New hunter looking for Chukar

[fethrduster]

Take lots of water for the dogs, and make sure you are giving them breaks on a regular basis.  It's really easy to burn out a dog way too fast in that type of country.  If you rest them and give them plenty of water, you'll have a lot more dog on your hunt.

+1

[jackelope]

The responses to this thread are a little  a lot ridiculous. If they keep up I'll go ahead and clean it up and do some nuking. Let's not go there.

[runamuk]

JLS mentioned a couple terrain features to look for which is super helpful but if a person doesn't know what Rimrock is its sort of another thing to chase.  Or cheat grass to Eastside it's a known pain in the dogs ears to wets ideas not as much.

Sometimes we might think we are spoon feeding when really we are handing over a bunch of time googling terminology.

So in that vein is Rimrock the same as basalt fields?

I am not much help I used to see chucks back in the 90's all around the Eburg-yak hills.  My last stint in eburg I saw one chuck in 4 years.

[Nemo]

Just want to say one more time thanks to everyone actually offering some tips.  This is all useful and between this, google earth, my HuntX maps, and talking to the local WDFW station there I think I've got enough for a start.  Again, I really do appreciate it.

[ribka]

The responses to this thread are a little  a lot ridiculous. If they keep up I'll go ahead and clean it up and do some nuking. Let's not go there.

Pm sent

[JLS]

JLS mentioned a couple terrain features to look for which is super helpful but if a person doesn't know what Rimrock is its sort of another thing to chase.  Or cheat grass to Eastside it's a known pain in the dogs ears to wets ideas not as much.

Sometimes we might think we are spoon feeding when really we are handing over a bunch of time googling terminology.

So in that vein is Rimrock the same as basalt fields?

I am not much help I used to see chucks back in the 90's all around the Eburg-yak hills.  My last stint in eburg I saw one chuck in 4 years.

Good point run, and a good reminder that what seems intuitive to some is confusing as heck to others.  Yes and no to your question.  In the Wenas area you are indeed looking for basalt fields, columns and cliffs.  In other areas they may be granite escarpments.  The important thing to know is that chukars like to roost on rock bluffs and cliffs.

[runamuk]

Thanks for that bit.  That information is super helpful. 

[Bob33]

Finding an area that holds chukars can be a time consuming task, but is a rewarding experience if you have the right frame of mind. Two of the best ways I know of are to scout with your ears, and to hunt after an early snow when tracks are visible. Chukars are vocal birds and their “chuk chuk chuk” can often be heard from a distance in open country. (After you’ve hunted them all day to no avail, you will understand they’re actually laughing at your folly of trying to get in range.)

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/upland_birds/chukar.html
http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/chukar

[T-Bone]

The WDFW website is a tremendous scouting tool. According to harvest data on that website, Yakima, Asotin and Chelan counties are on average the top three counties for chukar harvest; Douglas, Kittitas and Okanogan counties do very well, too. Match those harvest figures with the described habitat for chukars with the WDFW Public Hunting Areas on the website and other public land and...GOLLY, I think I'll try hunting there!

I've used this match game for years with other species and it seems to work fairly well.

[ribka]

"In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success...."


words to live by  

[jackelope]

"In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success...."


words to live by  

Other words to live by:
"Don't fall into the trap"
 

[merkelman]

"In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success...."


words to live by  

Other words to live by:
"Don't fall into the trap"
 :tup:Nuke the topic!

[jackelope]

"In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success...."


words to live by  

Other words to live by:
"Don't fall into the trap"
 

Nuke the topic!

Why would I do that?

[JayBird02]

Best advice I can give you about chukar hunting is more about your dog's and less about terrain. Make sure your dog's are in good shape, this includes their pads. Keep them trained all year and have fun. My first season of chukar hunting I didn't get a single bird and the only reason I get them now is because of my dogs. I don't find them the dogs do.

[merkelman]

Jaybird, stop giving away all your secrets!  Everyone else is...