2011-2012 Chukar Season

Califelkslayer · Oct 11, 2011

Tons of birds, lots of young (dumb) ones.

Opening day was too easy. Spent more time getting to the spot then hunting. Sunday was more challenging. Took the 7.5 month old pup only. Got limits and she showed potential. Friends 1.5 year old pup really helped me, retrieved 5 of my birds. My pup is intimidated by the gun fire. Not what I'd call gun shy. She comes back to me and stays at heel for 5-10 minutes with her tail down. Then she hunts again. Tomorrow she'll hunt with my male. She mimicks him sometimes. Thinking that'll work. She did get birdy on 3 seperate occasions after birds either left the area or ran past where we were.

Watch out for snakes!!!!! Saw 2 sunning themselves as I drove out Sat and another one Sunday driving out. Only one was a rattler but beware, although we had frost on the ground at daylight, they were out in the afternoon.

Shummy · Oct 11, 2011

I've been out four times, and found small coveys each time. Numbers are really down here, but my three year old male has got these birds figured out! Yesterday he pinned a covey at 150 yards and held them while I brought two three month old pups in too get some exposure! Wild birds for young pups is about all it takes!

Gator · Oct 12, 2011

Very nice, Hoping for a good day on Sat.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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Califelkslayer · Oct 12, 2011

Shummy, you need to get to NE Nevada. The hatch was off the hook. I've been chasin the lil buggers since "89" and this is the best I've ever seen. In 22 years I've seen what i call good 7 years and this is the best. Only problem I've had has been lots of young birds. Real young.

Pup improved today. She still reacted negatively to the gun but she took 4 of the 6 birds out of my male's mouth and brought them to my hand.

She sees him on point, or birdy and creeping and she gets excited. Gun goes off and she comes right back to me. When she sees him with a bird in his mouth, she runs to him and takes it away and brings it back. After my last shot, and her (theft), she went to searching right away.

I mentioned before that the first time I started the lawn mower around her, she ran and hid. Now I have to tell her to move when I mow the lawn. Same thing with the chain saw. Now I have to keep one eye out for her when I'm cutting wood.

Hoping for a point from her tomorrow on something besides a cottontail.

Califelkslayer · Oct 13, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Oct-13-11 AT 10:52PM (MST)[p]Interesting day. First i didn't get out early although i meant to since the forecast was for mid 70s. About 2/10s of a mile before where i usually park my truck and unload my quad, I see a couple of bucks. Best one is about 24"s and a symeterical 4X4. Nothing really great but it's the second week of a 2 week season here in kali and one of the better units here. Someone with a tag might be interested.

Got into birds right away. Thought i got 3 on the rise and then a tail end Charlie. Only found 3 and figured I missed on the first shot, not following through because I'm already finding the second. Then a pretty good hump for about an hour. Hot already. Pup runs through a covey, 40 yards from me. 2 birds flush, the rest of the covey stays put. Pup comes immediately to me, probably expecting a shot. We then start straight down hill. Covey gets up 20 yards from us. A double down. I tell her to "Fetch." She stays with me. Male shows up and she takes both birds out of his mouth as he's retrieving them. Then she starts hunting again immediately. Her gunshyness is very short compared to Sunday, and she searches constantly but now she seems bird shy. The covey she busted she was hunting with the wind behind her so I don't blame her for that as she ran into them before she could smell them BUT coming to me instead of being interested really concerns me. After I shot, a couple of different coveys sharted chattering. We headed towards the one covey in the direction back to the quad. Great point and hold for the male, got a bird to finish up. He retrieved halfway and she took it away and brought it to the hand. 8 of her 9 partial retrieves the last 2 days have been to the hand, the other she dropped 3 feet short.

Not sure what to do with her at this point. The reaction to the gun is very short lived BUT associating the shot with birds seems to have her not wanting to find birds. Once she's completely over the gunshyness, will she get excited and find birds?? Do I take her to a trap shoot and let her get immune to the shooting. Or do i hunt her and don't shoot when the birds get up? I have a hill a few miles from my house that has 100s of quail. Thinking about carrying the gun but not shooting for a trip or 2 so she forgets about the gunshot. Any advice.

On the way out i stop at a campground where there are 3-4 deer camps. I ask if there are any kids in any of the camps with tags. The 4X4 i saw, if he's in the same place that evening or in the AM, will be a pretty easy kill. No kids but an older gentleman that's interested. Got to talking to the crew and found out that one of them is a MM regular who we've PM'd several times. Small world. Anyways, I hope they got him this evening or in the morning. Got promised a text or post here if they get him.

