I went back out yesterday to a pretty good chukar spot and was very disappointed. Because of the heat, the dogs and I got out super early to cover some good chukar country. The short story is we never saw a chukar.
As expected, the cover was very heavy with grasshoppers and other bugs everywhere. To my surprise, even a few of the water seeps still had water. There is no reason to not see chukars. I did see chukar tracks on a few of the dusty cow trails, both large and small. The tracks were on the trails leading to the water sources.
I’m getting a little spooked. I’ve had guys tell me of days like that but I never felt that I couldn’t go into an area like this and not find a chukar. Not a good feeling at all.
I even sat in my truck in the same area late in the evening to hopefully hear some birds with no results except two bucks. They would get up and feed for about fifteen minutes than lay back down and be invisible in the tall grass. 15 minutes later they got up and went through the same routine.
But all is not lost. On the drive off the hill I got some welcome news from the chukars cousin, the huns. As I got lower on the mountain I came across about thirty 3/4 grown chicks and a few adults chasing hoppers. They scattered quickly. Twice more before the light faded I had two quail covey’s with half grown chicks scatter off the road. I can’t help to think that if those species did well the chukar had to also. I’m just not doing something right in these heavy cover conditions.
8 of the last 14 days have hit 100 degrees and it looks like 7 more straight days of the same. One day is scheduled to hit 107. Too hot for me and the boys so we’ll be staying close to the air conditioner and not scouting. I have a few chukar hunting buddies that usually give me some findings about their scouting and will surely pass them on but for now a chukar will have to come to me to get spotted.
It may be 3 weeks or so before I get out and find those chukars I know are out there. I’m having a small procedure on my back Aug. 3 that might keep me down for a few days. But hoping when it’s done, the hills won’t be as much of a challenge and I’ll find where the best bird for pointing dogs is hiding at.
Keep cool and remember “you gotta believe”.
The Reigning Chukar Champions 
Larry, what you experienced was normal for these conditions. Take a break, let a little time pass, I know it’s hard! It’ll all be fine!!
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Thank you. Just something I haven’t ever experienced. You’re right. It will be fine. Luckily with this hot weather it’s going to be easy to take that break. Always glad to hear from another optimist.
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Today was my 3rd scouting trip with no joy. I haven’t seen the first track, chukar, or call. I’ve always seen or heard birds by late July. They should be predictable coming and going from water sources and with the moisture we had my assumption was that numbers would be better therefore increase the probability. Unfortunately, none of my other hunting partners have had a visual nor have they had reports from other sources. They’ll be there but probably not in the numbers I was hoping. Ive been known to be wrong in the past…hope I’m wrong again.
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Those birds can sit really tight in these conditions
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Had chat with a F&G Bio ref hatch reports. He informed me that for his AOR the first hatch was unproductive and mentioned the really wet Spring as the overall primary culprit. Some of us were suspect with the 3 day cool rain event 1st week of Jun…but, he went on to suggest that even in mid to late May the early Hatcher’s in his opinion were also affected to some extent by cool temps and moisture events. Also, he said they’ll be conducting some more scouting by mid Aug to see if the second hatch had better results. It somewhat correlates to other rpts I’ve seen and heard and additionally Larry’s observations. I’m putting my money on the 2nd and 3rd hatches.
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Thanks for the report Steve. I’m liking your optimism on the late hatches. I too believe there will be lot’s of fun to be had on the chukar mountain.
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Good luck on the back issue!
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Thank you. I’m hoping this takes care of a few major issues I’ve developed the last couple of years or maybe when all is done I’ll find out I’m just a puss.
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