Prairie Dog Rita Blanca National Grasslands

Can you hunt prairie dogs on the Rita Blanca Grasslands? Can anyone speak from experience hunting them on the grasslands? Also, what does prairie dog taste like?

I don't know if you can shoot them out there but I did one time skin a prairie dog with the intention of eating it. If you can get past the smell you are one hungry son of a gun!

I like the direction this thread is heading… someone pop in with a prairie dog culinary experience

We shot them on the Rita Blanca back 2003-2006 time frame not much left of one after the 40 grain v max blew it up.

Best way to handle em.

They can carry the plague, handle carefully.

Not sure if your allowed to hunt them there.

Think the plague wiped out a bunch a few years ago but no first hand experience

I was there in 2016 for an Antelope hunt. Was encouraged to shoot P. D.’s recreationally. I was not willing. But, there were plenty there had I been of the mind to do so.

I have never seen so many in one location in my life, I was hunting larger game but got caught watching the PD town go crazy.

I have never seen so many in one location in my life, I was hunting larger game at the Rita, but got caught watching the PD town go crazy.

Yes the fleas on prairie dogs can carry the bubonic plague. There were two huge prairie dog towns on the Cimmaron National Grassland. After a day hunting quail around one the towns we saw a sign that stated the plague was confirmed to be in that prairie dog town and all but wiped it out and to be cautious. Kinda creeped me out at the time. After that I think I would cook and eat dirt before I ate a prairie dog.

I've only messed with em a couple of times years ago, and they
were covered with fleas, more so than any other animal I've ever
seen. I sure wouldn't ever never ever touch one again, or walk
around where they've been. Those fleas can cover up your legs
and bite you a hundred times before you ever know they're on you

Yes, you can shoot them on the grasslands. We did for a few years in a row. However, just a couple years ago plague came through and nearly decimated the population. It seems to take quite sometime for the population to come back.

Not trying to over ride this post but I would like information on PD hunting in South Dakota if any one has information they are willing to pass on. Gonna try to kill 2 birds with one shot, gonna visit kin in the eastern part of SD then hunt pdogs else where in the state. Thanks Daniel

nice