Shummy · Oct 14, 2011

Having the pup bust the birds isn't bad. Shooting them when it fails to point probably is. The thought is, the pup learns that she isn't going to catch the birds herself, and the only way she is going to get them is when you shoot, but you only shoot when she stands the birds. Does she act like she knows the birds are there? She may be "blinking" the birds because she doesn't like the shot. In other words, she's gun shy, and avoids bird contact to avoid the shot. She will still retrieve for a couple of reasons. One, she has a high level of retrieve bred into her, and she just has to do it. Two, she may not associate the retrieve with the shot. You might avoid just playing fetch with her for awhile, but it sounds like the underlying cause is gun shyness. In general, a good pointing dog pup that busts enough wild flying birds will start to point them pretty quick. Fixing the gun shy can be pretty tough, and sometimes impossible, but I don't think that's the case here.

oilcan · Oct 17, 2011

Hunter i think that buck would have had to run into the old man for him to see it.LOL I think that buck made it through the season.

That was kinda strange running into you like that small world.It was good meeting you now if i can only draw that Colorado archery Elk tag we will talk again.

Bruce

208JBB · Oct 21, 2011

I'm loving this chukar season in Nevada. I'm considering getting a bird dog. I've had labs before, but am looking for something smaller and not nessassarily a house dog. I know its personal preferance, but what breeds would you guys suggest? Any links to dog hunting forums would be great too.

Shummy · Oct 21, 2011

www.utahbirddogs.com

I'm partial to English Pointers.

208JBB · Oct 24, 2011

Thanks for the link. There is lots of good info on that site.

A friend at the local pound called and said they got a GSP that is up for adoption. Wish some convincing of my wife I might have a new hunting buddy this week.

Shummy · Oct 24, 2011

If you want a gsp, I know a guy with some SERIOUS gsp pups right now.

Califelkslayer · Oct 24, 2011

Friday i let my pup and my wife's pup out at 4:15. When i was ready to leave at 5 she hadn't showed up so she stayed home. My male made sort work of em, despite my shooting.

BUT today, 10 minutes from the quad my male points and the pup honors for about 5 seconds. When I get there he comes off. I think he pointed their roost spot from the night before. He casts way left, 300 yards, nothing. Then he drops down about 200 yards below me and locks up again. As I'm closing the distance, the pup cuts about 10 feet in front of him and locks up. I get to the male and they get up about 30 yards below us. I only shoot once and watch the pup. She torn between coming back to me and chasing the birds. The male breaks for the retrieve and she follows, takes the bird from him and retrieves it. (3 feet short) I was stoked!! got an honor, point and partial retrieve in 5 minutes. Glad i only shot once because I think more shots would have sent her back to me. rest of the day she still exhibited some gunshyness if she wan't into the birds herself. Shes gonna have a bard time finding birds if I continue to hunt her with my male because he's got it to such a science. I need her to have a couple of more "good" experiences and then I'll hunt her alone a few times.

Oilcan, I saw 4 legal bucks in X5B today plus a muzzy killed buck that was pretty good. 10 days makes a huge difference. No moon, no pressure, deer acted different today. I put a post up in the kali forum about all of the wildlife I saw today.

huntnrich · Oct 26, 2011

Traveled to Nevada last week and hunted Chukars for 2 days. The birds where really scattered. We walked a long ways between coveys. Maybe they had been hunted hard I'm not sure, but there was small green grass everywhere, and that's what was in there craw. Hopefully snow will bring them together.

Califelkslayer · Oct 26, 2011

Good and bad today. Good was i got a covey point and a single point out of the pup. Bad was my male busted 2 coveys. The first he held the point for 45-60 seconds and when i got about 50 yards away, the pup was going by him and he broke.

The second was her covey point. He just blew by and flushed them.

I've never seen him break before. And i've seen him hold for 5 minutes while i covered 500 yards over snow covered rocks, took pictures and then closed in for the flush.

I'm separating them the rest of this week. I know there are varibles and the first covey he broke on, the birds held until i got close and then they started running. That's when he broke. The pup's point, no excuses, none!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow it's just me and him. Friday, me and the pup. Wanted to avoid the long trip into Nevada until Saturday so Chuck and i are gonna explore some new area in Kali tomorrow and Friday I'm taking the pup to where I know there are alot of birds, Nevada.

