Chukar

ironhead · Sep 29, 2010

I haven't seen the traditional Chukar thread yet.
Has any body been out? Opens here this weekend, I will probably chase quail this weekend though. We need a couple good frosts to put the buzz worms to sleep in the chukar hills.

Shummy · Sep 30, 2010

I've been working out of town but I'm home now. I've got a trip planned for Monday.

Califelkslayer · Oct 6, 2010

Wonder how you guys have done?? Nevada opens this weekend. I was going to go for the weekend but after being gone 21 days chasing elk, decided it was better for me to be home for a few nights so........It will be 2 day hunts this weekend. Weather is supposed to warm up by Sat but this 5 straight days of rain will make this the best scent conditions for the opener I can remember.

Good luck guys and let me know what kind of hatch you had in your area.

Shummy · Oct 6, 2010

Bird numbers seem to be way down and the DWR guys seem to think the same. I went out today and had a good day, but the birds were few and far between. It was nice shooting over broke dogs though! It's almost as if someone that knows what they are doing has been training my dogs!

ironhead · Oct 6, 2010

I left Saturday to go Quail hunting got half way to my spot and decided to chase Chukar, instead of following my intuitions about snakes.
The bird numbers were way down,and the snake numbers were way up. I didn't see any young birds at all and the snakes were all adults as well. Still a nice day above the lake.

rutnbuck · Oct 7, 2010

Need to get out I have been hunting the grouse. I will hunt the west desert and box elder. Sure would like to know where the birds are in cache and rich county. Anyone wanting to share a starting point in Cache or Rich Co let me know. I will tell ya I haven't seen any Huns for ever. Anybody see any?

Rutnbuck

runamuk · Oct 11, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Oct-11-10 AT 05:50PM (MST)[p]Been out several times here in Idaho,, seems to be a pretty good year so far, way more Huns this year than i have seen for a long time..Got seven coveys of Huns up yesterday, about 7 to 20 birds per covey.. I was able to drop a bird out of each covey, so i was pretty happy with that..
Seeing above average numbers of Chukar, but the little bastages
are flushing wild, way wild, so the Huns and Quail are paying the price.

Just got back from helping the son-n-law on a Deer hunt in NE Nevada,, Chit fire i never seen or heard more birds anywhere in my whole life, the place was just lousy with em.
Soon as i can get a hunters saftey card im heading straight back to that spot for a week..

Heres a couple of the first points of 2010,, she ain't got the most stylish points but she damn sure gets the job done..

One more thing heres a pretty handy item for bird hunters and their dogs,,i hope you never need to use one, but it sure is nice if you do..It says allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery but this guy always has my stuff to me in a few days..
http://www.uplandidaho.com/Shopping/Shopping.htm

justr_86 · Oct 21, 2010

My dad, my boys and Addy and I went out yesterday. We saw 4 birds and killed 4 birds. All single flushes in different areas. We were all tired and It was fun to shoot a few but not anywhere near what that area used to be....

rutnbuck · Oct 24, 2010

Went out saturday seen a couple flocks on private property. And a flock of Huns. 1 flock was not on the property but I decided not to stir them up. Until I got ahold of the property owner that they were next to. I didn't want to take a chance of them flying the wrong direction. Well I got ahold of the land owner and he wouldn't let me hunt. Next time I flush them. My dogs had a fit. No birds yet. But did see a Lone Sharptail.

Rutnbuck

Califelkslayer · Oct 25, 2010

Been huntin so I haven't had time to get on. The hatch in Western Nevada is outstanding. 4-6 coveys minimum every trip. Lots of young, uneducated birds too. The NV opener had some VERY young birds. I got out of one covey, just left them after I had them all scattered because they were so young. The next day I took a friend out and he got into a different covey like that too.

Rained 5 days straight before the opener, again the next week and right now in the middle of a 3 days storm. Have never seen the desert so green this time of year.

2nd year dog is still improving, got 4 full retrieves Sat. Pointing fool but wouldn't retrieve last year. On the way back to the quad Sat I saw him get birdy, trailing a running single. I didn't follow cause I was done. He showed up with a bird. It was one of two birds I'd sailed earlier about 300 yards away. Last year he'd trail and kill running cripples but just leave them. I found this out in snow later in the season. Him bringing that bird, one I didn't even know he had was a huge step for him. On covey rises he still goes to the bird, makes sure it's dead and then wants to resume huntin. I have to tone him back to me just to find the bird he already had in his mouth. All 4 of his retrieves Sat were singles he'd pointed except the cripple. Looks like I got lucky with a fantastic dog and the offseason work paid off too.

