August is National Shooting Sports Month, a time when many new shooters are introduced to the fun of rifle, shotgun, and pistol shooting. To help serve America’s many new gun owners, Winchester offers an online information site for first-time ammunition and firearms buyers as well as those just getting started in the shooting sports and hunting. Winchester’s New Shooters Site has many helpful articles plus a series of informative videos.
Winchester’s New Shooters Site also links to the NSSF’s WHERE-To-SHOOT Resource, the internet’s most comprehensive listing of gun ranges. The Where-to-Shoot section makes finding a local range easy. Simply input your location and max desired distance, and the site will generate a list of nearby indoor and outdoor ranges with a Google map.
When shooting at long range, two heads (and two sets of eyes) can be better than one. Teaming up with a buddy who acts as a spotter can speed up your long-range learning process. You can focus 100% on the shot, while your buddy calls the wind and spots your hits and misses.
The NSSF has created a short video that shows how shooter and spotter can work as a team. In the video, the NSSF’s Dave Miles works with Rod Ryan, owner of Storm Mountain Training Center in Elk Garden, WV. As the video shows, team-work can pay off — both during target training sessions and when you’re attempting a long shot on a hunt. Working as a two-person team divides the responsibilities, allowing the shooter to concentrate fully on breaking the perfect shot.
The spotter’s job is to watch the conditions and inform the shooter of needed wind corrections. The shooter can dial windage into his scope, or hold off if he has a suitable reticle. As Rod Ryan explains: “The most important part is for the shooter to be relaxed and… pay attention to nothing more than the shot itself.” The spotter calls the wind, gives the information to the shooter, thus allowing the shooter to concentrate on proper aim, gun handling, and trigger squeeze. Rod says: “The concept is that the spotter does all the looking, seeing and the calculations for [the shooter].”
Spotter Can Call Corrections After Missed Shots
The spotter’s ability to see misses can be as important as his role as a wind-caller. Rod explains: “If you shoot and hit, that’s great. But if you shoot and miss, since the recoil pulse of the firearm is hitting your shoulder pretty good, you’re not going to be able to see where you missed the target. The spotter [can] see exactly where you missed, so I’ll have exactly an idea of how many [inches/mils it takes] to give you a quick secondary call so you can get [back on target].”
+ONE Program to Encourage New Shooters
August is National Shooting Sports Month. As part of this effort, the NSSF encourages firearms owners to take one novice to the range this month. This +ONE Movement will help strengthen the ranks of shooters, which, in turn, can help protect our Second Amendment freedoms. The NSSF states: “If just one in three of America’s recreational shooters adds one new person to the shooting sports, we’ll secure a strong future for generations to come. So be the one. For all the thrills and excitement recreational shooting has given you, join the +ONE movement and invite someone to the range today. Share your experience on social media.”
The +ONE campaign seeks to build the ranks of shooters. The NSSF says: “If just one in three of America’s recreational shooters adds one new person to the shooting sports, we’ll secure a strong future for generations to come.” Learn more at LetsGoShooting.org.
As part of the +ONE Movement, the NSSF encourages all participants to practice gun safety and proper firearms handling and storage practices. This video covers basic gun safety procedures:
SHARE THESE 10 SAFETY TIPS WITH +ONE INVITEES
The NSSF has created a list of TEN Rules of Firearms Safety. While you’re at the shooting range or anywhere you handle a firearm, safety ALWAYS comes first. Here are the 10 Key Rules of Firearms Safety. NOTE: The first four rules are the most important.
With fall approaching soon, hunting season is right around the corner. Long-range hunters may want to add Shooter’s Bible Guide to Rifle Ballistics (2nd Edition, 2022) to their reference library. Written by Dr. Wayne van Zwoll, this 264-page resource focuses on the basic principles of ballistics. While the book concentrates on the many factors that affect bullet trajectories, the book also includes chapters on everything from rifle design to bullet construction and handloading. And there are many helpful tips for long-range hunters.