Califelkslayer · Oct 27, 2011

Tough day today. They got me, not once, not twice, but 5Xs. I'm out for revenge tomorrow. I did get into a covey of quail late in the day and got 7-8 points from Chuck. He was wore out. 2 days in a row and it heated up this afternoon. Me and the pup tomorrow and on a ridge that had 200 birds on it last time I hunted it, 10 days ago.

Hope I don't have to hunt 5 hours, 3 days in a row. It would be sweet if she does good and I do my part, we could be done early. If not, I have to work nest week so plenty of time to rest up.

Califelkslayer · Oct 29, 2011

Friday went better than expected. She pointed a covey of 30+ birds BUT her point was just stopping. If you didn't know her, you wouldn't have known she was even on point. But when I went by her her nostrils were flaring. She was taking in the scent. Only dropped one outta that covey. After she came to me, she fetched the bird as soon as I said, "Fetch." Gunshot was a memory at that point.

Second covey she did the same thing, just stopped. I moved in front of her and she stayed put although her body language was not solid. 10 jumped about 60 yards out and uphill. When they jumped, another 1/2 dozen jumped 50 yards downhill. No shot. She went immediately back to hunting.

Then the worries. 2-3 times she got birdy and then came off. I was paranoid she was "Blinking" birds. But the scent conditions suck; hot, dry, minimal breeze. I got over it when i took her to a spring for water on the way back to the quad. A bunch jumped 150 yards down the canyon but didn't seem to go far. We got above and down wind of them. A classic point. Solid, front leg up, rigid. As I got to her i saw movement in a lava flow 30 yards down hill so I went past her. She remained solid. When I got to the lava flow, a young chukar popped his head up to look around. Perfect triple opportunity and I blew it. One down and 2 dingers trailing the covey. Perfect retrieve with a simple "fetch" command. Then off to find the covey again. We came up short on them but on the way back she started to spin to point as she got downwind of a single and it jumped. Another perfect retrieve. it was one of the dingers. Basically, she isn't ignoring the shot but her excitement overcomes her fear and each time out the gun affects her less. She points on solid scent and uses her nose constantly. She hasn't figured out how to trail old scent to birds yet. Chuck's having problems with that himself right now due to the lousy scent conditions, and Chuck didn't figure that out until over half way through his first year when there was snow on the ground.

Today was more exercise than hunting. Miles/hours between birds. Chuck did well when there were birds around. Pointed one covey and trailed 2 different singles that were running; point, creep, point, creep again. Both got up in good range so he did his job. Me, not so much.

I'm wore out from 4 days in a row and a minimum of 5 hour hunts. I think we take next week off and if we don't get drawn for a good refuge on the pheasant opener, we'll hit it the week after next. I've actually have a 5 day weekend that week so I'm sure we'll ge worn out again. Hope for a change in the weather.

Shummy · Oct 30, 2011

It sounds like the pup is gaining confidence! I wish I could get out, being layed up this time of year sucks.

Califelkslayer · Nov 2, 2011

Oilcan, My buddy that had the 1st rifle tag for that Colorado unit gave me the full rundown on his hunt Monday. He's got a 350+ Tule elk on his wall so he knows what big bulls are and is conservative in his estimates.

The short version is he didn't find a monster prescouting BUT missed what he says is a 360+ opening day. Saw another bull in the same area over 340. Sunday AM saw a 320 and that evening 5 different bulls between 295 and 315. He never did connect and came home with tag soup. He was frustrated with the oak brush and his opinion is thats a better archery hunt then rifle hunt. He had two of the bigger bulls inside 25 yards but could never see more then a patch of hair here, a piece of antler there.

But you will read posts that a 320 bull is a top end bull in that unit, don't believe it. He also learned that a 383 was taken in archery season in the exact place I told him to scout. Good luck on you draw next year.

Califelkslayer · Nov 6, 2011

Took a week off, work. Have to work the next 3 days then Thursday gonna chase shukar again. Not sure about Fri-Sun. I drew one of the local refuges for Sat the 12th, pheasant opener but i'm not too excited. The other refuge has 3Xs the birds. And have an invite to hunt Tulelake/Klamath this that weekend.

It's either Tule/Klamath, scouting on Fri and hunting on Sat/Sun.......or Chukar Friday, Refuge for pheasants Sat and 9ers football Sunday.

Thursday should be good. Weather has gotten cold, some snow. Dogs should have a field day with the scent after what they had to deal with the last couple of weeks.

Califelkslayer · Nov 14, 2011

Just fantastic. Dogs did very well. Thursday hunted the male, Friday the female and Saturday, both. Both are doing better when I hunt them alone although the male did good Sat. I spent some effort getting to a ridge I usually hunt lots later in the year. I got into 5 different coveys that I don't think have seen a hunter all year. The best was after i pulled a blank on a covey the male pointed and got up in my face, both dogs went on point 50 yards apart. I trusted the male. Nope, they weren't there. I then creeped behind the pup and they got up. 2 shots to finish the day. 30 mph winds can sure humble a guy who only missed one shot in the last 2 days.

Gator · Nov 15, 2011

Seems you are having a great season with the dogs doing well and piling up a good amount of chukars.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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Califelkslayer · Nov 24, 2011

Tuesday I hunted 6 1/2 hours. After 4 hours I finally got into a covey, twice, not a shot. An hour later my male went on point and we crept down hill til I got in range. A nice triple with the wind howling. Sad for a 6.5 hour day.

The next day I was going to take the female only BUT when I let the dogs out @ 430 AM, the male went and sat at my truck. Must have been the camo pants i was wearing. We hunted 4+ plus hours and never saw a bird. i saw simi=fresh sign. It used to be my favorite Keli spot until 2 years ago. There are birds there, we just didn't find em. Saw a covey of quail on the way out and gat a couple of them.

Saturday is for revenge. just me and the male to really get their attention BUT I'm thinking this hunt will wear me out so I won't hunt Sunday thus the female will be along too.

Since the 9ers played today, I have nothing but HUNNY DOs for Sunday so the local quail hunt might be in order. The female needs a quail day anyways.

Califelkslayer · Dec 14, 2011

That Saturday I extracted a little revenge but was off all of last week and it was tough with a capital T.

No snow so the birds can be anywhere. They've been pressured so they are skittish so they don't hold for point unless it's the idea set-up.

But getting out there beats working and no skunks recently, just long, long hunts with a handful of birds.

Hoping for snow to concentrate the birds.

Califelkslayer · Jan 10, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Jan-11-12 AT 00:43AM (MST)[p]My season took a back seat to the Holidays and a mini vacation with the Wife. I have 11 more hunting days left until the Nv season ends.

it's been tough lately. But the week after X-mas i was out with a friend and his pup. First time out for the pup. First 2 coveys my male pointed, the pup got downwind, smelled the birds and flushed them. My dog stayed steady until after the birds flushed. We ended getting a point from the pup right at the end of the day.

Highlight of the season that day. I'd hunted sidehill down a ridge with the wind at my back for about a mile so I could loop back on the top with the wind right. As soon as we hit the top my dog got birdy. 20-25 mph wind. My partner noticed after awhile and said, "Chuck's birdy" Another 150 yards and he's on the edge of the top. he smells 3 different chutes between rimrock and chooses the middle one. I told my partner to follow the dog with his pup. I'm behind until my partner until he decides to go out on a point, thinking the birds were below it. I assume the position behind Chuck and follow. Point, creep, point, creep, point, creep. We do this for about 12 minutes, 400+ yards. if he gets too agressive on his creeping, I tone him and he waits til i get to him. Then we hit about 150 yards of solid cheatgrass, no rocks. i'm thinking that i lost all of this elevation and they're gonna flush wild in this thin cover. At the end of the cheatgrass flat there is a small rim rock. As I get there, they start flushing. So windy i only get one shot off before they're outta range. On the way back up to my partner at a different angle, he points again. another 150 yard point and creep exercise and 4 birds flush. On the first covey Chuck was AT LEAST 600 yards from the covey when he got birdy. his first point was AT LEAST 400 yards from the covey. And no!!! they didn't run. They were scattered below that rim rock. When they run they all get up together (usually) these didn't. And they don't run downhill in that stuff. My partner was impressed. He said, "If that was my dog, I'd follow him anywhere." Loosing 400 yards of elevation in steep stuff at the end of a long hunt takes confidence in your dog.

Califelkslayer · Jan 14, 2012

8 hunting days left. Was out the last 3 days. I took a freind and 2 flatlanders the last 2 days. They seemed hooked. They are from the north coast and the elevation and lava rock got them i think. But I'm thinking they'll be back.

My friend's dog was foot sore from yesterday so him and one of his friends took my male and the other friend and I hunted over the female. We agreed to meet at 1100 hours so we could get back in time for the 9ers game. Anyways we were about 500 yards from the quad when i saw them on the other ridge. We talked on the radio and my friend bragged they had 5 birds and we only had 4. I told him, "Not so quick. I'm following tracks in the dirt!"

Instead of going downhill to the quad. I followed the dog. Nice point and a bird. Smiling!!!