Good luck guys.

Shummy · Oct 26, 2010

I hunted two days in Colorado with mixed results. Other than that I haven't been out much as far as huting goes. I ran in a two day field trial in Iowa last weekend and did fairly well. The dog improved in each of the four braces he ran in. We didn't win, but came damn close. I'm still in Iowa and pheasant season starts this weekend. After that I'll hit Mississippi and hopefully another trial or two, then, with any luck one more in Iowa and follow that with pheasants and sharpies in SoDak.

Califelkslayer · Oct 30, 2010

Shummy, enjoy.

You chukar hunters getting em? Not trying to jinx myself but the hunting has been fantastic so far. 36 so far and I missed a long week hunting elk in Colorado. Dog's dialed, I'm shooting like I ended the season last year instead of how I started last year and there are a ton of birds. And lots of young ones too.

Good luck guys.

Califelkslayer · Nov 15, 2010

Kinda slow on this thread. Hunted the BattleMountain Tournament weekend before last. Lots of birds there too.

Spent past weekend in Anaheim, 10+ hour drive each way. Son's pre-deployment ceremony. Couldn't miss that but now that he's off to Texas for 2 month and then Iraq for a year I'm gonna get after em. Only one hunt in last 16 days I've got somw ketchin up to do. Quail before work tomorrow, chukar Thursday, and again Sat. Takin a novice with me Sat. Told him to just stay with me and we'll get em. He's a SWAT guy but has never been chukar huntin. Told him I'd take him the following Thurs/Fri. Curious to see if he'll tap out or not. figure either it'll be a one time thing for him or he'll get hooked. Let you guys know how it goes.

runamuk · Nov 16, 2010

Couple'a points from Saturday,, got into 9 covey's of Huns..
Headin out tomorrow for Chukar..

DryFlyGuy · Nov 27, 2010

This is a picture from this evening (the date on the camera is wrong). My puppy is six months old and this was her first bird encounter.

I took her and her mother out for a quick evening hunt. I have taken the pup out several times over the last couple of weeks just to get her time in the field. I am trying to introduce the report of the gun. The last three times we went out, I took a .22 long rifle (the first time with blanks and the last two times with birdshot). The pup hasn't shown any sign of gun shyness, so tonight I decided to take my .410 with me.

As luck would have it, her mom locked up on a raised tuft of hay in a field. I pulled even with the dog and two chukar busted out of the hay. I blasted the one that went right. I let the pup sniff and mouth the bird. She seemed to really like it.

I'll be working with her at a bird farm the next few months just to get her some controlled encounters, but her first encounter was all naturale.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/22012010-11-27_001.jpg

Shummy · Nov 28, 2010

I'm finally home so now I can start hunting chuks again! Pictures will follow soon.

Califelkslayer · Dec 15, 2010

Fantastic pictures guys. I just got a new computer so I hope to get some pics up myself soon.

Been tough lately. Last 2 trips I had winds between 30-40 on the ridges.

The SWAT guy did good. Little slow on the trigger but kept up well on both hunts. He's 10-11 years younger and in good shape. I did shoot 5 birds on the first covey rise with him which I think affected his shooting after that. In the middle of 2 weeks with no hunting (too much work) but from December 30th-Feb 7th I have 15 days off so hoping for snow instead of all of this rain.

runamuk · Dec 19, 2010

Chukars are really starting to group up with this cold and snow.
had a good day yesterday, runnin little devils, but it was great to watch all the great points and repositioning, musta been 3 to 5 points per covey before they would rise.
Was able to get on more n 20 covey's, had a blast in the rain..
Only bout 40 days left in the season,man how time flys..

rackman · Dec 20, 2010

When we going Micah? I have been dying to go man.

runamuk · Dec 22, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Dec-22-10 AT 02:26PM (MST)[p]Got out yesterday,man it just keeps gettin better and better.
Point after point covey after covey, shot eight birgs then just hunted with the camera for a few hours..

Creeping on some moving birds..

never get tired of seeing points..

Old dogs just rock..

Califelkslayer · Dec 31, 2010

Nice photos!!! Looks like a veteran dog.

I got on them yesterday. Miserable with 30+ mph winds and snow squalls. And poor shootin on the first 2 coveys. 8 shots and only one bird, then it came back.

Got my all time longest retrieve on chukar too. Sailed a wild flushing bird, one leg down. He caught the wind and sailed 500+ yards to a flat. Needed that one to be done, and it was kinda on the way back to the quad. I figured he'd flush wild anyways and I'd have to climb back up the mountain but what the heck. Came in down wind, dog got birdy, then went in and retrieved a dead bird. Glad I made the right choice for once.