Gunsmith and long-range shooting school instructor Darrell Holland recommends the book highly. This updated Second Addition was released in July 2022, so it is still quite current. Darrell tells us: “Friend and noted author Wayne van Zwoll has authored another fine book on long range shooting. Wayne is a great shot (probably one of the best sling shooters I’ve been around) and superb hunter in his own right. We applaud his efforts to provide sound and accurate knowledge on long range hunting.” This book is available now for just $16.99 on Amazon, 43% off the $29.99 list price.
Van Zwoll is the “real deal” — an experienced outdoorsman, with serious shooting and writing “creds”. Over his career, Van Zwoll worked for the BLM, then Washington’s Department of Game. He worked as a photographer for the U.S. Forest Service, then became one of the Elk Foundation’s first field directors. He has guided hunters in Utah and Wyoming, and has hunted on five continents. Wayne has shot competitively since his days on the Michigan State University rifle team. He qualified for the final Olympic smallbore tryouts in 1972 and later won two state prone titles. For many years he conducted shooting seminars for Safari Club International (SCI). Wayne van Zwoll has authored 14 books, and written more than 2,000 articles for numerous magazines, including Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life. In 2006 he received the Jack Slack Outdoor Writer of the Year award. Wayne now serves as Special Projects Editor for Intermedia Outdoors.
A high ballistic coefficient helped a Creedmoor bullet slice stiff wind 250 yards to this Vaal Rhebok.
We’re two days into August. And guess what — August is officially National Shooting Sports Month, sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). This month, head to the range, and bring a newbie to introduce him or her to the sport. NSSF’s +ONE Movement encourages experienced shooters to mentor newcomers, so bring a friend to the range, teach firearms safety, and have fun together. More than 63 million adults and youth participate in target shooting sports, so have fun this month!
1. Rediscover Shooting
Haven’t shot in a while? Dust off your shooting gear. Always check to see if firearms are loaded when removing them from storage. And call an old shooting buddy or family member to join you.
2. Try a Drill or Competition
There are many ways to build shooting skills, but two of the most rewarding ways of self-improvement often come from timed drills, accuracy drills or competitions. Find a drill for you or a local pistol, rifle or shotgun competition. There many even be a multi-gun competition.
3. Take Your First Shots
Safety orientation, range rules, range officers… there are things you need to know about if you haven’t tried target shooting before. Learn about range safety and etiquette and consider taking an introductory class like First Shots.
4. Take a Date to the Range
Make it a date! Ask your spouse/partner to go target shooting with you. You’ll have a great time together. Don’t have someone to go with? Call the range and ask about shooting events and training classes.
5. Be a Mentor
The right teacher makes all the difference when learning a new activity. The +ONE initiative inspires experienced shooters and hunters to guide newcomers and novices on how to safely handle firearms and learn marksmanship skills.
6. Brush Up on Safety
Enroll in a firearm training course or review the rules of firearm safety. Responsible gun owners safely handle their firearms and securely store them when not in use. Check with your local retailer of range for in-person training opportunities.
7. Tune Up for Hunting Season
Hunting is fun and can provide the ability to harvest healthful food. A trip to a firearms retailer or range can help you prepare for hunting season. You can enroll in a hunter education course, find the right gear, and get your rifle sited properly for the fall hunting season.
8. Take Advantage of August Deals
Retailers and ranges will be offering specials during National Shooting Sports Month at thousands of events nationwide. Find a participating business near you to take advantage of these notable offers at ShootingSportsmonth.org.
9. Have A Fun Target Match with Friends
With pistols and rimfire rifles you can have fun shooting indoors, and many ranges are open after work. This is an opportunity to have funs with friends and co-workers. NSSF offers a variety of nice targets you can print out.
10. Share #LetsGoShooting with Friends and Social Media
#LetsGoShooting is the official theme of National Shooting Sports Month. Share your shooting experience on social media networds and encourage other to go to the range for fun, socializing, and training.
