Chukar Hunting

[redandwhitebrit]

I am headed to the Wenatchee area to see if I can find some chukars. Has anyone hunted on the west side of Palisades Rd., and is it all private land? During my scout on the internet and reading reports, it looks like this area may hold some chukars. Also am looking at the west side of the Columbia north of Wenatchee up towards Chelan, and the same questions would be asked. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Naches Sportsman]

Last winter was rough on them.

 Good luck.

[JLS]

If it looks like it should hold chukars, it probably does.  Do yourself a favor and get OnXmaps and use that. 

The birds along the Columbia can be VERY high in elevation at times.  I've shot chukars in the pine trees before.

[redandwhitebrit]

I am not sure what you mean by OnXmaps? I have used the state Go Hunt site, but do not really see anything about ownership of the lands.

[JLS]

http://onxmaps.com/

[Curly]

I can tell you the chukar hunting was pretty good in the Palisades area 20 years ago.  It's been almost 20 years since I've hunted that area for chukar.  Ownership may have changed by now so I'm not going to be much help but I can say that at least their should be chukar.  That is some real nice country.

[merkelman]

Last winter was rough on them.

 Good luck.

Better to head down to Lewiston Clarkston area.

[ChefEff]

The west side of palisades road is ALL private expect the access road to Douglas creek.  The douglass creek drainage is public and mostly Blm land but I wouldn't try that area after all the rain unless you have some serious 4x4 capacity or a tank on cat tracks!!!  The road gets pretty hairy after a rain.  That being said most anywhere in douglas or chelan county that has steep rocky hillsides will hold chukar.  It's been a fair to middling year that I have seen.  The west side of highway 97a from Wenatchee to chelan is almost entirely public land other than the town of entiat and the orchards on the highway.  Get onxmaps and you'll see that everything that's not An orchard or a riverfront vacation home is basically forest service land.

[redandwhitebrit]

I appreciate the input from all. I will spend some time this week, and report the results. Thanks again.

[ForestDump]

If you use the OnXHunt maps (which I highly recommend) please enter the promo code PF16 and proceeds for your purchase will go to help Pheasants Forever.

[redandwhitebrit]

Hunted three full days in the Chelan/ Wenatchee area and only made one shot on a quail. My dogs and I spent two days up on Palisades and Douglas creek, where I put up one small covey of chukars. The chukars were well out of range and scattered all over the area.There is a lot of moisture everywhere, lots of green up, so I think the birds may well be scattered. My young dog bumped a small covey of Huns yesterday, but again they were well out of range. All in all, it was a pretty disappointing time, except for the great weather. Got a ton of excercise, but would like to shoot some birds.

[merkelman]

Better head south...

[redandwhitebrit]

How far south Merkelman? Oregon, Nevada ? Hunted Oregon three weeks ago over on the eastside around Vale and did O.K.

[scottr]

Hunted three full days in the Chelan/ Wenatchee area and only made one shot on a quail. My dogs and I spent two days up on Palisades and Douglas creek, where I put up one small covey of chukars. The chukars were well out of range and scattered all over the area.There is a lot of moisture everywhere, lots of green up, so I think the birds may well be scattered. My young dog bumped a small covey of Huns yesterday, but again they were well out of range. All in all, it was a pretty disappointing time, except for the great weather. Got a ton of excercise, but would like to shoot some birds.

Given your young dog I'd say it was a success getting wild bird contacts. Sounds like you found some coveys to go back to.

[JLS]

How far south Merkelman? Oregon, Nevada ? Hunted Oregon three weeks ago over on the eastside around Vale and did O.K.

Unless you want to, I don't think there's any need to drive that far.  There is a lot of ground along the Columbia, and west of it that holds good chukar numbers.

I agree, the massive amount of greenup has the birds very scattered.  My dog hunts chukars very well, and the other day I only found three coveys.  Normally I can expect 4-8 coveys per day.

I have been finding the birds at very high elevations.