Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game Chukars Must be Destroyed

Just got back from hunting chukars in Hell's Canyon.

Who ever imported these little taliban is insane. I've hunted upland birds all my life but this is the most frustrating, irritating, cranky, death defying upland hunting there is. Closest analogy I could come up with is Bighorn Sheep hunting without any breaks.

My buddy summed it up perfectly. The first time is for fun, all subsequent trips are for revenge!

Dan

I couldn't agree with you more, I've been taking out revenge on them for over twenty years but they still laugh at me every time I go hunting. I even forgive my dog for the occasional bite mark in a breast for I'm certain she too is carrying on a vendetta.

We did locate some good chukar hunting on relatively level ground this season. This is the first time I have ever found birds in an area that was easy walking. One has better odds of me telling them my PIN number than the location of this hunt area.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

A little alpine combat is good for the body and soul..... There truly is no better eating that chukar after a hard day in the field. I can't think of a better way to get in shape for elk season than a week of chukar hunting.... JMO, Dutch.

IMO, coming from New England and hunting 'patrige' as a youngster, it was a no brainer that when I moved to Idaho 30+ years ago, I wanted to hunt more of the same. Big Mistake ! Thousands of $$ invested in dogs and related toys to make feathers hit the rocky slopes. But I'd do it all over again.....slow learner or bad habits are hard to break. Nothing better to not have to deal with land owners and just travel like a hunter needs to. Besides, last Sunday I saw more deer chukar hunting than when carrying a rifle.

You know some of us are slow learners. This past weekend I went again and spent today at the Chiropracter getting my back fixed.... Did kill of the little boogers though. My buddies dog has had worn out pads since the Hells Canyon debacle and is now wearing my dogs boots!

We did see Bighorns, mulies and about 200 elk in addition to the Taliban so it was fun.

I moved to Chukarland from eastern Montana where you can kill about four different game birds in any given day -on the flats. This is hard.

My back hurts. WAHHHHH! Next year!

Dan

My Friend Don says he hates two bird species, Chukars and mearns quail.

He bought a quality riot shotgun and had briley chokes installed. He went to Idaho where, according to him they don't have a magazine capacity limit. He shot 6 on a covey rise and almost got the seventh with a late riser. Now that is how to help deal with those devils!

we hunt the Wa side of the snake river for them quite extensively and they can be a pain to hit indeed, its a long walk in nasty terrain. the quote above about every subsequent time being revenge is very true. we have a small spot not far off the road that has a small bowl where the wind seems to always be blowing stright uphill and the chuckar congregate at the top. they flush down hill and we tend to jump it about once a day if we havent filled our limits yet and it is always good for 6-10 birds for 4 guys, and like above no i will not tell you where it is

Azshooter, I believed this "hate" topic was in jest fore I admit to loving chukar. I seldom carry an automatic into the field and only drop one and at the most two birds per rise. It's sad to hear of an individual who's sole goal is to kill birds. And it's talk such as your's and your friend's actions that will lead to Idaho implementing a magazine limit law.

AZ

My friends take the plugs out as well. I'm not quite there (although I have a spiffy little 20 ga Model 12 with 7 shots - hmmmm) and have been using my Charles Daly SXS. But the way I've been hitting, a couple of extra shots won't make much difference in the final covey size. Just make the ammo company's happy.

You are quite right on the Original posting - Like Rooster Pheasants in the late season, it is a love/hate relationship. I either love to hate them or hate to love them! All I know is that I really get beat up chasing them and they taste great! If they tasted bad I doubt very much that I'd be out trashing myself like this.

Ah, well season's over - now I'll appreciate them as they come in and drink out of the sprinklers. Maybe I'll put some seed out.... There's lots of snow on the ground.

DB

heck yes, they taste great! I used to hunt 'em in SE WA state, near Anatone in Asotin county. and they do have a way of laughin' at you from way across the slope, kind of like "come 'n get me" Kid

Kind of like a beautiful woman - tough as hell to get , but oh so alluring... Tantalizing, worth getting the tar beat outta you just for the chance. And when you get that chance don't blow it cause it ain't going to happen again!

Mountain Quail aren't too far behind Chukars as far as being in nasty territory. I hate them too!

I have to join in on this Bon Fire. Chukars are my favorite bird because they taste the best and when you run into the other hunters, SOMETIME, they are some of the best examples of hunters that there are. And a funny thing is that you can laugh just like the Chukars do when a Game agent is below trying to figure out how to check you when you're 1800ft above him or more.

Chukars Forever!

I have been chasing the gray devils for 40 years, and love nothing better! Pheasants are big and gaudy, doves are fun, high volume targets, quail are a gentlemen's game. Chukars are brawlers, tough to hit and knock down, and even if you win you know you've been tried.

I used to hunt with a pump, killed lots of triples, but it's not about numbers anymore. I just like to carry a double. My wirehair and I hunt as a team. She doesn't bump birds, and I don't shoot any she hasn't pointed. We enjoy being there, and if you kill too many you're done too quick. 3-4 hours is a nice hunt anymore, and if there are many birds around we're usually done about then.

As much as my brother and I love the king (pheasant) we love the chukar more. They are for sure the best eating of all game birds. Making me hungry just thinking about them. They do take their toll on you though.

Sounds like you miss a lot! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That means it's only a 60 degree slope instead of 90.

The only foul(spelling is correct) I was ever tempted to shoot on the ground.