Just quit thinking

It's taken me several decades, but I think I finally figured out why some people struggle finding chukars while others seem to always be able to find enough to fill their dinner plate. Don't get me wrong, I don't know if I qualify as one of the elite chukar hunters, but I have covered enough hard miles to qualify myself as a chukar hunter.

It's a known fact, that to qualify at being a true chukar hunter, is that you must be brain dead. Only someone who lacks intelligence would continually chase these devil birds up and down the steep ravines that they tend to like. That being said, I think most hunters who decide to chase the chukar think too much and put them at a disadvantage. I've been trying to think a lot lately, about the why's and wherefore's of chukar hunting, and my bird vest has been a lot lighter because of it. I figured as dry as it's been, the birds must be near water or they might be close to any green up. I've looked over the mountain range and said, "If I were a chukar where would I most likely want to be?" I'd then let Jake loose and head up the mountain.

Tuesday the alectorus chukar smacked me on the side of the head with a piece of sage brush. Jake and I were driving down an old cattle road in a dry ravine that I never would have thought held chukars. The only reason we were there was five miles further on this rocky road was a great place to find birds. You can imagine my surprise when about fifty birds flushed off the road. They split up and flew up the canyon walls about forty yards or so before landing. Jake saw them too. It didn't much look like a place I wanted to hunt, but Jake wanted to give it a try. We drove up the road a quarter of a mile or so and after putting the collar on Jake we headed off. Jake knew exactly where the birds were and I had to persuade him to stay in contact with me.

I flipped a coin to decide which side of the canyon to go on and started up. I knew the birds would probably be running uphill, which soon proved to be right with Jake hot on their tail. I'm not sure, but with Jake being three months shy of two years old, I don't know if he has ever seen this many birds running in the wide open. After I had gained about 300 feet in elevation and Jake about 600, the chukars flew across the canyon to the chukars talking on the other side. Ten minutes into the hunt I was already sweating and discouraged. As I said, I would never have picked this spot to hunt and was ready to head back down when my astro said "dog on point". I couldn't see Jake but suspected maybe he had a straggler on point and it was my duty to get to him. As I crested this arm of the canyon there was a little more cover and Jake had a point on a piece of sage. To my shock, about fifteen birds took off and I managed to knock one down.

The birds flew around the canyon and I decided to pursue a little further. It still wasn't someplace I would probably hunt, but I was already there. By the end of day one this was Jake's take.

These birds were taken in an area that I never even thought birds would survive. No water, no green up, nothing that should attract chukars. Most of the area looked like this.

Point is, I think we over think this chukar stuff. Just get out and hunt. The more miles put on by you and your dog, the more likely to find birds. Jake and I hunted five of the last six days and I logged 31 1/2 miles and Jake logged 109 miles. I have to admit that it will probably the last time I put in those kind of miles on the steep chukar hills because of how bad both Jake and I are hurting tonight. We're going to start spreading those days out some.

My point is, I've been reading a lot of negative comments about the chukar numbers, and although the numbers are still down some, they're still out there. On my five days on the mountain and the back roads I never saw another chukar hunter and only heard two distant shots. People have given up, which is alright with me and Jake. The birds are out there for those who really love to chukar hunt.
I have to admit to not hearing chukars. The first birds I found were chucking, but I never heard another bird the whole week.

That's it for my inspirational speech for this week. I'll blow Jake's horn with a picture essay the rest of the way.

Hustle up here. There are birds everywhere.

I told you.

There's a big one here somewhere.

You know where I'd like to put this one. Quit crippling them.

There down this way.

This mountain is steeper than you think. Try dropping them as soon as they get up.

Hey, we don't got all day. Get over here.

Please quit shooting them downhill.

Try and get this one on top. I'm tired of this up and down stuff while you stand in one spot.

What do you mean they don't hide in the dirt? That's not gophers I'm smelling.

Luckily for Jake, Barb came over and camped with us for our 40th anniversary. She insisted that Jake and I take a break on day five and just take a ride and short hike. Here's a couple of our sightings. This lamb got caught off guard.

Love can you in a lot of trouble.

A short hunt on day six and than home. I didn't even want to go out this morning but the big guy made me. Look how steep this hill is. I hope he misses because the bird will roll forever.

I shouldn't have to listen to this. Would you shut this guy up.

Okay. Enough is enough. This bird could end it all. Don't screw up.

I'll give it to you. That was a great shot. Now can we please go home.

