Barb and I got a chance to take a hike through some chukar country yesterday. It was a blue bird 50 degree day and I had high expectations of seeing some chukars. Barb was off looking for sheds. Last year she found a monster mule deer shed that would score over 200 points if both sides were equal. She was never that excited to hunt sheds until Conner pointed out what a trophy it was. Now she’s hooked.
Meanwhile the boys and I were checking out the chukars. What a day we had. We spent about 3 hours on the hill and I’d guess we saw between 100 and 150 chukars. Those are the kind of numbers that make for a great beginning to a Spring for many of nests on the ground. In this first video I only got a dozen or so chukars taking off, but the ridge was loaded. The boys had point after point, but I either had the camera off or pointed in the wrong direction. It was the hunter’s dream ridge. In a fifteen minute time we had over forty birds pointed within gun range and I could have taken at least 8 shots. I know that if the dogs were retrieving they probably would have flushed many of them, but it’s a nice dream. Wow, how they held. I even saw some running across the snow.
We even found a pair of huns.
On this last video, Grady was on a so so point but was looking across at the other ridge. It amazes me how the dogs know. I don’t know if he saw the birds, smelled them or what. But when he got there he busted about 20 birds before he went on point. Being tired of holding the camera up to my face as I stumbled around with a cane in my other hand, I put the camera away. The two dogs pointed at least another 20 birds when I got there.
Camera work wasn’t that exciting and I’m thinking on getting one of those hat cams. It’d be great to be able to show all the birds I ended up seeing. I’m sure you’d be in agreement that there are plenty of chukars left for breeding. More than I can recall seeing in the past 15 or so years. A Spring like last year might produce that banner year we all wish for.
Any thoughts on a good hat cam? Needs to be fairly simple for this simple minded chukar hunter.
The Reigning Chukar Champions 
I have a go pro with a head set. I also have the wrist remote. I had an Aimcam glasses and they were worthless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Randy Schulz, who writes a blog, “A Bird Hunter’s Thoughts” and has a YouTube channel with the same name did a video last year on the very topic about weather to use a chest mounted go pro or a hat. My recollection is he devised a hat that worked.
LikeLike
Thanks David and Ron. I’m heading into town tomorrow to see what they have. I think the head mount will work best for me but time will tell.
LikeLike
You are to my west, and I’m amazed by your weather. If I ran into polar bears right now, I would not be hugely surprised.
I commenced the 2023 season with attempted ice fishing, unsuccessfully, today. My entry on the same:
https://lexanteinternet.blogspot.com/2023/03/lex-anteinternet-2022-season-ends-2023.html
Turkey starts mid-April, and like for geese, I’m a jump shooter, or stalker for turkey. I’ll probably ice fish until then.
The past year hasn’t been the best for me health wise, even though I’m not yet 60 (just a couple of months). I’m glad for the dog, I’ll note, as on days when I’d likely figure “oh heck, I’ll sleep on the couch”, he gets me moving.
LikeLike
Yeoman. Love the picture of your dog sitting in the passenger seat. Grady sits the same way and I often see people smile as we drive by. So cool that you have so many fun hobbies. I did some goose hunting with my grandson and he provided some great hunts for me while I was unable to walk with the boot on my leg. I too am looking forward to turkey hunting but wish the dogs could be with me. But I have a problem of being obsessed with chukars and the dogs and I spend most of the off season doing what we love best, looking and thinking chukars. We’re not too bright.
LikeLike