Okay, so I know this isn't the first thread about blue grouse, but I'm pondering taking a week off and running out to a certain part of north central W*oming. I guess my biggest question is what type of habitat should I be looking for both blue grouse and chukar? Obviously, I know I won't find them in the same places. My plan for chukar is to hunt very early in the morning at lower elevations, and then go up and hunt further up where its cooler. I will also be doing fly fishing as well to rest the dog and also because I can't not fly fish if I'm that close to trout. Paging Dr. Otto @Jbotto
Can anyone school me on blue grouse and chukar?
- Thread starter NR_Hunter
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MarvB
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Can’t answer the blue grouse portion here but when we hunt the Owyhee we target quail along the river in the Am and then chukar along the rims in the afternoon. Makes for a fun mixed bag (and some tuckered out doggies).
MarvB
Well-known member
No need to look…cheatgrass will find you and your dogs! 
Wyoming chukar habitat might be different than Idaho/oregon/nevada.
Generally, chukars like ridges with rock eyebrows or outcroppings. Primary cheatgrass type cover with some grease brush and sage. However, I’m not sure if this is true in Wyoming based on a few Wyoming chukar hunt videos I’ve seen. Do a little research and make sure you’re hunting the small area that has chukar.
In a completely different area, I finds blues at the top of the mountains in sage brush ridges surrounded by timber. Typically, I find blues in the morning in the sage brush then they hang out in the timber.
If you’re trying to hunt both, I’d start high for blues and then hunt chukar. However, I’m a Chukar guy so I’d skip blues and just chase chukars.
Generally, chukars like ridges with rock eyebrows or outcroppings. Primary cheatgrass type cover with some grease brush and sage. However, I’m not sure if this is true in Wyoming based on a few Wyoming chukar hunt videos I’ve seen. Do a little research and make sure you’re hunting the small area that has chukar.
In a completely different area, I finds blues at the top of the mountains in sage brush ridges surrounded by timber. Typically, I find blues in the morning in the sage brush then they hang out in the timber.
If you’re trying to hunt both, I’d start high for blues and then hunt chukar. However, I’m a Chukar guy so I’d skip blues and just chase chukars.
Goatshoes
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I have pondered trips and then failed to follow through, much to my regret. My strongest advice is, go! I have hunted both (here in California the blues are called sootys, but the same damn bird). I think Brymoore's photos are spot on as is the rest of the advice. As far as getting schooled goes, the chukar will do that.
. If you find the blues, you'll school them.Have a great and safe trip.
El Jason
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Sent you a PM
I read the title of the thread and my first thought was “ oh just wait, you don’t need to be schooled on chukars, the chukars will do the schooling “.
There’s no bird as adept at schooling hunters as the chukar. The first time you hunt them it’s because you think it’s going to be fun, after that it’s for revenge. The sick part is that eventually you crave it.
You’ve been warned.
There’s no bird as adept at schooling hunters as the chukar. The first time you hunt them it’s because you think it’s going to be fun, after that it’s for revenge. The sick part is that eventually you crave it.
You’ve been warned.
Awesome photos. That's super helpful. I guess my reasoning for hunting the chukars early is thinking that snakes might be less active early in the morning. I have no idea if that's a good idea or not. My dog has not had snake training, and although his "leave it" command is pretty damn solid, I sure as hell don't trust it.
What month? The closer you get to mid October the less you should be concerned. If hot, yes, I’d hunt chukar in the morning because the heat will make scenting hard plus wipe out your dogs.
I’ve never snake trained my dogs. I’ve never had any issues but I might just be lucky. Carry Benadryl should they get bit.
It's going to be the week of the 15th of this month.
Yeah. Get in and out of the chukar country in the morning. I’d be standing at the ridge at dawn. Try to hunt around springs or water tanks. Birds will be close.
Personally, I’d make blues a secondary bird.
Is this mainly because blue grouse are less exciting? I mean, I can kill all the ruffed grouse I want in MN, and they seem fairly similar, with blues maybe even dumber.
I'm thinking it's going to be cool enough up top that I can leave the dog in the kennel in the truck mid-day up high and I could trout fish while he sleeps.
Obviously it’s what experience you want to have. Sorta like women, some guys like blondes and others brunettes. I like big open range dog work and coveys of chukars.
I don’t know how many days you have but you can split time between the two birds. Your problem is going to be heat and burning out your dogs. Where I hunt at 8k’ it’s hot enough by 10ish right now I call the hunt. We start around 7am. Dogs are spent anyways this early in the season.
El Jason
Well-known member
I actually think shooting blue grouse off point is one of the harder things to doing upland hunting. It’s a load of fun and very challenging.
Salmonchaser
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This!
I have a single dog, works close, and is a springer spaniel. He’s pretty well conditioned, but he runs stupid hard, so heat exhaustion is really in the forefront of my mind. I’m almost thinking maybe I should wait until October? I don’t have any major plans this fall so I’m super flexible. I just hate tent camping when it’s colder out but maybe I suck it up for more time hunting.
I’m probably not gonna get much for dry fly fishing but I think I like streamer fishing enough anyways. Plus less snakes.
Fly fishing in October can be good - Blue wing olives.
I think an October hunt would be more productive with the cooler weather. Dog won’t burn out as bad nor you,
October isn’t a bed month to tent camp. I have a backpack hunt and a truck camp hunt scheduled in October. November might make me think twice.
El Jason
Well-known member
I tent camp all the way through January. 