Finally getting away

Jake and I finally got to go to some real chukar country. With the weather cooling down some and a little moisture on the way we decided to head west. Our timing was almost perfect. We set up camp Tuesday evening and woke to a 60 degree and cloudy morning. It was a little warm for 7 a.m. but that turned out to be the high for the day.

After hunting up hill from the reservoir for about an hour and a half, the breeze blowing on my sweaty back started getting a little stiffer and colder and we could see the approaching storm about to hit us.

The wind hit first and at times it was hard even walk against it. But that didn't stop Jake. He didn't seem to have a problem deciphering the different smells to figure out which ones to point.

He was proud of me for shooting so well in the windy conditions. I kept it to myself that the birds that dropped were usually 20 feet from the one I was shooting at. It wasn't long before the rain joined in with the wind and I was soaked. I've been wondering how Jake would handle the rain since he doesn't like swimming. I was pleased to see the water logged dog hunting hard all the way back to the rig. Oh, did I mention that I got a new utv to keep from beating my truck up on those rough roads. Golly Gee, they are so comfortable to ride in when you are soaked to the skin and you have 10 miles to travel in the cold wind before you get back to your enclosed truck. Jake just rolled up in a ball and kept his head hidden under my arm.

Day two was much kinder, 42 degrees and overcast. We had a strong breeze from the south that kept Jake's nose busy most of the morning. Jake finally stretched his distance out and has expanded his range back to about 300 yards. I'm pretty sure he busted a couple of covey's but usually he'd reward my struggling up the hill with a point.

What I did with the gun is left for only Jake and I to know. We had our best day on day two and Jake wanted to show off his trophies.

Knowing Jake and I can't take care of ourselves for more than two days, Barb showed up to take care of us for the next three days. Man, it was great to have a good meal. While I was cleaning some birds for Barb to cook a fellow chukar hunter stopped by and introduced himself. Kevin knew me and vice versa through Upland Idaho and we exchanged some dog stories and than he pointed out that the grouse hunting was pretty good. I took his advice and headed towards the timber edge for a grouse chukar combo which turned out well for Jake.

Not bad for me either.

The rest of day three and four were pretty much the same. Not tons of birds but enough to keep things interesting. Although the temperatures never got above 60 degrees, when there are no clouds and the wind is still,  60 degrees it soon chases you off the hill and with Jake favoring his right front leg we decided to rest on day five. In our four days of hunting, Jake covered over 78 miles and I did 26.

Sometimes birds don't matter

There's nothing more exciting to me than watching my dogs work. Seeing them do what they love, searching for birds with their nose high in the air and then suddenly lock on point is as exciting as it gets for me. But, chukar country offers so much more than just bird hunting and today I was lucky enough to observe one of the mountains wonders.

I wish I could put words together like the "Noisy Plume" can to describe my encounter or had a telephoto lens to snap pictures with to let you see it, but I don't, so you'll have to trust me when I say it was spectacular.

I'm sure many of you have seen rutting elk in the past, as I have, but this was the first time I just sat and watched them for an hour and a half before they disappeared over saddle. The last time I saw rutting bulls like this, I was hunting them so I never got to appreciate how hard a bull works to keep his harem.

As Jake and I ascended the mountain range, I thought I heard a distant bugle, but didn't give it much thought since it seemed so far away. Fifteen minutes later, the roar of an elk stopped me in my tracks. It was so loud, I thought he was withing fifty yards of me. The hill side was wide open with nothing but Jake on it. I looked across the canyon and there were about a half dozen cows watching Jake covering the country. I'm talking domestic cows. I'm starting to think my hearing is really screwed up when another bugle blasts me. Then, I see him about 200 yards away and about thirty yards below the cows. I've seen a lot of elk, but never the real big ones. Those that score 350 plus. This was as good of a six point as I have seen in the wild. I would guess around 320 or 330. Through my binoculars, the big boy gave me every possible view I needed to judge his magnificence.

As I sat there watching, more and more elk appeared, until there were about 50 head intermixed with 8 domestic cows. Some of the elk watched Jake running back and forth with curiosity and when he came and sat by me they went on with their browsing. There were two other five point bulls keeping their distance from the big guy but trying to intermingle with the cows any chance they got and a couple other rag horns and two spikes that kept their distance. Every once in a while a couple of the cows or yearlings would stand on their hind legs and punch at each other as if they were sparring.

The big bull worked the cows like a cowboys horse would work domestic cows. Although I know of no water holes in this area, his right side was solid mud. Every time one of his harem would wander off he would stretch his neck out and make a sprint to move her back with the herd. Afterwards, he would stop and grunt, showing his dominance. Only twice more did he let out a full blown bugle. At one point he had more than half of the ladies pushed up along a fence line running across the hillside. He slowly walked about twenty yards above them as if he were counting them.

Elk must not be able to count well. Over a little rise from the main herd, 8 cows and calves started walking in the opposite direction with the two five points in pursuit. The two younger bulls put on a display of their own. They never bugled but would trot back and forth on the hill side paralleling each other and seeming to be sizing each other up. Twice they stopped and faced each other as if they were ready to duel but never got it done. Eventually those ten elk disappeared over the ridge.

Meanwhile, the main herd finally got over the fence. The cows would just stand on their hind legs and almost step over the highest strand. The calves were a little less sure of themselves and paced back and forth along the fence line until the distance between them and their mother's gave them the courage to make the simple jump over the fence. At this point the big bull was showing less aggressiveness and feeding as he mingled out in front of the cows. The two spikes were now with the cows and the big bull seemed to be okay with it. The two rag horns still kept their distance.

As the sun started hitting the ridge where the elk were they started dispersing more and the bull started moving towards a shaded canyon. His interest in the cows was gone. Two coyotes came over the ridge and walked among the herd as if they belonged and the elk hardly even acknowledged their presence. The elk slowly spread out, feeding their way over to the shaded draw. The two rag horns were now with the herd and feeding. The excitement of the morning rut was gone. The heat had sent the elk to a cooler spot, just as it sent Jake and I back down the mountain to come back on a cooler day to find the birds.

Although Jake and I ended our day as just a sight seeing tour, I still have Conner out there putting meat on the table. This weekend he managed to shoot a 15 inch antelope as well as shoot 1 pheasant, 8 quail, 5 pigeons and 2 doves on the youth pheasant opener with his dad. With all that he still had time to play linebacker in his optimist football game, which they won. I hadn't even held a gun when I was 12.

Fantastic Sept. weather

You don't get much great September chukar hunting weather but we got some the last two days, with another to follow tomorrow. Sadly, Jake and I need to take tomorrow off to get a few things done. I mean, when was the last time you hunted chukar in the fog in September?

That was on the 28th and today we got to hunt with a strong breeze after a night of rain. Both days should have produced good hunting, but the birds were hard to find. Yesterday produced four or five small covey's of chukar (no more than six birds per covey) and our first hun encounter of the year. Three birds in the hun covey. Jake had some great points and retrieves and ranged great, but I felt he deserved more action for putting in 26 miles. I did see enough sign to think there were birds somewhere that we were missing.

Today he pointed a three bird covey and I proceeded to miss the two easiest shots of the year. This was with an 18 mile jaunt around the mountain. The area we hunted today showed no sign of better things to come and we'll cross it off the return list for 2014.

With the negative new I just gave, I do have one positive note. Unlike Matt, I at least had my shotgun with me while I was hunting.

 Don't get disgruntled too soon, though. The areas I've hunted so far this year are local areas and aren't prime chukar areas even though I usually find more birds than I have the last two years. We'll soon be heading out on some trips where hopefully Jake will be able to have ten or fifteen encounters a day with bigger covey's of birds. The kind of day that makes your dog dream of points and retrieves at night.

Women got the right to vote. What about dogs?

Barbara just got through fixing a great dish from the chukars the big guy and I got yesterday. She aroused the big guy from his normal prone position on the couch with a come and get it, I cooked the chukars you got yesterday. Immediately the hair raised on my back. "What does she mean that he got?" I believe there was a team effort on the birds. In fact, if you look at the miles traveled and vertical feet gained, I worked a lot harder than he did.

So, I decided right there and then, I was going to share in the feast. I immediately climbed up to the table and claimed my doghood. I agreed to take only 1/3 of the portion, since fats there weighs almost three times what I do.

All you other hunting dogs out there need to join in with me. Yes, we finally got to ride in the front of the truck with our human partners and get to sleep in the house with them, but let's not let it stop there. We work hard and deserve more equality. If we don't start standing up for our rights, it won't be long before they have us driving and carrying our own water.

Hit the dinner table you studs and bitches, it's a new world out there.

Season opener

After sitting out opening day to watch Conner play football, Jake and I woke up early on Sunday morning and headed for a favorite chukar spot. Knowing it was going to be warm, we headed up the hill at first light. It wasn't long before Jake showed his style with a fine point on a small covey of chukar.

