Best hun hunting in WA?

[Heartsblood]

WTH?

[Sumpnneedskillin]

As fethrduster said, Huns are generally in easier terrain than chukar. But I also think Huns are not as abundant for some reason. Most people don't go hunting specifically for Huns, because they just aren't that numerous. I've got into them quite a few times while pheasant or chukar hunting. I've shot a few in the Pomeroy area.

Haven't seen many this year.  Did see one clutch about a month ago that were brand new (still small and fluffy). 

Reading the local paper and the WDFW outlook they say numbers for gamebirds are supposed to be good.  Don't know where they're looking.  Everyone I've talked with has commented on the lack of birds and the bad hatch.  Even had a land owner tell me he wasn't going to allow hunting this year because of the low numbers.  I must be looking in the wrong areas 

[boneaddict]

Quail did good, but as for the rest, they are full of it.

[fethrduster]

The one on the left is a hun, the other is a chukar:



Huns are on top, chukars are generally on the canyon lip and sides:

[boneaddict]

THat last photo is perfect.

[Heartsblood]

We were stoked to see a covey come thru our place in Tonasket a coupla weeks ago. First time in four years we've seen 'em there. Yeah, "Gray Partridge". These pictures were taken with my camera literally stuck out the hatch of the screendoor in our trailer.




I've seen lots of birds this fall. Chukar, quail, grouse. I hope this is representative of a bad hatch - I can only imagine a good one!

[Birdguy]

Like most gamebirds hatch will be different in each area. Seems the overall hatch for birds was not so great, but someone always seems to find that area or a couple areas where the hatch was OK or even good. Bottom line they are where you find them and in a few more days folks will have a better idea of how the season will really be. Good luck to all who give it a try!

Cool pictures heartsblood, we too have property up that way and usually run into a covey opening morning of deer, just enough to listen to them call back and forth all morning but we can never find them again until the next year  .

[boneaddict]

There are way more Huns in the northern Wa climates than the southern portion of the state. 

I think the hatch is mostly dependent on Rain and wind.  Find a pocket that misses a huge storm at hatch time and then it should be better.   Thats an overall assessment, lots of other factors, but I think thats the biggest.

[Justin7mm]

Every year there are a ton of people who talk about how bad the hatch is...I can't remember a year in the last 5 where the general consensus was that there was a terrific, or even a good hatch.  I would appreciate you all passing these stories on as much as possible as it lessens the competion for the birds i find. That being said, you can only talk about the rain ruining hatches for so long...Gamebirds will nest, re-nest, and re-nest again until they get it right or run out of long days.  The real problem these days is lack of available habitat to produce a hatch and protect the birds, young and old, all year long.  With huns, they like a certain type of terrain. They are also painfully predictable, if you find a covey in a spot, chances are good you will find them in the exact same spot, or pretty close to it the next time around.  This, combined with the fact that they hold as good or better than just about any gamebird, makes it easy to shoot up a covey in no time at all in the few good areas of habitat that they have.

[fethrduster]

That's actually true.  They usually don't fly more than a few hundred yards after being shot at, so it is relatively easy to go after them again.  Even when able, try not to take more than a few birds out of a covey to respect the resource.   They can get shot out pretty quickly otherwise.

[luteai]

Purple old Federal 16 gauge shells?  Very nice photo!

[fethrduster]

Purple old Federal 16 gauge shells?  Very nice photo!

Thanks! 16ga. is the perfect upland gauge in my opinion. Actually those are new purple Federal 16 gauge 2 1/2" roll crimped reloads (cut down from 2 3/4").   1oz 6's at 1300 fps, will drop a rooster dead in the air at 50 yds.  If you want old Federal 16ga. purple shells, here you go:

[AKBowman]

Nice photo! Those look like demascus barrells. I have an Ithaca featherweight 20ga. side by side double with double triggers. Barrels are so thin though I dont really feel comfortable shooting anything hotter than a standard federal high base load. Usually no. 6's for chuck, went to college in Nevada and the chuckar hunting out there was good. I'm going next weekend for sure!! Oh wait modern deer opens next weekend...maybe Ill wait for early November.

[fethrduster]

Those little Ithaca flues sxs's are sweet guns.  1 oz. 6's will kill any upland game bird you care to shoot at.  No need to go any hotter than that.

[ribka]

I always find huns in the cheat grass half way up the hills.