Chukar Forecast for 2009 Season
09-04-2009, 07:44 AM
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Chukar Forecast for 2009 Season
Chukar Forecast, 2009
By Larry Brown
It hasn't been a great last couple seasons for chukar hunters. States such as Oregon and Idaho, with long-term average harvests of 100,000 birds per year, have recorded totals of half that, or less. However, this year it looks as if bird numbers are turning the corner.
Considering that chukar hunters in Oregon bagged an estimated 222,000 birds in 2005, recent harvests below 50,000 look very poor in comparison. However, it looks as if the bottom was hit in 2007. Bird numbers were recovering last season, and going into this season, counts are up about 70%. The eastern half of the state has a lot of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land open to hunting. And southeast Oregon, which had been in a severe drought, has recovered. Although this year's harvest may not make the 100,000 mark, it looks like another big step in the right direction.
Idaho is another major chukar state that bottomed out in 2007. That year's harvest of 47,000 birds was the lowest since 1997, and a significant drop from the 109,000 birds bagged in 2006. And although final figures are not yet in, last year doesn’t appear to have been any better than 2007, and maybe somewhat worse. This season's counts, however, tell a different story. Flights in the southwest region spotted nearly twice as many birds as last year. And while flights were not conducted in the Clearwater region, all indications are that bird numbers are up there as well.
Nevada chukar numbers also took a nosedive in 2007. The 61,000 bird harvest was a significant drop from 104,000 in 2006. Final tallies aren't yet available from 2008, nor is this year's forecast. However, it looked as if the 2008 season would see at least some recovery from 2007. The western part of the state is best for chukar, and Nevada's traditional top counties are Humboldt, Washoe, and Pershing.
For those interested in detailed information on chukar in the West, the Nevada Division of Wildlife has an excellent publication available: “The Chukar Partridge: Its Introduction, Life History and Management”. You can view it online or order a hard copy from the Nevada DOW.
JW
Traveling Wingshooter Newsletter
By Larry Brown
It hasn't been a great last couple seasons for chukar hunters. States such as Oregon and Idaho, with long-term average harvests of 100,000 birds per year, have recorded totals of half that, or less. However, this year it looks as if bird numbers are turning the corner.
Considering that chukar hunters in Oregon bagged an estimated 222,000 birds in 2005, recent harvests below 50,000 look very poor in comparison. However, it looks as if the bottom was hit in 2007. Bird numbers were recovering last season, and going into this season, counts are up about 70%. The eastern half of the state has a lot of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land open to hunting. And southeast Oregon, which had been in a severe drought, has recovered. Although this year's harvest may not make the 100,000 mark, it looks like another big step in the right direction.
Idaho is another major chukar state that bottomed out in 2007. That year's harvest of 47,000 birds was the lowest since 1997, and a significant drop from the 109,000 birds bagged in 2006. And although final figures are not yet in, last year doesn’t appear to have been any better than 2007, and maybe somewhat worse. This season's counts, however, tell a different story. Flights in the southwest region spotted nearly twice as many birds as last year. And while flights were not conducted in the Clearwater region, all indications are that bird numbers are up there as well.
Nevada chukar numbers also took a nosedive in 2007. The 61,000 bird harvest was a significant drop from 104,000 in 2006. Final tallies aren't yet available from 2008, nor is this year's forecast. However, it looked as if the 2008 season would see at least some recovery from 2007. The western part of the state is best for chukar, and Nevada's traditional top counties are Humboldt, Washoe, and Pershing.
For those interested in detailed information on chukar in the West, the Nevada Division of Wildlife has an excellent publication available: “The Chukar Partridge: Its Introduction, Life History and Management”. You can view it online or order a hard copy from the Nevada DOW.
JW
Traveling Wingshooter Newsletter