The birds flushed without me being able to get off a shot but it was still a great way to start the season. From that point things changed. We went the next hour and a half without seeing a bird. There were occasional feathers along the trails and tracks in the dust that told us there were birds around, but Jake was having a hard time finding them for me. Finally, I came around the corner to find Jake on a motionless point at about twenty yards. As I reached for my camera a small covey of chukar exploded from the brush in front of him. I picked out a bird and fired. The shot shell filled with 7 1/2 shot and ashes from Tucker, Dakota and Riley did it's job. The bird fell to the ground. Jake hustled to pick up the bird as I grabbed the camera to get a picture of him retrieving through the dust of my previous hunting canine companions.

After taking the bird from Jake we sat on the hill with respect for the three dogs that showed me such a great time in the past and hoped that we would be going through this same scenario for at least another dozen years. By then, it might be time for gentler slopes, admiration of what God has done for me, and just appreciating the great life I've been given.

As far as bird numbers, I have to admit some disappointment. Although we found plenty of sign that there were birds around, we couldn't seem to find them. With the conditions as dry as they are, not finding the birds didn't surprise me, but the age of the birds did. We didn't see any young birds and the birds I got were definitely adults from last year.

BUT, I have talked to three friends who made it out opening morning and had different results, seeing lot's of birds, and mostly young ones. Bob McMichaels in his Chukar Hunting blog also opened his season with a better outlook for bird numbers than last year.

It sounds like it's going to be a fun year. Hope to run into some of you guys on the hill this season. I love to watch these dogs doing what they love to do. 

2 days

Well guys, here we go. Another chukar season is upon us. If everyone else is as excited as I am all the necessary issues are taken care of at least twice by now. The collars as well as the gps's have been charged, the packs have been double checked for essentials such as first aid and a multi tool, extra protein bars for both you and your canine partner are packaged to keep as fresh as possible in your vest, and you have provided space for plenty of water for your upcoming hunt.

I'm sure the pups are fired up also. I've had Jake out some since the grouse opener on the 30th of August and there is no way I can get out of the house with a gun without him going with me. I showed him this picture of Ava (Jordan Oyler's gsp) from a previous hunt he took her on earlier this season and he is now expecting the same from me with chukars. Thanks for the picture Jordan.

 With all the excitement for the opener, I hope everyone remembers to be safe. Another chukar hunter posted a comment on my preamble post, I'd suggest everyone read. The heat problems seem pretty obvious but every year you hear of someones dog overheating. Once this happens the dog is never the same. Also, as the hunter pointed out, there is lot's of blue green algae at Brownlee. I have no first hand experience, but I understand it's a killer.

Because of the heat, Jake and I will only be taking short hunts. The morning hours on shaded sides of the hills will offer us enough time to have some fun together and possibly bring home a few birds. With the temperatures predicted we'll be off the hill early. With a season that goes for 132 days there is no reason to take the chance of hurting or ruining a great hunting companion.

I hope everyone has a chance to get there dog's out soon for a good time. The pups have had a long wait. But, keep it safe.

Some of you guys that post comments don't leave your name. I understand if that's how you want it, but I'd like to give you credit for your comments and scouting efforts, if you desire. Also, I'd love to post stories and pictures of your hunts, if possible. If your reading this blog, you obviously love dogs and chukar hunting and we all have a lot in common. I'm trying to figure out how to get this done. I can usually get the pictures done if they are the right size. I've tried to get several pictures posted but they are too small and I can't make them larger without making them blurry. If you don't want me showing the pictures let me know. I know how hard good spots are to find and a picture might give that spot away.

I love chukar hunting with my dog. I know most of you do too. So, let me know how your opener is and those great stories of you and your partner. Be safe out there this year and have a great season.

Excuse any misspelling or improper  literature, my editor (Barbara) took the summer off.

2014 preamble

With under three weeks to go until the chukar opener Jake insisted I get him out for some action and work a little summer fat off me. So we picked a few cooler mornings and tried for some grouse. The first morning we went for blues but only got one point. It was a nice adult male that held very tight and helped me start the season with a perfect shooting record.

We usually see plenty of blues in this area but not so this year. The good news is that we saw three covey's of chukar and one covey of huns on our way down the hill. None of the covey's were real large but there were enough birds to make me think we'll be having a decent season. I've also been hearing from some other bird hunters of better chukar numbers being seen.

