Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: ArroyoS on December 07, 2022, 05:22:00 PM
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Any tips for hunting chukar. Trying to get into it this year. I've heard steep slopes in rocky terrain on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Any other advice?
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Don't neglect the top of spurs running perp to main ridges. Sage flats do well in heavy snow.
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Tip number one, when hunting near the Snake river, have a Idaho resident friend, waiting on the other side of the river, so when they flush hundreds of feet away and fly down and over the river he can hit them
:tup:
:chuckle:
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Make sure both you and your dog are in shape to handle it.
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Keep a first aid kit on you and be prepared to carry your dog out. Chuckar is not a casual stroll on flat ground. Like Henry said you gotta be in shape
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Snow and snake river breaks a tough combination, just below the snow line sometimes produces. On the plus side, snakes are in and heat is gone
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They like to run uphill and then flush just when you get to the top of the ridge and fly downhill. You have to shoot quick and shoot under them usually as they are disappearing over the crown of the ridge. Then when you are lucky enough to hit one and aren't hunting with a dog, you have to go a 100 yds down the other side of the ridge to retrieve it. Take lots of ammo. Yakima River Canyon used to be good, but believe most of the good stuff is now private. Good boots with good support.
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Tough bird to hunt but lots of fun! Good tips already so all I’ll add is that the first time you hunt Chukar is for fun, every time after that is for revenge! Good luck!
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These are all good tips, don't know that I can add much. Ditto on the safety aspect of hunting chukars, take your medical kit and be careful. One thing that I'll say is this, once you've determined where the chukar are hanging out (usually on the sides of ridges) don't discount the flatter, plateau areas on top of the ridges. In my experiences huns inhabit the same areas but seem to hang out more on plateaus. Just an added bonus to the best game bird out there.
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Don't forget to look and listen. They are vocal and often easy to see when they are running.
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Early season look for easy sources of water like hidden springs or stock tanks that have some seepage and watch for snakes. When there is a little snow on the ground they can be fun to track but don’t slip and fall, it can be a long ways before you stop. Look for fresh cheat grass, second year after a range fire can be productive.
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The father (now deceased) of one of my hunting buddies used to tell us that the old timers would tie 50 ft of string to a helium filled black balloon to the back of their vest as they walked the snake river draws. Chukar would hold to the ground thinking it was a bird of prey and prevent them from flying. I have never tried this trick, but, seems plausible, but he might have just been messing with a bunch of green horns?? But I think in reality, your hunting buddies would spend more time trying to shoot the balloon than actually hunting for birds. :chuckle:
