2023-2024 Chukar Adventures

From my experience, if you're seeing chuckars while moose hunting then you're in the wrong place for moose.
It was a “checking out new country” adventure on the last afternoon. However, none of the country seems like moose country, but we saw them. Just need to find bigger ones.
 
Been chasing them for 55 years. Mostly in Hells Canyon and Steens Mountain. First hunt was for adventure every one since has been for revenge. I broke my leg once, buddy broke his ankle. Too many hand injuries,from cuts to broken fingers to count. A few bad falls resulted in some getting lacerations to head and face. Fine guns nearly destroyed, 870s too. I left an Ithaca on the hill once, before I used a sling. I had to carry a dog down and couldn’t manage both the gun and dog. Dog survived but the next day I never found the gun.
I don’t hunt them in the snow any longer, thats how most of the injuries noted above occurred. Frozen ground after a rain or melted snow is also bad news.
My brother called yesterday, Wana hunt Richland on Friday“ He asked. Thankfully I”m leaving for Montana tomorrow. The dogs are in their teens they are only good for 1/2 day or so. I’ll get out a couple times this year but not every weekend.
 

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My chukar days are pretty much over but I had a good run. I'm on my 3rd and last Brittany and he's in his geriatric years, blind and mostly deaf.. All 3 lived over 16 years. For the last 30 years I've been able to hunt them right out my front door and had some terrain that was much easier than the typical chukar country.
It's just not the same hunting without a dog, both in fun and success, but I'm going to take some short hikes soon. Great tasting game bird.
 
One of my chukar spots is a rocky finger with bolders spread across it. To get to it I climb an adjacent ridge and horseshoe through a basin to the top of the finger. It takes me about 10 minutes to get to the ridge once I get in view of it. If there are chukars on the ridge, they start bad mouthing me the moment they see me until I get to the tip of the ridge to seek revenge. I get one chance at the birds then they fly across a deep canyon to never never land.
 
One of my chukar spots is a rocky finger with bolders spread across it. To get to it I climb an adjacent ridge and horseshoe through a basin to the top of the finger. It takes me about 10 minutes to get to the ridge once I get in view of it. If there are chukars on the ridge, they start bad mouthing me the moment they see me until I get to the tip of the ridge to seek revenge. I get one chance at the birds then they fly across a deep canyon to never never land.
Bastards!
 
@neffa3, this looks like an awesome, tough bird hunt. Spectacular scenery. What elevation are you hoofing around at?
 
I talked my daughter into accompanying me yesterday. She had a sleepover that night so she was dragging a bit. The dog also broke point twice and took off after coveys. It was so uncharacteristic that I wasn't sure what he was doing at first. Lit him up on the second and we didn't have any more grief. He might have even made up for them with two retrieves to hand.

I'm definitely the weak link. I can't hit the broadside of a barn.

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We went to Nevada (Reno area) for the first time Chuckar hunting with a long time Chuckar hunter last weekend and did pretty well.

It was a learning experience for all of us but we did well. Now I'd like to find land in California, any places anyone is willing to share?
 

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