Utah prairie dogs

So, my job takes me out to Vernal every couple of weeks and i couldn't help but notice how many prairie dogs there are out that way. I decided that one of these day i should take my .22 out there with me and do some plinking and maybe shoot a few dogs while i am at it. I had always thought prairie dogs were classified as varmints and had an open season. So the other day I stumbled accross an article about Utah prairie dogs on the Utah DWR website. Not only does Utah have season dates for shooting prairie dogs but there are actually some populations that cannot be hunted ever, one of which is the dogs out there by Vernal. Apparently they are "endangered" and serve as a main source of food for the black footed ferret which is almost extinct. I dont think many people know they cant be hunted because when i go out there collecting rocks (yes i'm a rock hound) there are small caliber casings everywhere.

I just wanted to pass this bit of info on so nobody makes the mistake i almost made.

Here's a link to the article: http://wildlife.utah.gov/news/06-03/prairie_dogs.php
There is also a map showing the locations of prairie dog populations on page 12 of the upland game game giude book: http://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/2008-09_upland_game/2008-09_upland_game.pdf
2,599
sneekeepete
Honestley I can't beleive that they labeled some of them endangered. They are nothing but problems on the farm. Horses fall into their holes and breaks legs and they really messed up irrigation until we swithed to the sprinkler systems. It really sucks when a tractor falls through on of their big tunnel systems too. Anywho at home they are everywhere and people try to make them extinct but have failed for years!
I guess if it helps those ferrets out wherever they are people shouldn't kill them. I just had no idea that their numbers were threatened at all. Interesting and good to know now. I guess I'll pass the word so people don't get themselves into trouble.
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79Ford
The way I understand it is as long as it's on private property you can shoot them any time of the year, unless it's the white tailed prairie dogs, or the Utah prairie dogs and then your just stuck with them. :>/
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sneekeepete
Ya that is why we are screwed lol! Most of what we have is the white tailed prairie dogs but I guess we'll just have to deal with them....
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one hunting fool
WITH LUCK YOU WILL GET A WOLF POPULATION TO EAT THEM ALL THEN JUST PLINK THE WOLVES :thumb
OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO YELL "LOOK OUT HE'S COMING RIGHT FOR YOU"
p.s. sorry about the caplock didn't look until after i typed it and i'm to lazy to retype. :-$
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