My second outing was for ruffs with Conner. I can't think of a more enjoyable hunt than to watch a 12 year old and a 19 month old dog hunt together for birds. Conner followed Jake like a guide and client and although we had several unsuccessful opportunities the end count was Conner and Jake with his first two grouse ever.

The next day was opener for dove season and Conner loves hunting so I took him out to a spot where I'd seen dove's flying in the past. Jake wasn't invited on this hunt, since the doves aren't much of a pointing bird, but Conner did pretty well without him.

Yesterday found Jake and I back on yet another blue grouse mountain. We found a few more birds and brought a couple of nice eaters home but the most exciting thing for me on the hunt was hearing several chukars welcoming the rising sun and one lone distant bugle of an elk. The season is definitely around the corner and coming fast.

Congratulations to Alan and his dog Mays, in Alaska, and Jordan and his dog Ava, in Utah, on your ptarmigan hunts.  I wish I could figure out how to get your pictures transferred. They would make other upland hunters envious. 

As I mentioned earlier, I've had nothing but good reports about the chukar and hun numbers. I think it's going to be another great year to be on the mountain. The numbers may not be great, but there are going to be enough birds to make an eight bird limit possible to those who don't mind putting some effort in. Good luck to those who are going to venture out on the 20th.

Anticipation

It's been a while since I posted because there just hasn't been much to talk about. The big guy got a little lazy this summer and didn't get me out as much as he promised. He kept complaining about the heat and having to pack too much water for me. I can't figure out how to communicate to him that the high mountains with running streams would be just great for a jaunt and then he wouldn't have to pack so much water. Maybe he'll figure it out next summer.

He did get me out for some turkey scouting, but left me at home during the hunts in lieu of taking Conner. Funny deal though, he and Conner had to come back and get me after one hunt. Conner had shot a bird and they couldn't find it so they came and got old reliable me to help and find the bird. I've never heard such groaning as I heard from the big guy. He wasn't too happy about hiking three miles back where he'd come from hours earlier. Man, they must be blind. I followed my nose right to where the bird was. Conner was super excited and kept talking something about a ten inch beard.

We did get out and do some scouting for chukars and huns this summer and the big guy described it as hit or miss when talking about how many birds we saw. I pointed some and the big guy seemed excited, but not enough to get me out three times a week.

We made it out once a week and a few times twice. Not enough for my liking.

But, I've got the feeling that things are about to change. The mornings are cooling off and the big guy sits out on the porch with me in the evenings instead of retreating to the cool house. All the sudden he spends lot's of time talking bird hunting on the phone. He bought a new Tenzing bird pack earlier this summer and wore it on most of our hikes, full of water for me.  Last night he started organizing things into the pockets. He told me some of the stuff would probably never be used but it only takes one time to make carrying it worth while. I haven't a clue what it was but he seemed so excited just talking about it. We also have been spending more time in the hunting room reloading shells. I know he loves shooting those buggers even though he cusses them some times on the hill.

As for me, I also feel the change of the seasons coming. These cool mornings make me feel like a puppy chasing one of his litter mates across the yard. Those days were so much fun, but now I'd rather find a bird. I have energy like I haven't had in months. The smells of fall are in the air. The sweet smells of most of the flowers and blooms are gone now and the scent of sage, bitter brush and cheat grass are starting to take over. Just two days ago, we had a short thunderstorm that knocked the dust down leaving fresh air and making finding birds even easier. Finding chukar tracks didn't hurt either.

I find myself checking on the big guy more often. I look to see if the bird vest is still hanging on the hook by the back door and make sure the sports bag with the collar hasn't moved. The big guy usually puts it in the truck the night before a hunt. Most of all, I make sure the shotgun isn't out. I've made a rule that the gun goes nowhere without me. I have to sleep with it the night before a hunt so that we can work as one, so I tell the big guy. The truth is, he can't take the gun without me if I'm laying on it.

Our anticipation for the season is getting more intense with every day. With only 22 days left before the chukar opener the big guy is getting more information about bird numbers and passing it on to me. It looks like numbers are up from last year, so he says. I don't really care. I just want to get out and hunt. There is nothing better than a full snout of chukar scent. A close second might be, the look on the big guys face when my snout is full of chukar scent and I point for him. Moments like that are why I picked him as my hunting partner. It doesn't matter how many times a day I point birds, he gets excited on each one.

