My father once told me that Chukar hunting is the Devils sport. For those of you who have never experienced Chukar hunting, I will attempt to provide you with a short narrative on the subject.
Chukar are a Eurasian game bird whose native habitats include the Himalayas and the desolate mountain ranges of Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan. As an introduced game bird species to the United States, the bird species has thrived in the high desert regions of California. They are generally found in places that resemble a scene on an old black and white Twilight Zone episode. Chukar can typically be found on steep south facing slopes that are capped by volcanic looking rocks and incredibly tough terrain. The best places to find them are those that are eroded by wind and show zero sign of life. These rocky pockets act as catch basins for rain fall that serve to provide water for these elusive creatures. If you are picturing a wasteland… you are beginning to enter Chukar country. If you are lucky enough to find an area such as this, you will occasionally find these birds.
If you plan on hunting these birds you might want or need to re-consider. You should instead try something less challenging such as a triathlon. These birds can run straight up hill for 10 miles and fly straight back down the same hill just for fun. It is not uncommon for them to spring into action just out of your
reach and tease you with a flurry.
When this happens, your adrenaline pumps and like a crazed fool you start to run. After 15 minutes of leg burning, chest pounding foolishness, you may get a shot off. Your hunting partner who is at the top of the hill will repeat the process in reverse with the same result. This process will repeat itself time after time and year after year. If this sounds like fun...you’re going to love Chukar hunting. You must love punishment and crazy conditions to prevail. If by some fluke you manage to bag a Chukar...you will immediately begin to revert back to the age of 4 or 5 and jump around like a spoiled kid on Christmas morning. That is until your legs remind you of the grueling punishment you just went through. You will likely have the urge to drive straight to the taxidermist and offer him whatever price he demands so you can re-live your day of splendor for many seasons to come. This condition is what is known in the Forks ‘N Feathers family as Chukar Fever and the only known cure is another pre-dawn session for that ever elusive bird.
Chukar are a Eurasian game bird whose native habitats include the Himalayas and the desolate mountain ranges of Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan. As an introduced game bird species to the United States, the bird species has thrived in the high desert regions of California. They are generally found in places that resemble a scene on an old black and white Twilight Zone episode. Chukar can typically be found on steep south facing slopes that are capped by volcanic looking rocks and incredibly tough terrain. The best places to find them are those that are eroded by wind and show zero sign of life. These rocky pockets act as catch basins for rain fall that serve to provide water for these elusive creatures. If you are picturing a wasteland… you are beginning to enter Chukar country. If you are lucky enough to find an area such as this, you will occasionally find these birds.
If you plan on hunting these birds you might want or need to re-consider. You should instead try something less challenging such as a triathlon. These birds can run straight up hill for 10 miles and fly straight back down the same hill just for fun. It is not uncommon for them to spring into action just out of your
reach and tease you with a flurry.
When this happens, your adrenaline pumps and like a crazed fool you start to run. After 15 minutes of leg burning, chest pounding foolishness, you may get a shot off. Your hunting partner who is at the top of the hill will repeat the process in reverse with the same result. This process will repeat itself time after time and year after year. If this sounds like fun...you’re going to love Chukar hunting. You must love punishment and crazy conditions to prevail. If by some fluke you manage to bag a Chukar...you will immediately begin to revert back to the age of 4 or 5 and jump around like a spoiled kid on Christmas morning. That is until your legs remind you of the grueling punishment you just went through. You will likely have the urge to drive straight to the taxidermist and offer him whatever price he demands so you can re-live your day of splendor for many seasons to come. This condition is what is known in the Forks ‘N Feathers family as Chukar Fever and the only known cure is another pre-dawn session for that ever elusive bird.