Whether you’re new to target shooting, a first-time gun owner or experienced, see what National Shooting Sports Month has to offer at your shooting range or firearm retailer. America’s firearm owners will find National Shooting Sports Month in August a great time to spend a day at the range enjoying their favorite target-shooting sports with friends and family members. It’s also a time for millions of first-time gun owners to check out all that the shooting sports have to offer.
The prone position (with sling) shown by two talented Service Rifle shooters. At top is Brandon Green, a multi-time U.S. National Highpower and Long Range Champion, who has also won the prestigious King’s Prize in the UK. Below is Tony Chow, a gifted match shooter. NOTE: Current Service Rifle rules allow the use of optics up to 4.5X.
Jay Christopherson, 2024 and 2020 Southwest Nationals F-Open Champion, is one of the nation’s best F-Class shooters. When shooting F-Class, Jay uses a SEB Mini front rest and a large rear sandbag to support his big 22-lb F-Open rifle. Though he loves F-Class, Jay has also been interested in Service Rifle competition where no external supports are allowed. When shooting Service Rifle you hold the rifle with your arms and a sling. Some Service Rifle competitions involve three position (Standing, kneeling/sitting, and prone), while others are prone only. Even in the prone position, the sling is a vital accessory. The USAMU video below shows how to rig your sling properly for use in the prone position.
Improving Prone Shooting with Help from Emil Praslick III
Jay dramatically improved his Service Rifle “hard-holding” technique by enlisting the help of Emil Praslick III, former U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) rifle coach. Emil’s guidance and advice resulted in an immediate increase in Jay’s scores on target, as recorded by his ShotMarker electronic target system. Jay noted: “These targets show the difference between hacking it on your own, and spending an hour with someone who knows what they are doing and can tell you that you are doing it wrong.” These targets show Jay’s “before and after” Service Rifle results shooting slung up prone at 600 yards:
Service Rifle, Prone with Sling at 600 Yards
Here is Jay’s target BEFORE training with Emil Praslick — a 194-3X with lots of vertical.
And here is Jay’s improved target AFTER putting Praslick’s advice to work — impressive 199-8X with significantly less vertical.
You can see on this second target much improved vertical. All 20 shots were in a vertical range much smaller than the vertical height of the 10-Ring. Had shot 16 not gone wide left, this would have been a 200. Shot 16 was OUT of the 10-Ring to the left, but note that vertically it has almost perfect elevation.
Jay stated: “I was pretty amazed at not only the difference on the target, but how much difference the changes Emil suggested made to how my hold felt. The entire feel was different and a ton less stress in my neck and arms compared to what I was feeling before. I was actually feeling pretty good about that 194 yesterday, because I hadn’t slung up in two years and that was my highest score (by one point) after doing some load fixing. But having someone explain what you are doing wrong and why makes a world of difference.
Tomorrow is the first day of August, the beginning of National Shooting Sports Month (NSSM). Each August, throughout the month, America’s shooters come together to celebrate our sport and get newcomers involved. To help grow the ranks of shooters, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) asks you to bring a new shooter to the range in August. That’s a good mission — adding to the ranks of shooters is the best way to preserve our Second Amendment rights.
This month, newcomers can take their first shots, and experienced shooters can invite someone new to the range or help an older shooter rediscover the fun of target shooting. This month-long event involves all the shooting sports — rifle, pistol, and shotgun.
Find Shooting Sports Events Near You
The NSSF’s ShootingSportsMonth.org website offers a comprehensive, searchable database. This lets you search by state, to find ranges, events, and sales promotions near you. Visit the NSSF online database of NSSM shooting events to find matches, clinics, training sessions, special sales — and much more.
Great FREE Targets for Fun at the Range
To promote National Shooting Sports Month, the NSSF offers 17 FREE Downloadable Targets. There are regular bullseyes, as well as Darts, Golf, and more. We really like the Billiards target and kids love the Water Balloons target. You can download all 17 targets for free, and then print them out, ideally with a color printer. Below are six of our favorite targets. Click HERE to download these six targets (3.5 mb ZIP).
