Lions in Chukar Country

[Birddoggin]

Anyone ever had a lion go after their dog while chukar hunting? A fellow had that happen in Nevada today. Fortunately he was close enough to take care of the cat before it took care of his dog. I know they are where I have hunted, but I havn't seen one. It is always in the back of my mind though since I let my dog get out there two or three hundred yards to cover ground.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

I hear about 1 every year. Dogs have been killed. I tried to keep my dogs within 70 yards but even then it could still happen.

 

[ccc23454]

Couple years ago a hunting buddy was out locally for a 2 day deer hunt and took his dog. Hiking in he seen a wolf pack on ridge across from him but they were working in other direction. He got to place he wanted to set camp on a flat spot on a small ridge, started making camp. While pounding on tent stakes with a rock he noticed something moving below them on ridge. His dog was laying down exhausted from hike in. He watched a lion sneak up the ridge all the way focused on the dog never him. Lion got to bush near his camp spot and laid down watching dog, when he moved from behind that bush my buddy ended that lions sneak attack. Dog was still laying there entire time. While skinning the cat my buddy watched a curious grizzly circling below where he worked on cat, luckily it finally got his wind and bolted. He texts me on Satellite basically: " seen wolves, grizz and had to kill lion, no deer wonder why, back saturday". So yes lions target dogs, there're numerous articles talking about in some areas lions survive on coyotes and recently about a yellowstone wolf so why not our bird dogs. Keep them safe

 

[Salmonchaser]

Been several articles on lions killing solitary wolves in the northwest. Hunting cats with hounds was outlawed 20 years or more ago in Oregon and Washington so perhaps the cats have lost their fear of K9s. In any event I have bumped into a few cats chukar hunting in the snake river area, 2 times in the last decade. Both seemed pretty intent on the dogs (shorthairs). Got socked in by heavy fog one time on the Snake, settled in fast, kept the dogs close and decided to head down to the road 1000 feet below. Of a sudden the dogs came racing back to me hot on their tails were a couple of wolves. They were gone in an instant. Had wolves come after the dogs hunting ptarmigan in Alaska, result was a little different. Bumped black bears hunting chukar and grouse in Oregon and Washington but never had any problem with them. When I was guiding in Alaska I carried a rifle when we did Ptarmigan hunts. Always gave the clients a couple of slugs to quick load in their shotguns if needed. I don’t think we hunted a day in the 20 years we did Ptarmigan we didn’t have to deal with Griz. Never had to shoot one but it was close a couple of times.
Worst injuries for my dogs were caused by Tposts left lying on the ground and old school barb wire.