indian Reservation is in Montana in case you plan to post the same mis-information elsewhere......

I apologize if being correct bothers you. Tell the chief's son "Hi" for me the next time you see him. I'm sure he'll be glad to know he's Sioux and not Crow as you posted.

BCB I never did make reference to Crow indians,only the Crow reservation in SD,not adding "Creek".No mention of Montana except from you.I am well aware that the Indians on the reservation are Sioux and Lakota.Stop breaking my balls!

-BCB
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