What Shooters Can Do to Promote National Shooting Sports Month:
The NSSF says: “As shooters, you serve a critical role in the continued growth of gun ownership and shooting sports participation. We urge you to join us this August for National Shooting Sports Month.” There are a variety of ways you can help this August:
— Introduce a family member, friend, or group of friends to the shooting sports by taking them to a local range that’s hosting an event.
— Spread the word to family/friends and encourage them to get out to the range in August.
— Encourage the ranges and retailers near you to host an event this August and add them to the official events calendar at www.ShootingSportsMonth.org.
Find Shooting Ranges Throughout the USA
The NSSF offers a directory of shooting ranges online. Visit Wheretoshoot.org to get info on thousands of shooting ranges and facilities around the country. In addition, there is a FREE WheretoShoot Mobile App you can install on your phone. Versions are available for both Android and iOS (Apple) users.
Report from Brandon Green at Camp Perry
Brandon Green — a multi-time Nat’l High Power and Long Range Champion — recently completed a 4-Man Team Match at the CMP Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio. His team did well but Brandon is hoping to do better in individual competition. Brandon posted: “Now on to the Civilian Marksmanship Program National Rifle Matches. I just want to thank TJ Jones and Krieger Barrels for cutting hammer barrels and building a lights out upper receiver! I didn’t point it as well as I should have, but the rifle wasn’t the problem! Also a big thank you to ACME Rifles/ACME Machine for a new lower and engraving my signature on the side! How cool is that! And thank you to Jack Abrams and Loader Monkey LLC for the ammo! Hopefully I can hold a little harder tomorrow!”
Rifle Training Clinics
The Junior and Advanced Rifle Clinics are in full swing. If you want to learn the finer points of highpower competition this is a good place to start! Thank you to VFB, ACME Rifles, and Civilian Marksmanship Program for getting events like this together. Iron sharpens iron! I also want to thank Krieger Barrels, Creedmoor Sports, and Berger Bullets.
Video from CMP Range with Junior and Advanced Rifle Clinics in Progress
Winner of President’s Shoot-Off
Congratulations to MAJ Samuel Freeman, who was the top competitor in the 2026 President’s Shoot-off! Each year, the top 20 competitors of the President’s Rifle Match meet on the firing line for a 10-shot shoot-off to determine the overall winner. This is the second time MAJ Freeman will be bringing home the President’s Rifle Trophy. Congrats to Samuel.
The Tactical Hyve YouTube channel currently hosts over 1,100 videos! Here are three of our favorite Tactical Hyve videos focusing on pistol marksmanship. These videos cover basic essential techniques as well as advanced handgun skills used in competition. These videos feature highly-skilled handgun experts.
1. How to Aim a Pistol with Iron Sights or Red Dot
We recommend this video for persons training for a CCW permit, or who are getting started in pistol shooting competition. The video shows proper technique for using iron sights. In addition, it offers some important advice for shooting with Red Dots. Shooting with Red Dot sights can be easier than with iron sights because you only have to put the dot on the target, rather than align front blade with rear notch. But it does take some familiarization to get things right. And persons with astigmatism can have challenges with Red Dot sights.
2. Get Your Sights Back On Target Fast
This popular video covers a very important skill for both pistol competition and defensive handgun use — getting your sights back on target quickly. This informative video covers grip, sight picture, trigger control, and how to handle recoil and muzzle rise. If you’re considering action pistol or 3-gun matches, definitely watch this video.
3. Five Most Common Pistol Shooting Mistakes
In this video, Myles, the founder of Tactical Hyve, talks about the five most common pistol shooting mistakes he sees in classes and how to correct them. Many folks begin pistol shooting without a qualified instructor. Or they try to imitate what they see on TV. This can lead to new pistol shooters forming bad habits. This video helps handgunners correct those bad habits. This popular video has 1.9 million views.
It’s the height of summer now, just two weeks after the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4th. Will you head to the varmint fields this summer? Proper planning is key to a safe, satisfying, and productive varmint holiday. Definitely make a check-list of all the gear and supplies you need. Bring a variety of rifles if possible — you’ll need to switch off as one barrel gets hot, and the chambering that works best for your close shots may not be ideal for those longer shots out past 400 yards.
