Arizonans: Boquillas Ranch info needed

Arizona Hunter · Member Joined: Jul 22, 2006 Posts: 275

Any of you Arizonans (or others) ever hunted the Boquillas Ranch for a prairie dog shoot?

I'm trying to plan ahead for this spring/summer.

This huge ranch (about 750,000 acres) is open to the public, but once inside the gate where should I go? I'm not asking for your personal "honey hole", but at least some help finding a good area.

And are there any places to avoid?

A personal email/message might be the best way to share any info, thanks.

Handloader

Registration is required before entering the ranch to hunt as well as getting a Ranch Vehicle Permit. This is all free of charge. Two places to register are in Seligman (east end across from the big motel) and at Pica Camp which is located between Seligman and Grand Canyon Caverns on old Route 66.

Either entry/permit point will direct you to good prairie dog shooting, although my preferred area lies N of Pica Camp some 12 miles. Just ask at the ranch house.

Boquillas was purchase by the Navajo Tribe awhile back and they are doing a fair good job of admininstration. Note that no ATVs are permitted on the property and violators are subject to fines and confiscation of ATVs. For many, this is a very good thing and eliminates some of the consistent problems hunters have with many ATV abusers.

Arizona Hunter · Member Joined: Jul 22, 2006 Posts: 275

Handloader, I thank you a thousand times. The Wave

I have driven to the Pica Camp area just to see were it was, but my wife and I were just passing through at the time.
Any idea when the p-dogs begin to poke their heads out of the holes? March, April? When they do I'm on the way! Drive

Thanks again!

minerfile

I've hunted there numerous times. They do a pretty good job of managing the ranch and the hunting opportunities are comendible for free hunting on private property. Everyone should thankful these kinds of opportunities. Remember Arizona has a season on prairie dogs, I think it closes mid March and doesn't reopen until June 15th.

Handloader

Arizona Hunter wrote:

Handloader, I thank you a thousand times. The Wave

I have driven to the Pica Camp area just to see were it was, but my wife and I were just passing through at the time.
Any idea when the p-dogs begin to poke their heads out of the holes? March, April? When they do I'm on the way! Drive

Thanks again!

Your welcome. When you get to the Pica Camp entrance off of Old 66, continue on about a mile and half. You will come to the second gate and that is the entrance and registration point. Stop at the ranch house after registering and ask for their latest information.

Prairie dogs abound throughout the Seligman area. Ranchers hate them, so, don't be skittish about asking locally -- you may find more of those rascals than you have ammo to shoot!

Just for fun, this past October we decided to take the Big Bores for prairie dogs. Among them: 458 Lott, 416 Rigby, 375 H&H and 45-70. We had two Lead Sleds and two shooting benches. This gave a whole new dimension to the game! And, yes, we connected with a few (on video) and, I am sure, buried a whole bunch more.

Have fun!! Smile