The Importance of Hunter Education

When most shooters think about prairie dog hunting, their minds go straight to rifles, scopes, and a pile of ammo. But ask any seasoned “dogger,” and they’ll tell you—success in the field often comes down to the gear you bring besides your firearm. From hearing protection and shooting mats to portable benches and wind gauges, these extras can transform a hot, dusty day into an efficient and enjoyable hunt. In this article, we’ll cover the must-have ancillary gear that keeps you shooting comfortably and accurately all day long. And if you’re looking for deep dives into the best rifles, optics, and cartridges for prairie dog hunting, be sure to check out the full Prairie Dog Rifle, Optics & Ammo Guide from StepOutside.org. By Bob Robb

Comfort and Communication in the Field

There are several items besides rifles, ammo, and optics that will make your day afield more fun. First and foremost, you need to communicate with the others in your shooting party, so electronic hearing protection is the ticket. That way you keep your ears safe and are able to talk to everyone in the group. You will also want excellent eye protection, preferably those that sit off your face a little to prevent fogging, as much for the shooting part as for protection from the blowing grit, sand and dust you’ll find in prairie dog country.

Reading the Wind and Cleaning Your Rifle

A little wind gauge can help you dope the wind and get a feeling for where you have to hold the crosshairs for different wind speeds.  A complete gun cleaning kit with cleaning rods, brushes, jags and patches for each caliber is important, too. Taking a little time on high-volume shoots to clean the barrel several times a day is a good idea, as is completely cleaning the rifle at day’s end.

Get Low: Shooting Mats, Bipods, and Tripods

A real bonus is a shooting mat if you’re going to shoot prone, a common shooting position for prairie dogs. They’re also a little kinder on your butt if you like to shoot from the sitting position. While this isn’t optimum for long-range shooting, it’s great added practice for big-game hunting. I bring along bipod (which you’ll also need for prone shooting) or tripod shooting sticks and do quite a bit of firing from the sitting position, as it’s a position I find myself using a lot on spot-and-stalk hunts in the fall.

Portable Benches and Shooting Rests

On a really active town, you’ll often be set up in the same place for quite a bit of time, and this is where portable shooting benches are a great tool. These portable benches allow you to emulate your range's permanently installed sitting benchrests back home, greatly improve visibility and aid in accurate shooting. There are several on the market—some are mediocre, others pretty deluxe and some downright creative—and any one of them is better than shooting prone for an entire day. Another one of their benefits is that once you’ve worn out an area, the bench can be easily moved to the next viable spot. 

Sandbags, Rests, and Shooting Vises

For prone and bench shooting, you’re going to need a variety of sandbags and shooting bags. Squeezing a small sandbag under the buttstock while shooting prone (and with a bipod on the front end), allows you to make tiny elevation changes without fussing with your scope. Larger sandbags placed on the hood of a pickup, a boulder or a shooting bench add stability to the front of rifles not wearing a bipod and protect those rifles at the same time. Bench shooters also tend to favor shooting vises. They usually have some sort of protective material the fore-end will rest against, some swing side to side, and most will have some sort of knob arrangement for elevation adjustments.

Plan Like a Pro: Sun, Snacks, and Safety

In all likelihood you’ll also be out away from the conveniences of a human-populated town quite a ways, so be prepared for anything and everything. On hot summer days on the plains, the sun can be brutal. Protect yourself with a good hat, sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, lightweight pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. If it’s not too windy, setting up an umbrella or tarp so you can get out of the sun for a spell is worth its weight in gold. That’s where you can set up a couple of folding chairs and a cooler filled with ice, cold nonalcoholic beverages, and snacks. Folding chairs are perfect for spotters as well. Fill up your gas tank, have plenty of liquids and food, bring a basic first aid kit, some bug spray and rain gear and always watch the weather. One year in Wyoming my group was forced to make a run for it when a tornado sprang up seemingly out of nowhere and raced right towards us! That was almost as exciting as the shooting. On that particular day, four of us tallied how much ammo we had burned in the eight hours before we had to head for the hills. I still have my log book, and the number was 1,087. That’s impressive and why prairie dog shooting is something you should seriously consider giving a try.   Special thanks to StepOutside.org for providing this insightful content. You may also be interested in: https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/hunter-education/how-to-use-natural-clues-to-read-the-wind/ https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/small-game/prairie-dog-hunting-an-exciting-adventure-in-the-wild/

For hunters across the country, elk represent one of North America’s most majestic and sought-after big game species. Whether it’s the crisp mountain air of the Rockies or the dense forests of the East, the opportunity to hunt elk is a privilege made possible by decades of dedicated conservation efforts—funded largely by hunters and the firearms industry through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.

https://youtu.be/yjGRitBCQAI?si=jPEw93wq-j_V3AfU

A new video in the Partner with a Payer^® series highlights how Pittman-Robertson funds have contributed to the restoration and management of Pennsylvania’s elk herd, an effort that mirrors similar success stories across the country. Thanks to the excise taxes paid by firearms, ammunition and archery manufacturers—matched with the dollars spent on hunting licenses—state wildlife agencies have been able to restore elk populations, improve habitat and ensure that future generations will continue to have opportunities to experience these incredible animals.