Here are some tips from our Forum members that can help you shoot more effectively, and avoid problems on your varmint hunt. Here’s one key tip: at your shooting station, put a strip of surveyor’s tape on a tall stake to show the wind direction. Then shoot in the direction the wind blows. This will minimize the effect of cross-winds.
This photo is from a Dan Eigen TV Show video featuring a P-Dog hunt.
Varmint Safari Planning, Equipment, and Shooting Advice
From PatchHound: “The gear you bring will make or break a trip out to Prairie Dog land. A lot has to do with where you going and how far you are from [civilization]. For starters, bring lots of water. It will be hot in Wyoming in a few more weeks but it don’t hurt to bring warm clothes in case it snows. It’s best to wear leather boots unless you’re real good at dodging cactus while walking around. Good sunscreen [and a wide-brimmed hat] will save the day too. [What you need to bring] really depends on whether you’re shooting on some friendly ranch or 100 miles in the middle of [a wilderness area]. Good survival gear is a good thing to have for the latter!”
From Stoner25mkiv: “I’d suggest an adjustable bipod if you are going to do any walking. A laser rangefinder is a huge asset. Have a fanny pack or backpack for extra ammo, water, bore-snake, etc. when you go on your walkabouts. We also take a couple pivoting benches, heavy movers’ pad/blanket, sandbags (Uncle Bud’s Bulls Bag) for shooting from near the vehicle. Boonie hat for blocking the sun, sun glasses, sunscreen. High leather boots.
From CTShooter: “The .204 [Ruger] is a laser beam and good to 400 yards easy. Forget the rimfire! Do you have a portable bench that pivots? Bring bipod, binocs. Bring a LOT of water. I have a milspec sniper shooter’s mat/drag bag with shoulder straps. It is good to carry everything when you want to wander off and shoot prone with bipod. Here’s a view through my 6BR in ND.”
From RJinTexas: “In most of the locations that we’ll be shooting we’ll usually set up a minimum of 200 yards from the edge of a major dog town. We’ll start by working over the close-in dogs and shooting our way out, some of these towns may run in excess of 500/600 yards deep. [A .204 Ruger] will work well out to 300/400 yards unless the wind is blowing hard. We classify a 10-mph crosswind as a very calm day and what makes it a little more challenging is that it is usually also gusting.”
From Wes (P1ZombieKiller): “[For my first PD trip] there are so many things I was not ready for. The one thing that I did bring (that no one told me about) was a canopy. I’m glad I did. Even though the weather was [near perfect], I know that sun can humble you real fast. With my pop-up canopy, I could shoot all day without getting killed by the sun. You had to tie the canopy down real well or the wind would blow it across the pasture.
We sat on shooting benches that pivot 360°, and are fast and easy to set up. Most all shots were 175-250 yards. I just felt comfortable at that range. It was more fun for me to be able to film the hits, and the camcorder I was using just did not get good video past 350 yards. The digital zoom distorted the image too much. I knew I would only get this one chance to film my first P-dog outing, and I wanted to get it on film for [posterity].”
Bring Multiple Rifles on Your Varmint Adventures
On our P-Dog adventures, we like to have multiple rifles — a .17 HMR for close work, then maybe a .20 Practical AR for 150-250 yards, then a larger caliber such as 22 BR, 6BRA, 6 Dasher or 6-6.5×47 for those long shots. The classic .22-250 is also a wickedly effective varmint cartridge.
We like to have a Rimfire varmint rig for the closer shots, inside 150 yards. The .17 HMR or .17 WSM are good choices. With a rimfire you save on ammo costs and you don’t waste precious centerfire barrel life. This video shows a successful Prairie Dog hunt with a .17 HMR. Watch and you’ll see hits out to 160 yards (00:50), proving the effective range of the 17 HMR cartridge. The host is shooting a Savage A17 semi-auto 17 HMR rifle in a Boyds laminated stock.
.17 WSM Rimfire in Franklin Armory F17-L
What’s the ultimate rimfire varmint rifle? An AR chambered for the .17 WSM could be the answer. Eric Mayer of Varminter.com states: “The Franklin Armory F17-L in .17 Winchester Super Magnum (WSM) has a lot of firsts. It is the first semi-automatic rifle in .17 WSM now available to the general public. It is the first gas-piston system, AR-15 rimfire rifle built in partnership between Franklin Armory and Osprey Defense.”
Eric has used the .17 WSM AR shooting ground squirrels, rock squirrels, prairie dogs, and rabbits. Eric notes: “The report of the .17 WSM is nowhere near as loud as most of the centerfire [varmint] cartridges. I found that when I shot the FA-17, it did not cause the other ground squirrels… to run for cover. The lack of recoil … allowed me to see right where I hit [and] if I happened to miss, [low recoil] made for quick corrections for wind, or distance.” READ Full Report
The .17 WSM is a much larger, more powerful round than the .17 HMR. See the size difference above.
.20 Practical (20-223 Rem) AR-Platform Varminter
Here is a .20 Practical built by Robert Whitley. Whitley’s Ultimate Prairie Dog Rifle (PDR) features a 24″ Bartlein 1:11″-twist cut-rifled barrel, DPMS side-charging upper, and a Jewell trigger. It is chambered in 20 Practical, a cartridge popularized by Warren “Fireball” Brookman.
This .20 Practical cartridge is simply the .223 Remington necked down to .204. You can use your existing .223 Rem brass — no special case-forming required! The 20 Practical is accurate, flat-shooting, and has almost no recoil. The advantage over the standard .223 Remington is that, grain for grain, the bullets have a higher BC and travel at a higher velocity for more dramatic effect on a small varmint. The ultra-low recoil allows you to easily see your hits, even without a muzzle brake. The 20 Practical, launching 40-grainers at about 3750 fps, shoots flatter than a .223 Rem with 55gr hollowpoints.
.204 Ruger AR-15 (Suppressed) for Cottontail Rabbit Hunting
As a varmint hunting tool, the .204 Ruger in an AR-15 is a versatile, worthy cartridge/rifle combo for the job. This video covers a cottontail rabbit hunt. The host states that “We were contacted by a farmer who was being slammed with cottontail rabbits eating out huge portions of his alfalfa fields.” This suppressed .204 Ruger AR-15 proved seriously effective on the rabbits, driving high-velocity rounds with impressive accuracy. See more details on the Varminter.com website.
.22 BR Savage Varminter — Accuracy on a Budget
This .22 BR Savage, with upgrades from Sharpshooter Supply, is the “pride and joy” of Forum member Maynard. Note the heavy-contour custom barrel with brake. That .22 BR cartridge is a very effective choice for varmint work, as the ground hog in the photo proves. The .22 BR and .22 Dasher are capable of outstanding accuracy with a large variety of bullets and powders. A .22 Dasher can rival the ballistics of a 6mmBR out to 500+ yards, but with reduced recoil.
Avid varmint hunter Bill White (aka “CT10Ring” in our Forum) concurs about the effectiveness of the .22 BR Cartridge: “.22 BR — My .22 BR is my first choice for most prairie dog missions. Accuracy is superb with necked-down 6mmBR Lapua brass — quarter-MOA and blazing fast. With the right twist rate, this chambering can shoot anything from 40gr FB bullets to 80gr VLDs. Load development is easy. Below is my .22 BR ammo for another varmint trip. I use 55gr Sierra BlitzKings with Varget in my 1:12″-twist Shilen-barreled rifle. 60gr Bergers are very accurate with a fairly flat trajectory for useful distances.”
