Prairie Dog Research

When the limit of birds is off being plucked and the worn out dogs are sleeping in their boxes, we occasionally head to prairie dog town for observation and ballistic analysis. These are wary creatures and must be viewed from afar, sometimes 400+ yards, but it is the distance that makes this interesting. There is a machismo appeal to the awesome technology of today’s optics and rifles. The ability to put 55 grains of copper and lead on a 12″ target a quarter of a mile away is exhilarating. Whac-A-Mole for adults.

Not the Boulder, Colorado chapter of Peta.

Cooper Arms rifle in .17 Garin. The good stuff.

Heavy metal.

Prairie Dog Stew –

Ingredients

• 3 gallons water, divided
• 40 to 50 prairie dogs or equivalent of sewer rat meat,  de-boned and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 large white onion, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons ground red pepper
• 5 de arbol chile peppers
• 6 japones chile peppers, seeds removed
• 6 cups canned white or yellow hominy, drained
• 1/2 white onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 limes, juiced

Directions

1. In a large pot, bring 1 gallon water to a boil. Place dog pieces in the pot, reduce heat, and simmer 2 hours. Periodically skim off fat with a spoon. Drain water, reduce heat, and pour in a fresh gallon of water. Continue to simmer tripe for 2 hours; drain.
2. Pour remaining 1 gallon water into the pot with meat, and bring to a boil. Stir in garlic and 1 white onion. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour.
3. Preheat the broiler.
4. Arrange the de arbol chile peppers on a baking sheet, and broil about 2 minutes, just until they begin to scorch. Remove from heat, slit lengthwise, and remove seeds. In a blender or food processor, blend the de arbol chile peppers and japones chile peppers until very finely chopped. Mix into the pot, and continue cooking 2 hours over low heat.
5. Mix the hominy into the pot. Continue cooking 1 hour.
6. Toss the whole thing into the garbage because you shouldn’t eat diseased vermin.