Pennsylvania’s Elk Success Story

Elk were once abundant in Pennsylvania, but overhunting and habitat loss in the 1800s nearly wiped them out. Thanks to conservation funding, including Pittman-Robertson dollars, the state successfully reintroduced elk in the early 1900s. Today, Pennsylvania boasts a thriving herd of 1,400 to 1,500 elk, attracting hunters and wildlife enthusiasts alike. “With any wildlife species and especially our precious elk here in Pennsylvania, it's the primary economic driver of this whole area,” said David Gustafson, Director, Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management, Pennsylvania Game Commission. “The visitation, the tourism from elk helps engage the greater public with wildlife and our mission as an agency.” Each year, Pennsylvania hunters eagerly apply for a coveted elk tag, helping to manage the herd responsibly while also funding future conservation efforts. But the impact of Pittman-Robertson funding isn’t just limited to Pennsylvania—this funding model has helped restore elk herds across the country, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Western Plains.

How Hunters and Manufacturers Keep Conservation Thriving

Through the Pittman-Robertson Act, a 10-11% excise tax is placed on the sale of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, with those funds being directed to state wildlife agencies for conservation projects, habitat restoration, hunter education and shooting range development. Companies like Beretta USA, a long-time supporter of conservation efforts, recently sent a team to Pennsylvania to see firsthand how their contributions are being used to sustain the elk population. “Because of the Pittman-Robertson Act, they were able to fund the habitat for the reintroduction of elk. Now they actually have a huntable population,” said Joe Cunniffe, Brand Marketing Manager, Hunting, Beretta USA. “We cannot have places to go and spend time in the outdoors without the conservation efforts from the excise tax dollars,” added David Armistead, Manufacturing Manager, Beretta USA. The work doesn’t stop with elk—Pittman-Robertson funds support conservation for deer, waterfowl, upland birds and countless other game species. Whether you hunt elk in the mountains, whitetails in the Midwest or turkeys in the South, the dollars you spend on firearms, ammunition and licenses help sustain the future of hunting and wildlife conservation.

Why This Matters for Every Hunter

The next time you step into the field, remember that the very landscapes and wildlife populations we enjoy today exist because of a conservation funding model that hunters and industry have supported for decades. Pittman-Robertson funding is proof that hunters are the original conservationists and our continued support of this system ensures that elk and other wildlife will thrive for generations to come.

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You may also be interested in https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/explore-hunting/understanding-the-crucial-relationship-between-firearm-manufacturers-and-wildlife-conservation/ https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/hunter-education/archery-fuels-conservation-through-excise-taxes/

Bringing New Hunters into the Outdoors

Pennsylvania held its first Field to Fork rifle event at Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Stroudsburg, PA. Organized by the National Deer Association (NDA) and supported by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NSSF, this event provided a unique opportunity for adults from non-hunting backgrounds to experience deer hunting in a mentored setting.

This event was held in support of the NSSF's +One® Movement, which challenges hunters to become mentors, helping to secure the future of hunting and shooting sports. A Hunting Heritage Grant from the NSSF provided rifles for the participants. Additional support was provided by The Pennsylvania Game Commission and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

A First-Time Rifle Hunt for New Hunters

For many participants, this was their first time hunting with a rifle. Pennsylvania has a rich tradition of deer hunting and rifle season holds a special place in the state's outdoor culture. Expanding Field to Fork into the rifle season meant that more newcomers had the chance to learn, practice marksmanship and ultimately experience their first hunt in a controlled, educational environment.

The event took place at the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, a former agricultural farm and golf course now undergoing habitat restoration. With a focus on conservation and sustainable land management, this refuge serves as an ideal setting to demonstrate how responsible hunting supports wildlife populations and land stewardship.

More Than Just the Hunt

Field to Fork events go beyond simply teaching new hunters how to harvest a deer-they emphasize the ethics, values and skills necessary to become responsible members of the hunting community. Participants learn about safety, tracking, deer behavior and ethical shot placement. For some, this experience was a culmination of multiple mentored hunts, showcasing the persistence and dedication required to become a successful hunter.

[caption id="attachment_65566" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Field to Fork Mentor Keith Doyle in the blind with new hunter Nina.[/caption]

One participant, Nina, had attended several mentored hunts before but had yet to harvest a deer. Instead of giving up, she remained determined, continually learning from mentors and refining her skills. Her resilience reflects the true spirit of hunting-patience, perseverance and respect for the process.

[caption id="attachment_65569" align="aligncenter" width="600"] New hunter Justin with Field to Fork mentor and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Rep Matt Falteich.[/caption]

For another participant, Justin, the moment of taking his first deer was overwhelming. As soon as he made a successful shot, his mentor, Matt, stood up, cheered and embraced him-a moment of shared excitement that highlights the importance of mentorship in the hunting tradition. "That made it ten times better-sharing that with somebody," Justin said

Mentorship and Conservation: A Lasting Impact

Many participants in the Field to Fork program expressed interest in giving back by mentoring others. The value of a supportive hunting community was a recurring theme, as new hunters spoke about the confidence gained through hands-on learning with experienced mentors.

Additionally, the event reinforced the connection between hunting and conservation. Venison is not only a nutritious and sustainable food source, but responsible hunting also plays a critical role in maintaining balanced deer populations and healthy ecosystems. By participating in ethical hunting practices, new hunters become active contributors to conservation efforts.

A Path Forward for Hunting's Future

Programs like Field to Fork are vital in ensuring that hunting remains a strong and sustainable tradition. By removing barriers to entry-such as access to land, equipment and experienced mentors-these initiatives make hunting more accessible to a new generation.

For those in Pennsylvania looking to get involved in hunting, visit www.HuntDeerPA.com for more information on local programs and opportunities. To learn more about Field to Fork and how you can participate or support the program, visit National Deer Association's Field to Fork page.

Whether you're a seasoned hunter or someone looking for a way to get started, mentoring or participating in a Field to Fork event is a powerful way to contribute to the future of hunting. These experiences create lifelong hunters, strengthen conservation efforts and ensure that hunting remains a valued part of our outdoor heritage.

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