Have I mentioned how much I enjoy my dogs and chukar hunting? Not posting for a while made me realize how much I enjoy talking about it also. I hope I will be back posting once in a while but a lot is going to depend on my ability to get on the mountain and showing an honest depiction of what it is like.
I’m not looking for sympathy, but I just came home from the back doctors and it looks like I’m running out of options. My back is so screwed up they said an operation would be so intensive that I would be down for a year with a 50% chance that it will solve my problems. They suggested that I give up chukar hunting and those of you that love chukar hunting as much as I do know that is no option either. So we’re going to try a different type of injection, hoping it will give me some relief and from that point it’s up to me.
So that’s where I am and that’s the end of my whining.
Now to the important stuff. Barb and I spent the last ten days in Nevada watching our grandson play baseball and doing some hiking with the dogs. Although we found some very interesting chukar spots along the Idaho-Nevada border the rest was not so interesting for me and the dogs. We covered 1800 miles and my biggest discovery was how lucky I am to live where I do and have all the upland opportunities I have. The dogs like it here too.
So here’s what we are doing in the great state of Idaho. Grady pointing a large group of chukars. I didn’t get the birds on video because I turned the camera off as I moved down the steep slope. I had just seen a porcupine and was making sure it wasn’t hiding in one of the sage brushes.
On that day we were shed horn hunting in a spot I had never been before. I was very pleased when between forty and fifty chukars took flight. They just took their time taking off as the dogs kept bumping them. Almost like they had never seen a dog or hunter before. One of the places I’ll definitely give a try next season.
This video is Jake honoring Grady once again. If you look hard when I zoom the camera in just before the chukars take flight, you can see a couple in the brush. There ended up being 8 birds there.
The nextt video is once again Jake honoring Grady on a pair of huns. The cool thing about this video is that I keyed on Jake’s honor to find Grady.
Here again is Jake honoring. He doesn’t cover the country that Grady does so the reason he is usually honoring. His hips are failing so he often sits on point or honor until I get close. This time he fooled me. As I approached Grady, about twenty birds flushed in front of Jake and a single hun in front of Grady.
Saving the best for last. For me anyhow. Jake, who will be hunting his 12th season this year is showing me he still has it on a small covey of huns.
So, there is the fun I’ve been having. The huns are pairing up some but I’m still seeing some good covey’s of them and more large covey’s than I remember in the past. I haven’t seen any chukar pairs but have been seeing a lot of good covey’s of them. If we have a good Spring-Summer we should be looking at a five star season. I’ll try and keep you posted and we’ll see what the 2024 hunting season brings.
Bring the 2024 Spring season in with plenty of exercise for you and your pups. You’ll all be happier for it.
The Reigning Chukar Champions 
Can only imagine the pain you must be enduring. Spring is just around the corner with some heat for your back. Had to board the dogs while we are out of the country. We had to leave “what to do if….. instructions for 15 yo Lucy but hopefully she will greet us like nothing happened.
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Hunt flatter country
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Flatter country is what the doctor said but I explained the lure of chukar country. He didn’t understand but said he’s giving me realistic options. “Realistic for who?”
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Nevada is flatter!😂
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Greg, I’m thinking of Lucy and being away from you. You’ve had so many great years together.
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Cliff
Stubborn old chuker hunters don’t stop going out, they just find easier ground to walk on. Backs are complicated things. Stretch a lot and keep moving.
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Hope the new shot works.I feel you! Alan,gracie anf piper
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I know that someday I’ll be facing the daunting idea that the current chukar season could be my last. I try not to think about it actually. Can’t imagine the fall/winter months without it. I pray the injection provides you the relief you will need my friend. Thanks for the post. Always look forward to them and your adventures.
– J
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It’s hard to wrap our heads around the changes age brings , but it is real
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Where I hunt Chukars the slopes are steeper and way more rocky
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It’s hard to find many slopes that are much steeper than the two first video’s. The camera just doesn’t show it. But the rocky areas aren’t there. The area’s that you describe are what I am avoiding right now because of my back. They are the areas I have enjoyed so much in the past and pray that I’ll have a few more years of traversing those steep and rocky slopes. Those are the areas that you get 15 to 20 points on a hunt and are just proud to have been able to get to the dog. They are the areas where you never know what’s on the other side. Maybe a bighorn, deer, elk, cougar or whatever. Those are the slopes that make part of the attraction to chukar hunting. Be thankful for your ability to still conquer them. I pray each day that God gives me the strength to walk those steep and rocky slopes with my dogs just one more year or maybe ten.
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