Late Season Chukar Hunting

Abby (German Shorthair) on point (Utah chukars)

Late season chukars can be difficult. I know, I have had a tough time putting any in the bag the last two weekends. They get really wily later in the season when there’s snow on the ground. A week ago Saturday was fun, because of the snow and bad weather It kept everyone away. The intermittent snow flurries and fog made me feel like I was the only one ever to set foot on the range. The chukars, however, were smarter than I was.

Yesterday, I did hear another couple of shots, but never saw anyone else hunting. The chukars time and time again got the better of me. They love the game of ” you chase me to the top of the mountain and then I fly away” game. The dogs would get birdy and track birds up and up, I would know we were on hot running birds by their tracks in the fresh snow. Three or four times their tracks would run just over the top of the hill and take to the air. The only way I was able to get the jump on some birds was to pull the dogs off some running birds, circle around to the back side of the mountain and come over the top on to them.

I have decided that chukars aren’t gentlemen like bobwhites. They are low down guerrilla fighters and that’s all there is to it. We still have 6 weeks left of chukar season left, and I intend to make the most of it.

Utah Chukar Country


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