Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: birdaddict on December 13, 2010, 01:40:04 AM
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I have been hunting pheasant and quail for years but have never chukar hunted before. I am taking my new setter and my brother is bringing his pointer. Should be fun. What advice can you guys give a rookie Chukar hunter? Also we can't decide weather to go northeast of Connell along the snake or down to Yakima any opinions?
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Chukar hunting is probably the hardest, and most frustrating upland bird to hunt, but it can be very rewarding if you get into a bunch and they hold tight enough for ya! ! Good luck! They can fly across the canyon, wait for you to cross after them, then fly back across to where you first jumped them...then they tend to chuckle at ya!! haha! Have fun!!!!!!!
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I agree, Chukar hunting can be very hard. Plan to do a lot of walking up and down up and down the hills. So make sure you've got some good hiking boots that are broke in. Because of all the hiking you usually have to do you might want to think about a lighter gun ? I always pack a 12 gauge because that's the only gun I own but a nice 20 gauge might help with the weight factor ? A good hunt can take you in 6-8 miles round trip so you and the dog will be tired for sure. Bring plenty of water for you and your dog. If you know the area well and/or find water maybe you can lighten up the next trip for the dogs water. Always bring plenty of ammo especially if you're having an off day or the birds are getting up wild. They can be hard to hit when they jump up at 30 yards or more. Once you get into them you'll be hooked. The earlier post said they laugh at you is pretty accurate. They make a chuck chuck chuck sound almost seems like they're mocking you. I think it's just regrouping the covey. Good luck
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You'll likely become addicted if you go. You'll keep going back to get revenge on those little *censored*s. :chuckle:
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It's probably the 2nd best upland bird to hunt unless you have a chance to hunt sharptail. Just remember they run up hill and fly down. If you have the guts to walk across a slope- usuallly steep- and a dog that is sure of foot you should have some real fun. There are always some that hold after the rest flush.
After 30 years of that I have put away my shotgun and pick up the stick and srting- that make it really interesting.
If you want to where go late season PM me.
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hard hunting. I'd be willing to go with you. If you can get into the birds then you'll love it. I usually go way up the snake by clarkston. If you're up by connell then I'd be glad to tag along.
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Great fun! I Read a magazine where the guy said "When the dog goes on point, circle around him for 50 feet and walk up'. I wanted to send a letter asking him, "I don't know where you hunt chukar, but where I hunt them it is 45 minutes on a shale strewn vertical side hill to do that." They are tough to get to, but you will see some pretty country. When you are barely able to stand up it is so steep, huffing and puffing, that is when the best shot of the day will present itself. Run up, fly down. That is the rule. When you find them, pay attention to the altitude and side of the hill they are on. That is where you will probably find them for the next while. Hard on guns (dings), dogs (cut and worn feet), boots. Take plenty of water. You drink some, give your dog a lot. Take lunch for the dog. Take a snack for yourself. Enjoy. #1 bird for my wife an I, both hunting and eating. This is all presuming you are not going to a 'Hunt Club' with pen raised and/or planted birds. :P
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Chuckar hunting is definately hard. but fun.. Hope you have a good time.
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never been to conell but the yakima area has alot of good hunting. Hunt the yakima canyon or the yakimat training center by selah 600 sq miles they tell me lots of great hunting out there
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I also raise and sell chuckar and pheasants. Chuckar are an amazing bird. The males are very dominant. I've seen chuckar kick the crap out of roosters many times.
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Thanks for the advise guys. This should be a good challange. I think we are going to Yakima. Where is the Yakima training center?
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Look on a map! sheesh....
couldn't resist.
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I can't resist either................Yakima,you'll see it on the left,.............it'll be on your left all the way up the Vantage hill and on your left almost all the way to Vegas(Yakima is known round here as "Yakivegas" or "Vegas".It's a big outfit,be prepared to watch a video,register your weapon(your gun is in your jockey shorts) pay the troop morale fee,I'd say this is going to eat up close to 2 hours at least ,seems like it took that long last year.You will get a map of the entire area,then the fun part,picking where to hunt,another thing to be aware of ,weapon must be in a case when traveling in the vehicle,so make sure you show up with a gun case to shove the thing in.They come out to your rig to inspect the weapon and see the case,Be prepared to show your hunting license and hunters orange as well,you need to show this stuff at Range control,where you'll sign in for areas to hunt.
Few tips for ya so as to remove the element of "Surprise"
Thanks for the advise guys. This should be a good challange. I think we are going to Yakima. Where is the Yakima training center?
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Sounds like a hassle. I have heard that across the river at the LT Murray wildlife area is pretty good. has anyone tried it?
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dolph46 PM sent
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Well we saw a lot of birds and put on some miles, what did you think birdaddict?
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I can't resist either................Yakima,you'll see it on the left,.............it'll be on your left all the way up the Vantage hill and on your left almost all the way to Vegas(Yakima is known round here as "Yakivegas" or "Vegas".It's a big outfit,be prepared to watch a video,register your weapon(your gun is in your jockey shorts) pay the troop morale fee,I'd say this is going to eat up close to 2 hours at least ,seems like it took that long last year.You will get a map of the entire area,then the fun part,picking where to hunt,another thing to be aware of ,weapon must be in a case when traveling in the vehicle,so make sure you show up with a gun case to shove the thing in.They come out to your rig to inspect the weapon and see the case,Be prepared to show your hunting license and hunters orange as well,you need to show this stuff at Range control,where you'll sign in for areas to hunt.
And don't shoot the Sage grouse.
Few tips for ya so as to remove the element of "Surprise"
Thanks for the advise guys. This should be a good challange. I think we are going to Yakima. Where is the Yakima training center?
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wild weeds was right about everything. I went down there Sunday. Another guy here warned that they also do a background check on your weapon. Not sure if this is always a deal breaker but they told me it would take two weeks. I also met a guy there that explained the terrain. He said you need 4wheel drive(which i have ) and chains and a shovel. Cell service is limited in some areas and you should have emergency gear. He had a nice jeep with a winch and big knobby tires. Said he used get stuck alot with his pickup. :twocents: I guess I should have gotten down there earlier in the season. Maybe they can can process the weapon faster. I went elsewhere and jumped a hen mallard and a wigeon. Not a total loss. :'( :'(
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boy thats a bummer! guess im glad we didn't go to the training center. I drove up from Vancouver that day to meet bird addict and hunt it only to realize when i got to Yakima that my wallet was still in my girlfriend car...... oops! so we ended up hitting an area up closer to . found lots of Huns tho so it was a good trip. I still want to hunt the firing center tho, but i think i will wait till next year and get all the BS done early. Here are a few of the pics from our hunt
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Great pics I love huns. They're wily like chukars. They have been some of my best wingshooting ever. I had my very first double in deep snow on two huns. We snow-tracked them for a 1/2 mile. When they flushed from the sage it was magic. Then, when life could get no better, on the next covey of chukars I dropped three birds ( with two shots on my over/under) .
Another time on a slow, cold day my dog got fooled by the wind and he circled back on some huns that were running us uphill. When my dog Max locked up, he was out 50 yards from me and the covey was 30 yards out. I hit the closest hun way out at 40 yards. They seem to like to test my shooting.