Good luck guys. 5 weeks left in Nevada.

Shummy · Jan 1, 2011

Justr_86 and I got out yesterday and did a pretty brutal hike, but it was unproductive. It's been tough in our area, and the floods destroyed access roads into our best areas, I'm not sure what we are going to do next. We did see 30 desert bighorns, with one smoker of a ram.

runamuk · Jan 1, 2011

30+ winds?? Snow squals?? Brutal man!!!
Gotta love finding them crips and lost birds, hope you got yer dog a double Burger for the ride home..

Went out today,, ended up with one Hun, better than none i guess.
Only 30 days left for Idaho, I'm bout ready to shed some tears just thinking about it..
Good luck the rest of the season..

justr_86 · Jan 2, 2011

Shummy, Your dogs were working thier guts out! I'm impressed! Thanks for letting me tag along!

Shummy · Jan 2, 2011

I've got to find some new spots. I told rackman and Aaron84 that I would take them out. It's hard to intro new guys in an unproductive spot.

rackman · Jan 2, 2011

Justr, you were down here? Man I wish I would of known. I would have liked to meet you. Are you going to the expo in feb? Shummy I cant wait to get out there and watch your dogs in action!

justr_86 · Jan 3, 2011

I've been chuckar hunting quite a bit, not down south though and never with dogs like yours! The sheep were worth the "gradual climb"

. You will be able to get back into your honey holes when they get the roads fixed from the floods. I had fun, plan on me tagging along again if its ok.

Ya rack I'm heading home today, I've got some family in Cedar, Enterprise, Hurricane, Vegas so we make it down pretty frequent. I will let you know next time I'm in town.

runamuk · Jan 7, 2011

Coupl'a pics from this week,, had a couple days this week that i seen over 300 birds per day it was just crazy with all the great points and shootin going on..
Took a first time Chukar hunter out and he shot over 3 boxs of shells and still only ended up with 6 birds and two of em was from a scotch double..

Damn camera bit the dust early on in the week man i was bummed i missed out on some great pics..

Califelkslayer · Jan 11, 2011

Man, I'm so jealous of your guy's pictures. I took a ton of photos last year when the dog as a pup. This year I took dead bird photos the first weekend and none since. As soon as I get done here I'm charging the camera.

Pretty slow for me lately. 1,5,1,6,8,3,and 5 bird days the last 30 days. Average is half of what it was before then.

Birds I've gotten into are wild, wild, wild!!

I've been running a orange vest on my dog the last month, do you guys think that matters?? He's almost all ticked, liver with just a white tail. I loose him for a minute and I can't find him on point. No vest Thursday!!!

Last year i usually put the vest on after I had a limit cause it shows up so well in pictures since he blends in so well. Didn't seem to bother the birds last year but I gotta try something. Tires of putting up 150-200 birds and only getting 8 shots, most of them streeeched.

runamuk · Jan 15, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Jan-15-11 AT 06:38PM (MST)[p]Califelkslayer,, how do you carry your camera?
I have a little point and shoot fuji-XP supposed to be water,dust,shock proof,, love the fact it has a fixed lens,
I've gone through a bunch of cameras in the past that had the mechanical lens, always have lens errors within a year.
i have mine in a little neoprene case and attached it to some old bino straps and carry it around my neck, works pretty good for getting quick pics..

As far as the orange vest,, yes i personally think it cause's the birds to be more jumpy, and put them on high alert..I think noise is a bigger factor than color though, nothing will cause birds to flush wild more than the human voice or whistle.
Man i know very well how it feels to see lots of birds but only a few shot opportunities.

Had a good day yesterday, one of them days where everything came togeather for the kind of day i always dream about..

dblkicker · Jan 21, 2011

Fairly new to MM. I have really enjoyed all the bird hunting pictures. Yea, I'm an addict also. Never thought to take pictures of points, but going to give it a try on the next outing. I hope you don't mind me sharing a few pictures from this year. I spend most of my time here in N Utah on public land along the Wasatch Front with the exception of a once a year private land invite (they needed the dog). Seem to always find a few coveys. Been one of the best years I have seen. Coveys are bigger and lots of young birds. One of these years I'm going on a chuckar hunt to Nevada and/or Idaho. I hear it is lots better. I have had Nevada and Idaho license in my pocket for the last 10 plus years and never used them for chuckars. Maybe next year.

Private invite

Public land

runamuk · Jan 22, 2011

Sweet,,, It's my understanding that Utah Chukar numbers arn't the greatest,, looks like you do pretty good for yerself though.
Good lookin hound ya got there..

Shummy · Jan 23, 2011

Chukar numbers are down state wide in Utah. In one area that I hunt the biologists counted 300 birds in their guzzler counts 3 years ago. 200 birds 2 years ago, and only 75 this year. I'm still finding them, but It's been really tough.

dblkicker · Jan 23, 2011

Those numbers aren't very promising. Is it possible that birds may have been more widely distributed when they collected their data due to moisture, hunting pressure, more guzzlers,etc...? I sure hope so. The areas I've been hunting definitely have more birds. Last year I averaged 1 bagged bird per hour of hunting. This year it has doubled, almost tripled. For whatever reason it just seems better.

Califelkslayer · Jan 25, 2011

Runamuk, I carry my camera on the inside of my hunting vest. It has a zippered pocket on the left side. The camera in a zip-lock bag and my Kali and Nevada licenses in another bag. Getting the pocket unzippered with one hand can be tough. I'm usually doing it as I'm scrambling to get close so the gun is in the other hand. Once I limit I'll unzip the pocket.

Last two hunts (vest free) where good with the numbers but don't think the no vest look was the reason. The first hunt I had several coveys flush wild. But enough coveys that got pointed out of sight of the birds to be successful. The next hunt was on birds that hadn't been hunted in 6 weeks. I was in there 6 weeks ago and getting out was tough. Then 3 straight days of rain so the area was inaccessible. 3 weeks later I tried to get in there and the snow was too deep. Last friday I got in fine cause everything was frozen. Getting out was a 2 hours, 35 minute quad ride. Traveled overland. Sage flat with 6-18 inches of water on it. 6 miles of that stressed me out cause to get stuck was 15 miles cross country to the truck. I spent an hour and a half getting there, 4 hours hunting and 2:35 hours getting out. Not sure if I'll hunt it the last weekend. Taking a partner with only a kali license this weekend so I won't be tempted to try it again. BUT the last weekend???? Figure I've got 8 months to get out in time for next season.

Shummy · Jan 26, 2011

In this particular area they do the counts when chukars are dependant on the guzzlers for water, there are no real natural water sources. It gives them a pretty accurate count of numbers on the range. They will distribute off the guzzlers later in the year when they aren't dependant on the water. Birds are very vulnerable when they are on the guzzler. Birds of prey find them easy targets as well as guys who shoot them off the guzzlers....

Califelkslayer · Jan 26, 2011

double, What an ugly dog.....looks exactly like my old female. Even the side view with the mouth open. I had to check to see if mine was still here.

Mine (Cleo) is retired. 15 next month. Enjoyed every mile I spent behind her.

dblkicker · Jan 27, 2011

slayer, how old was cleo when she retired? My jess is 6. wondering how many more years of hunting we'll have together.

Califelkslayer · Jan 27, 2011

I hunted her last year sparingly. She went on the first two hunts with the pup. But he'd point 40-50 yards from the birds and she'd go by him cause although she smelled the birds, she always pointed closer. He broke a point as she went by and I thought I retired her. Those early hunts were short, 2-3 hours.

Later, when the pup was solid but wouldn't retrieve, she came out of retirement. After a few retrieves, pup started retrieving. Cleo got retired again.

December 29, 2009 I took my first full double limit, one in Nevada and one in Kali. Cleo was there that day for some reason. Not really sure why I took her. Snow covered everything and the fog had set in, low visibility. Couldn't see 150 yards all day. 8 hour day from the time I got off of my quad in Nv til I got back on it in Kali. She hunted close the last 3-4 hours but she hunted, and found birds.

We got em early in NV then a short ride to Kali. On the way off of the hill in Kali I got a point and an honor but couldn't get both dogs in the same photo.

Last weekend of the Nevada season (3 weeks before her 14th birthday) I took her out again. My goal was a photo of her point with him honoring. Closest I came was the pup pointing and she flash pointed then creeped by him and before she stopped the birds flushed. DARN!

I would give her glucosomine/MSN and Ester C AM and PM the day before I hunted her, the morning of and then right after.

The year before (she was 12) I did the same thing and never hunted her two days in a row. At 11 she had slowed down but once the weather got cool, I could hunt her on back to back days.

I really started taking care of her when she was 10. Glucosomine/MSN most of the season and for sure the day before, morning of a hunt, right after we got done and the next day. I believe in Ester-C too. And a lot of elk, bottom round steaks. Both right before a hunt and right after.