I hope the big guy shoots well this year. I love retrieving birds shot by him. It makes him look so proud as I parade around him, showing off the birds he gets before I let him put them in his vest. I also am looking forwards to the challenge the birds provide when crippled. The way they run serpentine patterns trying to elude my nose makes the birds a worthy opponent. Several times in the past I have had the chukar slam on the brakes as I chase him downhill. I show my athletic abilities by doing a tuck and roll move before regaining my balance and continuing the pursuit. How I look forward to that.

The big guy promised a few grouse hunts before the chukar season for warm up. He says it's like a preseason game, whatever that means. If it gets me any more excited for the season than I already am, that might not be a good thing. I'm having a hard time sleeping as it is. I wake up from dreams of hunting chukar and running in my sleep.

Anyhow, I hope the rest of you hunting dogs have had a good summer and are anticipating a great season with your partners like I am. Our humans do a lot for us and the least we can do is to show them a good time on the mountain. Remember to throw in a few false points now and than to keep them on their toes. Don't make it too easy for them or their expectations become to high. Don't forget to make those points that make your human twist and fall at the shot once in a while. We deserve a little laughter on the hill too. More than anything else, don't be too hard on your human the first few outings. His or her shooting may be a little sub par and conditioning may need a little work but if you let them get down on themselves they may not want to get out again. Humans can be so moody. Help them keep the same anticipation for each hunt that they are showing right now before the season opens.

May the wind always be at your face, your points be plentiful and your human shoot well.

Jake

Celebrating Riley

It was cooler this morning, 52 degrees, so Jake and I hit the mountain, once again. We had already decided on this walk even if the temperature was warm. We were celebrating Riley's life with us.

For those who don't know, Riley's life was cut short by blood clots. He and I had become best buds and went through quite a bit together. Besides all of our great hunts together we also became nurse maids for each other. He encouraged me through several injuries and I did the same for him through two knee operations and three operations on a broken front leg. Through it all, we never missed a day of hunting during the hunting season due to an injury. My operations came on the first day of February and his first knee injury came on the last day of the chukar season. His other injuries were during the off season.

The hardest thing for me over this past year was the way that Riley left. He was only seven and in his prime. I was fully retired and so we spent almost 24 hours a day together. During his last three months he had three operations on his broken front leg and was confined to a bedroom where either Barb or I spent as much time as possible with him. We built a special ramp for him to go outside to retrieve himself and that was about all he could do. Once in a while the quail would come around. Riley would put his heavy head on the end table and watch and dream of someday being on a hunt again. I remember watching his tail shake as he watched.

Finally, in the first week of August, the vet gave the okay to take short walks outside. Riley enjoyed being outside again but could only make about 50 yards before laying down for a rest. He had improved to 100 yards or more by mid August and I was wondering if Riley would ever hunt again or just be with me for encouragement. I didn't care, just as long as the too tall gsp was with me.

Than on Aug. 22 of last year a sedge hammer crushed my heart. It came in the form of blood clots that became so painful for Riley that I had to make the decision for him. I don't recall if I have ever hurt that bad before. It was something I wasn't prepared for. It's been hard to put Riley's last three months behind me. We worked so hard to get better and a simple blood clot took away our time to just be friends for a while.

God did well in placing Jake with me. He knew the hole in my heart was big and it would take a goof ball like Jake to shrink it down some. That was what today was all about. A day for me to tell Jake of the thousands of great points that Riley had produced for me and how he did it with such excitement.

Thanks you for the great years, Riley. I love you.

I'll catch up with you chasing chukars someday in heaven.

Aug. 15

After getting messages from Matt in Boise, Alan in Alaska, Jeff in Oregon and Jordan in Utah wondering where I had slithered off to, I thought it might be time to hook up with the chukar world again, In all honesty, because of the heat this summer, I haven't been out as much as I have been the past several years. Since Jake doesn't like to swim, he is a testament to my laziness. This is the first time I have ever not been able to see the ribs on one of my shorthairs. Jake weighs about 70 right now and prime is between 60 and 65 lbs. for him.

I wish I could figure out how to post Alan's pictures. He and his daughter flew into a spot in Alaska to hunt ptarmigan with his dog Mays. Looks like an awesome hunt and I'm very envious of them being able to hunt already. Congrats on what looks to have been a great trip.

My optimism for the chukar year has gone from pretty thrilled to not so good to back to thrilled again. I saw plenty of breeding pairs in the spring and figured there would be plenty of little ones coming from them due to the weather we were having. I also saw loads of insects for them to mature on so I was pretty positive.

