First Chukar Outing

[aaronoto]

I don't usually hunt upland as I don't have a dog, but the duck action is slow and I love the east side of the state this time of year, so I decided to give it a shot.  Let me just say that everything that I read about Chukar hunting is true!!  As I was scrambling up the side of a canyon I couldn't help but think that the blaze orange would certainly help the search party locate my body after I tumble down this hill

It ended up being a nice walk, but I didn't see any birds.  I'm curious though, was I hunting the right kind of terrain?  It was steep, rocky and had sagebrush, cheatgrass, and water nearby.  I started at the top and hunted down into the draws.  Sounds like the correct recipe right?

Oh well, it was still a good time and the weather was good.  I don't think I'm addicted, but I'd certainly like the opportunity to blast a few Chukars at some point, although how I would have managed to pull a shot off in that terrain would probably be my next problem!

[NW-GSP]

Looks like the right kind of terrain to me but I have only hunted them once

[hambone]

Looks like chukar country to me 

[aaronoto]

I'm on the right path at least, thanks!

[Sportfury]

The problem with Chukar is that if you don't get above them they won't fly down they will run up and you will never have a chance at them. This is why most chukar hunters side hill hoping to catch the birds as they move across the hill especially if you don't have a dog. It is usually better to do this with at least two people. I like to have three people. The one at the top is a little forward of the others. If he bumps a bird then it will fly down past the other two. If one of the others bumps a bird and it runs up it will run into the other people above it and turn and fly down.

When working side canyons it is nice to have two people where you can work both sides just out or in the sage brush. If you are doing it by yourself do a zig zag down and look for the little buggars running out the side and up the hill. However, coming down on top of them they will usually fly out the bottom and around the corner of the bigger canyon that the side canyon goes into. If you bump them and see them do this look for rock slides or outcroppings that they might have flown to. If you do see them land remember that you have to get above them and when they land they will run up usually to a rock outcropping where they can see you. So to get above them you have to do it without them seeing you.

Having a dog is the best if you are alone or finding some buddies that want to go with you. Good luck to you.

[merkelman]

I'm on the right path at least, thanks!

...

[fluentvoo]

I don't usually hunt upland as I don't have a dog, but the duck action is slow and I love the east side of the state this time of year, so I decided to give it a shot.  Let me just say that everything that I read about Chukar hunting is true!!  As I was scrambling up the side of a canyon I couldn't help but think that the blaze orange would certainly help the search party locate my body after I tumble down this hill

It ended up being a nice walk, but I didn't see any birds.  I'm curious though, was I hunting the right kind of terrain?  It was steep, rocky and had sagebrush, cheatgrass, and water nearby.  I started at the top and hunted down into the draws.  Sounds like the correct recipe right?

Oh well, it was still a good time and the weather was good.  I don't think I'm addicted, but I'd certainly like the opportunity to blast a few Chukars at some point, although how I would have managed to pull a shot off in that terrain would probably be my next problem!

Very cool that you got out and made an attempt. Yes that looks like chukar country; did you see chukar poop on the ground while hiking? If not, the birds aren't in that area.

[Sportfury]

Very cool that you got out and made an attempt. Yes that looks like chukar country; did you see chukar poop on the ground while hiking? If not, the birds aren't in that area.

  There droppings look like a little pill (vitamin C size) with a white tip. Usually you will find it where they roost and you can tell if it is fresh and they have been in the area. They usually roost in the rock outcroppings at the top of a hill. In the morning when it is nice and quiet you can listen for them when they call as they get up.

[jackson7]

that is definitely the right terrain. chukar will usually sit at a certain elevation. once you find a covey try to hunt at that approximate elevation side crossing hills. take a pair of binoculars and glass outcroppings. may also invest in a chukar call. sometimes it works and other times not.

[jackson7]

ps when you find flats with a lot of grass, often it will be holding huns.

[aaronoto]

Thanks all for the tips!  I didn't see any Chukar poop, saw a ton of four legged critter poop though, game trails all over that hillside!  I'm thinking I ended up hunting an area that wasn't holding any birds.  I'll have to take the wife over for a weekend sometime so I don't have to make a long day out of it and i can do a little more exploring.  A lot of country to explore!

[merkelman]

This is from the other side of that mountain.

[aaronoto]

Nice set of antlers on that Chukar!

[Bmcox86]

If you wait till there's snow on the ground you will be able to tell if there's birds in the area quickly

[merkelman]

Yep. Could be quail chukar or Huns! Depending on the area of course. This happened to be a Hun in the snow. Good times!