Any Chukar experts?

[Camo]

I spent last weekend targeting Chuckar for the first time, I am hooked but I think there is more to it than aimlessly hiking up the steepest stuff you can find. Chuckar country appears to be very vast and like most game species, not all of the country is going to hold birds. Any tips as to what type of terrain to target or at least look for, (ie: less sage/more grass, benches/flats as opposed to steep hillsides). Is it simply a matter of the more ground you cover the closer you will get to jumping a covey? Or do you rely on hearing them and then going after them. Do these birds roost in the rocks, or do they like the protection it provides? It also seems that they will travel great distances to water as opposed to Quail which will stay in the general proximity of deciduous trees and moisture. Any theories would be greatly appreciated.

[mossback91]

I notice them in rocky areas alot and I like to come in on htemf rom above because they will fly down the hill and then run back up it and you can get them again from top instead of hiking up at them. in the winter I notice them on benches in the sage brush but I am fairly novice and I use a dog

[popeshawnpaul]

They are everywhere.  I listen for them and then try and get on top of them.  I've never found much rhyme or reason to them.

[high country]

They are everywhere.  I listen for them and then try and get on top of them.  I've never found much rhyme or reason to them.

x2

a good dog and a power bar helps too

[fluentvoo]

Here's my 
-best numbers seem to be on slopes that have water down below, like the sides and draws of the columbia, saddle mountains above crab creek, yakima r., etc. I have seen them in places without water below, but the numbers always seemed better above the creeks and rivers.
-when starting in the morning, mid elevation produces more than rimrock elevations. as the day progresses, the higher they seem to be. afternoon to evening, i work the top flatter area, to about 100 or so yards down from where the ground starts to flatten out.
-if the cheat grass isn't growing yet, they seem to be closer to grassy puffs and where grasses and plants have gone to seed, as opposed to only sage, dirt and rock.
-snow is great, you can see the scratchings on the ground, and follow the covey prints up the hillside.
-they do seem to hang out around rock crops as well.

-look for poop on the ground. it's real easy to spot, and if you aren't seeing it, prolly not many chuks around.

[Professor Chaos]

usually this time of year they will be on the north facing slopes.  As the winter progresses they will move to the South facing slopes to get more sun.
steep and rocky country with springs in the draws or water at the bottom is as good a bet as anything. 

[Bigshooter]

I like tops of ridges with grass and rocks no sage.  If there is water near by and its hot out its even better.  Also walk down the ridges, those little *censored*s always fly down hill.  One more thing when they flush hold low or you will be shooting over the top of them all day.

[Camo]

Thanks everyone, this is good info. I will see if I can put some of this to use after my goose hunt Sat. morning.

[Wacenturion]

In my opinion the best chukar hunting is when you get snow, especially the first one or two.  Birds are lower and hold better....not to mention all the tracks.

[fluentvoo]

Just an observation to maybe help get ya on more birds. First 2 weekends out, all the birds had seeds in the crops, but this past weekend, stuffed with cheatgrass.

[teal101]

Second the snow hunting.  Had some of my best chukar hunts when the snow flys.  They tend to get off the rocks and in the lower elevations just below the rocks.

Earlier before the snow try hunting with a partner.  Put one up on the rock slope and one just up from the bottom.  It tends to "trap" the chukars in between you and gets them to flush.  My favorite is to chase em uphill though...young and dumb.  If i see one running up the rocks infront of me you damn well better believe im running up the slop after him

Chukar are probably my favorite bird to hunt...now I want to go badly.

[Professor Chaos]

hmmm... thats interesting... 

found a lot of covies this past weekend.  Most at mid-elevation on the slope and in the draws.  with the warm weather they seem to be off the tops and closer to good water. 
I heard from a biologist that something like 80% + of the chukars killed in Oregon, are killed in January when the snows push them down.