Having an opened mind

I was in Stanley Idaho recently visiting with some of my archery buddies. Although I don't hunt big game much any more it's still fun to go up to the state shoot and B.S. with some of the guys I used to shoot with. Some of them were darn good hunters fifteen or twenty years ago. We packed many elk out together. Most of the guys are in their early 60's now and getting elk are few and far between. There were several reasons they mentioned for their lack of success these days, but none of them were, "I just don't want to work that hard for an elk anymore."
The wolves are killing the elk, it's too hot in September now, too many people, fires, just no elk anymore, and many other excuses for their lack of success. Since I'm not out there chasing elk anymore I try and keep an open mind. Maybe the elk numbers are down.
But one statement made me wonder if that was the problem. One guy said "I'm glad nobody got an elk and ruined a good hunting trip." That statement was made a couple other times during the evening. They were referring to having to pack an animal out would ruin the trip. I admit, that can be some hard work, but it was part of the fun of it when I was younger. As I got older it became less fun and that is one of the reasons I took up chukar hunting. I asked a friend that I hunted with several times if he had been down to the "Thursday hole". That was a place in unit 36 you could always find bulls but if you didn't get your elk by Thursday there was no way you could get him out if you had to be home Sunday. I have never been in there when I didn't at least have a bull offer a shot. They all joked and said only a fool would go in there.
I understand that mind set. But the point I am getting at is, these older friends of mine are the ones saying there just aren't any elk anymore. They don't want to say "hey don't ask me, I spend most of my time in camp now enjoying the camaraderie." These are the people that have more time to complain to the fish and game or whomever because they are retired now and have nothing else to do. During hunting season, go to some of the local coffee shops and listen to the group of retired gentlemen talking about the way it used to be and how the fish and game have screwed it up. You don't see a bunch of young hard hunters sitting there. They are either at work or out hunting hard trying to find the game.
Don't hang me yet If you are over 60. I'm right there with you. The hills have gotten steeper for me also. But I refuse to say the opportunities aren't out there the same as twenty years ago. Yes, it might have changed some, but they're still out there.
What has this got to do with chukars? Since February 2010 we have been having a lot of discussions about chukar/hun numbers. Idaho fish and game commissioners put out a survey to sportsman to see how hunters felt about lowering the limit on these birds. Evidently the hunters felt like the numbers were bad enough to warrant lowering the limit. In 2011 chukar/hun limits will go down by two birds. I am trying to be open minded about this decision but it is hard to see the justification. As long as I can remember the limit has been 8 birds. There have been some great years and there have been some poor years, but the bird numbers have always seemed to stabilize without changing the limits.
I have been involved in a lot of discussions about this matter in the last six months. I have heard a lot of pros and cons. But once again I here the same old things from mainly people in my age group. "I used to see chukars here all the time, but I didn't see one chukar today when I DROVE down that road". One guy I occasionally chased chukars with has become a big Boise State football fan. I think that's great. He'd rather be at the tail gate party than out chasing birds. His reason. There just aren't any birds anymore. The real reason is tail gating is a lot easier and he doesn't want to admit the hills are getting harder to walk. Of course when he filled out the fish and game form he wanted to lower the limit so if he went out chukar hunting again it would be easier to obtain a limit. Plus he might get a limit without having to hike so long and hard.
The Upland Idaho forum has had several posts on this subject. I don't know the ages of most of the people on that site but I'm guessing they are of the younger generation. Most talk of seeing large number of birds, even though sometimes hard to get. They seem to be more willing to work with fish and game and see if we have a number problem and if there is something we can do about it. Some of the other forums want to beat up on the authorities rather than trying to solve the problem.
Here is another statement made by a hunter who believes the chukar number are at a catastrophic low. "I went to one of my favorite spots. When I got there it had been burned earlier in the year. We hunted it for about a half a mile and got up two covey of birds that flew away before we could get to them because the grass was so low. We just packed up and went home." How can you make a determination on bird numbers from that? I think when you have as strong of an opinion as he had than you should give a little more effort.
I'm sure by now many of you think that it is about numbers to me. It's not about numbers. It's about a reason to be out there. I am sorry I am not like most people and just enjoy the beauty of it all. I enjoy the beauty but I need more. I wish there was a shoot and release program for birds. I wish the dogs understood that a point and flush was good enough. I wish I felt that I would've hit that bird had I shot at it but I know my shooting ability is not always that good. There are days when  a four bird limit is hard to get. Those days would keep me out in the hills. There are days when a eight bird limit comes too soon and I wish it were twelve.
Bottom line is I hope the commissioners made their decision based on sound biologic evidence and not just by a survey. Surveys are usually filled out by people that have more time on there hands than others. The other point is, you younger guys, get involved and know what's happening. Don't take the word of us old farts and get out there and find out for yourselves. Let your young legs find what we can't get to. Idaho has lots of game and game birds. Get yourself a good dog and get out there and enjoy the resources we have.