I love Chukars, in part because they make hunters pay in blood, sweat and tears (literally) for every bird they get. If there’s such a thing as a hunt that is strictly “fair chase”, it’s Chukar hunting. It may be the only hunt that still is.
Yesterday morning on Antelope Island I found this Chukar feeding in the flats directly adjacent to a rocky and very steep hill that rose abruptly from its feeding area. As I began to approach the bird ‘he’ immediately began scampering straight up the hill as he ran crouched over with his head down.
When he got to about eye level with me on the hill he began to traverse the side of the steep slope, still in full “sneaky mode”.
He maintained that posture as he ran a long distance…
across the side of the hill. I have 61 photos of him running that look very much like this. I chose these three photos pretty much at random.
Eventually he paused for about 2 seconds on this rock in a rather unattractive and colorless setting before jumping down and disappearing in the vegetation as he ran further uphill.
This is one of the Chukar behaviors that hunters know all too well. Chukars tend to stay on the ground and run away as they hide behind rocks and in the vegetation rather than flush into flight where they’d be much easier to shoot.
Amongst hunters, Chukars are legendary for being an extremely difficult quarry. Their preferred habitat is the sides of remote steep, rocky slopes that are physically exhausting to hunt. Legend has it that the most successful Chukar hunters are those with one leg shorter than the other so they can walk more easily on the sides of steep slopes.
Just finding a small covey of Chukars is hard enough but when you do they usually don’t flush, instead they just run away under cover, often straight uphill or up cliff faces where they’re next to impossible to follow. If they do flush they tend to fly downhill – a near impossible shot for the hunter. Partly out of respect, hunters refer to Chukars as “devil birds”.
A favorite saying of Chukar hunters goes something like this – “You go chukar hunting the first time for fun, and every time thereafter for revenge.”
Ron
Notes:
- I’m not necessarily anti-hunting. If there’s a group of hunters I respect almost in their entirety it’s Chukar hunters.
- If you’re like me and you tend to root for the hunted more than the hunter you’re likely to really enjoy this article, written by a Chukar hunter who has paid his dues to the “devil bird”.
Your photos are a joy, but what I really appreciate is the first paragraph and the last sentence/quote. Always did love that bit about not going quietly . . . , etc, etc
Granny Pat, I believe I first heard that last quote from my friend Jay Banta, former manager of Fish Springs NWR and an ethical hunter. I suspect Jay has experienced the sentiment in that quote.
I’m enjoying your shots of Groucho Chuckar! Waiting for Harpo and Chico to join him. 🥸
Also noticed the Redstem Filarie in the first shot. We have quite a bit growing in our yard and I enjoy those tiny flowers. Wish we had the Chuckars too.
Marty, right now some areas of the island are simply covered with those tiny flowers.
And soon with the eponymous “storkbill” shaped pods.
I am not anti-hunting. I am anti trophy seekers. It’s who I won’t eat at Jimmy john’s.
There is a Chukar in a community south of me. No one know where he came from. Assuming he as he is brilliantly colored.
I’d guess that bird is an escapee, Arwen.
That’s what others have said. He is very happy with his new choice of roost. Although no hens are answering his cry from the top of their roof.
Love the chukar, of course. But the sharpness and detail of the backgrounds are thrilling – like an electron microscope image. Hooray for your new camera!
That camera sure helped, Carolyn.
Yay the chukars. I loved the article and am very, very glad to hear of a much more even playing field.
And, as you know, ever since you introduced them to me I have a very soft spot for them.
Thanks, EC. Knowing how you feel about Chukars I actually wondered ahead of time what you might think about this post, and the article.
Thanks for posting about chukar, Ron, and for your appreciation of “fair chase” and how chukar hunting might be the epitome of that concept. It’s been a passion of mine for the past 22 years, and my wife and I have a blog devoted to the culture surrounding our love of it: chukarculture.com. Unlike lots of hunters, we don’t care for “tailgate shots” of rows of dead chukar, but rather focus on the dogs and their amazing bird radar and behavior in the field. Emily Dickinson works her way in occasionally (I’m an English teacher). Your posts are especially welcome these days as we’ve moved far from chukar country, so our posts aren’t as focused on the birds as they once were. Soon, we’ll be back (I hope). In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you wonderful photos. Keep up the great work.
I appreciate your input as a hunter, Bob. Thank you.
When I was young and foolish and hunted chukars, I said one of three things to those who asked how I’d done on a climb after them:
1. I had a wonderful time and brought one (or a few — never more) home.
2. I had a wonderful time but didn’t get any.
3. I survived and got home.
Most of my responses were the the third.
Thanks for sharing the great photos and stories.
Sounds like the voice of experience, Kent!
Good motion photos of the Chukar. The mention of short leg on the hills, remind me that my dad use to refer to the “side hill gouger”. I hope you may know I mean! lol
I think I do, Trudy…:)
Love it Ron – make it as difficult for hunters as possible. Looking at those hills and having hiked on ones like that I can appreciate the joke of the one leg shorter than the other.
That guy recognizes you and figures he will make you work for these photos.
I’m ok with the concept of hunting to thin out herds etc, or of course for food, but really dislike trophy hunting.
Thank you, Everett.
WELL– I’m glad to hear that there is at least ONE kind of prey that really makes the hunter work for it !! I will admit to having respect for bowhunters–they not only “work for it”, but first must learn a lot about the habits and habitat of their chosen prey–they can’t just go out and blast away at anything that moves…….Chukars’ markings and coloring are so flashy they deserve an
extra edge…….
Good point about most bow hunters, Kris.
Put a cigar in that Chukar’s mouth and he’d be a pretty good imitation of Groucho Marx.
Since Chukars can’t shoot guns they appear to have compensated pretty well with evasive maneuvers.
If the last photo in the article is the author it looks like he’s better off writing about Chukar hunting than doing it. Now I’m just gettin’ mean. Or revenge.
“they appear to have compensated pretty well with evasive maneuvers.”
Lyle, that’s one of the reasons I mostly don’t have a problem with Chukar hunting. With them the odds are at least even.
That and the fact that they’re not a native species.
We’re on these wavelength today, Lyle. 😂
Beautiful shots and TOO funny on the article! 🙂 I’ve never seen one. Joe’s mother raised some at one point many years ago as I understand it. They look like they’d stand out tho obviously not! Equal match ups are great when it comes to hunting as opposed to “gallery shooting” or long distance scope jobs that seem to get more common all the time….. 🙁
Glad you enjoyed the article, Judy. Hunting is such a complicated subject. And emotional, on both sides.
sneaky indeed-I enjoyed these photos. And I enjoyed the article by the hunter although I am astonished that my deep anti – hunter feelings allowed me to write that sentence. My mind is being opened and that is painful.
“My mind is being opened and that is painful.”
I understand, Frances. I understand…