6mm Dasher for Voldoc’s 2024 Prairie Dog Safari
Respected Forum member Voldoc has a long thread about his 2024 Prairie Dog Safari, his 20th trip of this kind. He reported: “After the 1st day of shooting with 30+ MPH wind, we settled down on a High Point, and set up the Benches the second day for a ‘Shooting Gallery’ of non-stop shooting. PDogs were in play from 125 to 1,000 yards.” Voldoc’s rifle features these components: Nesika J RBRP action, 1:12″-twist Krieger barrel chambered by Mike Bryant for the 6 Dasher, 2 oz. Jewell trigger, Thunder Beast Suppressor, Nightforce ATACR 7-35X FFP optic. He usually shoots 87gr V-Max bullets in annealed Lapua brass pushed to 3240 FPS by Vihtavuori N135 powder. To spot critters, Voldoc uses Vortex Fury 5000 AB Rangefinding Binoculars.
More Power — 6-6.5×47 Lapua for Longer Range Varmint Shots
Soon after Lapua released the 6.5×47 cartridge, wildcatters recognized the potential of a necked-down 6mm version of the case. The 6-6.5×47 has emerged as a great, do-it-all cartridge that performs well in High Power competition, 600- and 1000-yard benchrest, and PRS tactical matches. But the 6-6.5×47 is not just for paper-punching. An efficient cartridge with great inherent accuracy, the 6-6.5×47 can be an excellent, flat-shooting, long-range varmint round. Here we feature Stan Stewart’s BAT-actioned 6-6.5×47 varminter. Fitted with a Krieger 1:10″ barrel, Stan’s rifle excels with a wide variety of varmint bullets. Whether driving 70-grainers at 3700 fps, or pushing the Berger 88gr High-BC FB bullet at 3400 fps, this 6-6.5×47 delivers half-MOA (or better) accuracy, in a well-balanced, easy-handling rifle. He has developed very accurate loads with Varget, Vihtavuori N550, and Reloder 15.
Six Tips for Novice Long Range Varmint Hunters
1. Take twice as much ammo you think you may need. The fields could be particularly rich, or, because of wind or other variables, you may have far more misses than expected.
2. When possible, set up with the wind at your back (or, alternatively, directly ahead). This will minimize the effect of cross-winds. Set up a stake with a ribbon to show wind direction.
3. Bring at least two rifles. Ideally one would be a low-recoil rifle with cheaper components for the closer shots. Then bring a rifle with higher-BC bullets for longer shots where wind is a bigger factor.
4. Check the weather before you head out. Prairie dogs like sunshine and calm conditions. If a cloudy, very blustery day is predicted, considering staying in town and cleaning the rifles.
5. Bring plenty of water on a trip. An adult male should be drinking at least 64 ounces of water (or other liquid) every day — more if it’s very hot or you are sweating a lot.
6. Preferably always hunt with a companion. If you do go out solo, have a Garmin inReach SatComm/GPS for emergencies if there is no cell coverage in your location.
+ONE Program to Encourage New Shooters
Van Zwoll is the “real deal” — an experienced outdoorsman, with serious shooting and writing “creds”. Over his career, Van Zwoll worked for the BLM, then Washington’s Department of Game. He worked as a photographer for the U.S. Forest Service, then became one of the Elk Foundation’s first field directors. He has guided hunters in Utah and Wyoming, and has hunted on five continents. Wayne has shot competitively since his days on the Michigan State University rifle team. He qualified for the final Olympic smallbore tryouts in 1972 and later won two state prone titles. For many years he conducted shooting seminars for Safari Club International (SCI). Wayne van Zwoll has authored 14 books, and written more than 2,000 articles for numerous magazines, including Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life. In 2006 he received the Jack Slack Outdoor Writer of the Year award. Wayne now serves as Special Projects Editor for Intermedia Outdoors.
From Wes (P1ZombieKiller): “[For my first PD trip] there are so many things I was not ready for. The one thing that I did bring (that no one told me about) was a canopy. I’m glad I did. Even though the weather was [near perfect], I know that sun can humble you real fast. With my pop-up canopy, I could shoot all day without getting killed by the sun. You had to tie the canopy down real well or the wind would blow it across the pasture.
Respected Forum member Voldoc has a long thread about his 