Then I went out towards the end of July and Jake and I didn't find that many covey's and the ones we saw were small. Most of the chicks were more mature than I expected and the small numbers indicated that maybe the hatch wasn't so good.

Then came the cooler weather and rain. By cooler I mean high's in the low 80's and 60 degrees starting up the mountain. But, it was obvious what Jake needed. In the two days we found at least 10 covey's and all of them had at least a dozen birds. Grasshoppers were everywhere so malnutrition shouldn't be a problem. The only down point I saw was one of the areas we went to usually has blue grouse also and we saw one single and later another one with only one half grown chick flying off with her.

Another great sign this week was the quail. I haven't seen the quail around my house at all this summer. Yesterday afternoon when I got back from my trip over towards Oregon, Jake and I found about 30 quail of all sizes in the front yard. I guess Jake figures the yard is his turf and he doesn't have to point because with one leap from the truck he had them scattered everywhere.

After that I loaded Jake back up for a ride down a local road that I know usually has quail so I could see if there were many. I wasn't disappointed and within a couple of minutes was looking at 30 or so chicks about 4 weeks old and 4 adults. I wish I would have taken my camera. While I was looking at the birds a tall, skinny, and bushy tailed fox walked out on the road between my truck and the quail. He knew I was there but didn't care. He walked towards the quail and I thought there might be some excitement, but was surprised when he turned about five yards from the birds and went back into the brush and crossed the creek. The quail hardly even looked up from their snack's on the dirt road.

Anyhow, I think the year is shaping up for the upland birds. It seems like many chukar hunters hibernate after January and wake up about November, so it's hard to find much information this time of the year. Some of us and our dog's live it every day of the year, even if it's only communicating over the internet. I hope everyone's dog's have summered well and are ready for the upcoming season. I'm looking forward to some pictures of hunts and hope to be able to figure out how to post them.

Fifteen days from now, weather permitting, we will be able to join Alan in Alaska and put our dog's on the ground chasing grouse. Twenty days after that we'll be able to chase the birds of my choice on those cooler mornings.

Good luck to everyone and send me some good stories.

Shorthair love

I'm sure we all have stories of our dogs being somewhat destructive, no matter what breed they are, but I have to pass on this story about a GSP and his problem with separation anxiety. The owner of this dog has to be one of the most patient dog owners on earth.

I didn't meet the person or dog, but got the information second hand from a good friend of mine, Greg Allen. He was going home from an archery tournament when he stopped at a convenience store in New Meadows when he saw a GSP in the back seat of a quad cab pick up. She was resting her head on the metal remains of a head rest on the back seat. While in the store Greg met the dog owner and asked what happened to the head rest in his truck. The owner acknowledge that his dog had torn it apart and invited Greg out to meet the dog. On the way to the truck the owner mentioned that his dog had some separation anxiety issues and the amount of damage this dog could do was amazing. At the truck, he let the dog out and Greg was shocked to see the inside of the truck had no covering left on any of the seats. There were blankets and a pad for the driver on top of the seat frames. The owner bent over to give his little girl a hug and then confirmed that all the damage inside the truck was done by her. It took her only the time it takes to eat a morning breakfast with the boys before a hunt.

Greg said it was amazing the amount of damage that dog did and how patient this owner was with her. To make it even more astonishing is the fact that this was the second time she had done this. The gentleman told Greg that he had all the upholstery replace at $1800 dollars the first time but decided to just leave it like this until she got over her issues. Obviously he didn't want to leave the dog in a kennel in the back of his truck. With that kind of great treatment, no wonder she got anxiety attacks. I wonder if she road in the seat next to him in first class on long air trips.

I've often had people tell me that they wanted to come back as Larry's dog in their next life. This guy has got to be on the top of the list of people and places a dog would love to live.

Cheat, both good and bad

Jake and I took a hike early this morning and were pleased to arrive back home with a count of zero ticks on us. As the summer warms up, the ticks seem to disappear. But, with the end of one problem comes another, cheat grass.

For a chukar hunter, cheat grass is a blessing in many ways. Mainly it's the cover and food choice of chukars. Look for steep slopes covered with cheat and you will usually find chukars. This spring was exceptionally good weather for cheat grass. The hills in eastern Oregon and western Idaho are covered with the grass which is now turning from purple color to brown. Turning brown means it is drying out and drying out means the cheat is becoming prime for causing problems for dogs. This year, with the great spring weather, the grass is exceptionally high. Most of the places I walked today, the grass was about the height of Jake's head, the height perfect for collecting the seeds in his ears.