I "roaded" her when she was young. The last 10 years I've hiked for an hour, 4+ times a week up the hill behind my house. I use a weighted backpack for me to get in shape for elk season but I think she also benefitted. And she'd trail along when I was getting my horses in shape. At about 12 she couldn't do both. If i hiked her, she'd stay home when I rode. But this was usually in 80-90 degree weather. I feel the year round conditioning helped her in the long run. A hunting partner had a littermate of Cleo's. That dog was in his backyard except for hunting season. She died 4-5 years ago.

I let Cleo inside everynight for the last five years and lately she pees on my kithen floor once/twice a week. She either just can't hold it all night or it's too cold for her to go outside. Hard to do much other than mop it up before work. I owe her that much.

Most of her early years I concentrated on waterfowl more than upland and she stayed home. That said, I took at least 1,000 birds over her. Best year was 135 chukar and 68 quail.

Pup will be 2 Saturday. He's had 211 chukar and 48 quail taken over him, by me. I don't count birds over my dog that someone else takes.

I guess my answer to your question is if you're willing to slow down when it's hot, and forget the back to back hunts, the dog will be good unitl 10-12 years old, IMO.

Sorry to ramble on so long since I probably could have answered your question in 2 sentences but I could talk about dogs, especially mine, for hours.

dblkicker · Jan 28, 2011

No apology needed. Enjoyed reading it. Cleo had the life that every bird dog would dream of having. You have the hunting success I dream about. Hope my dog can live as long as yours. Thanks for sharing.

Califelkslayer · Jan 28, 2011

Tomorrow my "pup" Chuck is 2 years old. We're huntin Kali cause the guy I'm taking only has a Kali license. He's looking at a 7 mo. old Darharr?? Already started. He hunts waterfowl, quail and pheasant. This will be his first chukar hunt. My goal is to show him a good time and get him hooked. I would like a part-time chukar partner. He's my age but a Marine, advid hunter and in good shape.

Plus, although I'm huntin over a short hair, I love those Wire-hairs. Many fond memories.

Califelkslayer · Feb 2, 2011

He got hooked!!!!!!!!

Went out and bought a NR, 3 days license for Nevada so he can go with me tomorrow. Hope he has as much fun as he did last Saturday.

Shummy · Feb 3, 2011

Did you recommend a good therapist for him?

Califelkslayer · Feb 5, 2011

I'M DONE!!!!!!!! Hunted Thursday with my friend Ernie. it wasn't as good for him as the first time. To sum it up he said, "I guess you've got to hunt these things a few times to figure them out." We hunted one of my favorite spots and only got 2. After 4+ hours we took a break and hit a ridge I hunt sparingly. It was loaded but he was always in the wrong spot. Add in a few easy misses and he only got one bird. We chased those wild birds down the ridge and when we got to the end he stayed on top. I dropped down and got a little even with em.

Today I hit the same ridge and basically took one bird out of each covey til I had 6. Everything I did was wrong.

On the way back to the quad it was easy but I was done. Had 2 separate triple opportunities. And wild flushing birds flying by at 20 yards. Worked hard for 3 hours to get 6 and they must have known I was done cause they got stupid all of a sudden.

Equipment failures were the norm today. On the way out I was in the spot that keeps others out, a large sage flat that is under water. Somehow Chuck's crate came off of the quad. I didn't know it happened. With helmet and goggles on. I caught movement about 10 feet from the quad. I thought, "Damn, I almost ran over a coyote." I looked that direction and it was Chuck. I had to backtrack 1/2 mile to find the crate. Chuck was alright and got right back in after I got it secured.

On the way out I got a flat on my right rear tire. It took longer to fill it then it took to go flat again. 2 bottles of Slime didn't help either. I ran the last 12 miles with a flat and no traction. I baring could get to 10 miles an hour. I'm glad the season is over, I'm tired.

Chuck has had 237 chukar taken over him and he turned 2 years old last weekend.

Oh yea! Thursday I knocked a bird down about 80 yards downhill. It took off running. Chuck caught the bird and brought it to my hand. Out of 10 birds Thursday, I got 2 retrieves. Today, the first three he brought to my hand including a long one he had to chase down. After that?? He dropped the last 3. What do I do??

Shummy · Feb 6, 2011

You force fetch him and never have a bad retrieve again.

sagebucks · Feb 7, 2011

I had the same problem with my dog at the start of the year. I was just patient with her and praised her for every retrieve. On saturday I got 4 birds and she had full retrieves on all 4 birds. It just sucks now the season is over and she is really coming into her own.