Thread: Chukar Season Opens Saturday!

Originally Posted by Trout

I know of a couple of small groups,4-8 but not much increase in population either over the years.Yet there's plenty of quail about in the same areas.

I just had a resident covey of about 100 Valley Quail walk by my house, coming for a drink and raid on the dicki-bird feeders. The season closed two weeks ago.

Our chukar were way down for several years and might crash this summer. Our drought this winter has been about the worst I've seen in my 77 years here. Our birds depend on grasshoppers to survive the summers, and with no grass or weeds they'll be starving in droves. Also, chukar lose nests if spring is wet and cold. The eggs don't hatch, or the young chicks die from cold or respiratory ailments. That might be what limits your bird populations.

I know the bird well and shot my first 70 seasons ago.