Although the cheat seeds aren't prime quite yet for falling off the stem, with about two more weeks of these warmer temperatures they will be prime to stick in dogs ears, feet, nose, eyes and about anything else on a dog. They are barbed, and once they stick in they don't want to come back out the same way. Sometimes this can be dangerous for the dog, so it is good to double check your partner after walks in cheat country. Twice today while walking, Jake started shaking his head, and sure enough, I found a seed working it's way down his ear canal. Both times the cheat was close enough for me to retrieve. Back at the truck, I gave him the once over in his ears, eyes and toes and everything looked great. Jake never shook his head once on the ride home, so I'm going to assume he doesn't have anything deep down in his ear that I couldn't find.

The hassles with cheat grass are going to remain until the end of the summer when a heavy rain and wind knocks the dried seeds off the stems. It's best to check your dog after every hunt, but once the weather comes back, the chances of getting a piece of cheat stuck becomes less.

But, don't use cheat grass as an excuse to not take your buddy into the hills. Post walk checks will usually eliminate any problems. Just either stay near water or pack plenty of it to help wet your dogs dry throat and he (or she) will be ready to treat you to some entertainment like Jake did me today.

About a half hour into our stroll, Jake locked up on a point that I was sure would be a hen setting on a nest. I've found several nests in the past this way. I've even found covey's of baby chukars this way. Momma will usually either freeze or play injured at the dog's point. I wouldn't recommend doing this with a dog that isn't solid with the point. Jake, as with most of my dogs in the past, will break to the flush but stop at the whoa if I have to. All my dogs have pointed baby birds and never hurt one yet. I hope I didn't just jinx myself.

Anyhow, here's Jake's point.

I moved around getting different angles of his point

and hoped a bird might flush so that I could have a picture of Jake on point with a bird taking off right in front of him.

No birds ever flushed, so I was almost positive there was a nest with a bird setting on it.

So I moved in closer for a better look

and yet closer.

At three yards I decided it would be best to look for the nest myself and take Jake away. As I pocketed my camera a fawn jumped up at my feet and hustled off. I got a quick picture as it ran off.

I didn't know if my pictures would show the fawn until I got home and could make them bigger. If you look hard at the third and fourth pictures you can see the fawn laying in the grass. I've had this happen several times in the past but each time is a fun experience.

Although we had a few other uneventful points, I never saw a bird but I know they were there. A dog almost has to step on them before he can scent them this time of the year.

The other exciting news I can share is that there are grasshoppers every where. Whatever nest and chicks that are out there will have plenty of protein to help them survive the summer and be ready to tease us this fall.   

Still looking good

Although we didn't get much rain in May, I think we're still in pretty good shape for a strong upland hatch. The rains in March and April really turned the upland hills into a bird paradise. It's the first week in June and most of the hills are still green. The southern slopes are starting to get that purplish color that cheat get before they dry up. Last year at this time the mountains were already dry and although we had a decent hatch the chicks seemed to disappear by hunting season. Fish and game biologist believe the loss of the chicks was due to the lack of insects which was due to the lack of green plants for insects to survive on. Here is what Jake and I found the southern slopes looking like today.

And the northern slopes are still going strong.

As far as the bird numbers go, we heard a few chukars talking off in the distance, but only saw one bird. She tried to get Jake to break point and chase her by using the old broken wing trick. I quickly healed Jake away, knowing she either had some chicks close by or a nest. That's always good news. I'm sure we were close to other birds in the two hours on the hill but mother nature takes care of it's creatures by either taking away their scent this time of the year or creating so much fresh scent (flowers, green grass, bitter brush bloom, etc.) that predators have a hard time detecting them. 

The second plus of the early summer are the insects. On most of the semi arid slopes , like the one in the first picture, there seemed to be plenty of flying insects, crawling insects and grasshoppers to feed hundreds of baby chukars with the protein they need to mature into devil birds.

As long as we have some good green plants for these insects they will thrive and so will the upland birds.

With a little help from mother nature (a few rains this summer) these conditions will persist and help the chick survival. The better the conditions the higher  the survival rate. Although I believe the numbers are going to double or better this year from last, don't get your hopes up because of me. How much can a guy know that likes to hike up a chukar hill? For that matter, how smart can a chukar hunter be?