A young man's game!

[Teknys]

Went Chuckar hunting today in the Snake River Canyon on the Idaho side. Walked about 6-7 miles from the river up a small canyon and back. Those birds would tease you by clucking about a hundred yards up the canyon wall so up I went - twice. I'll never do that again...I'm old or at least I feel old after today. We did get a few but that was a lot of work for those three. Most all the birds were up high on the walls about 400 - 600 yds and that is where the hawks were circling.
I did get some cool pics that are still in the camera, in the truck and I hurt to bad to go get it!

Next week end I'll start getting more serious about deer hunting and Thanksgiving week off for deer hunting also. Really waiting for that Whitetail buck Muzzleloader tag in Dec.

 

[DrMike]

Well, the pictures will make all of us feel better. I've only chased Chukar once, and that was down near Lytton, BC. It was, indeed, steep country designed to humble that most ardent wing shooter.

 

[Elkman]

When I lived closer to the canyon I would make a couple of trips over there each fall and chase the little beasties. Never got very many because a shotgun for me on birds is about as handy as a club. I did it to toughen up my feet for elk hunting. Its a great preseason tune up. This week I am laying around trying to eat back the 6 lbs I lost while in Oregon chasing Woody Creek and Beretz up and down the mountains. Just chasing them is a great sport for old men. Two more weeks and I head to Idao!!!!

 

[SJB358]

I can only hope to keep up your pace Bill when I am your age! You really are a goat. I am thinking you have many more years of handling the mountains with vigor buddy. Scotty

 

[Teknys]

Here are a few pics. Just the views alone keep you going back. One thing I am going to do is get a lighter shotgun. The one I carried was a Comp Skeet gun (Beretta Teknys Gold) and they are WAY to heavy for this kind of country.
View attachment Hells Canyon 01.jpg

View attachment Hells Canyon 02.jpg

View attachment Hells Canyon 03.jpg

View attachment Hells Canyon 04.JPG

 

[atmoshpere]

I went chukar hunting once on the Oregon side and you guys aren't exagerating the workout! I ended up pushing a bobcat out of some rocks, but I didn't know that's what it was until it cleared the grass and sage as it went over the ridge. Thought it was our buddy's dog at first so i wasn't really even paying attention, even though it was only about 40 yards away when I first saw it move.

Those chukars do seem to have a penchant for mockery, but always from a high ledge or across the canyon :evil: I think they just like to see you sweat!

 

[Oldtrader3]

Chukar and I signed a mutual non-aggression pact on the day that I turned 40 years old. I used to chase them up the hills above the river canyons of central and eastern washington when I was younger and as Bill did, regarded it as a tuning exercise for elk hunting. However, the low return for mileage rate of two shotgun barrels fired per 800-1000 feet climbed never seemed like a decent trade off for my poor feet.

 

[onesonek]

Thanks for the pic's/memories. I sure miss the canyons of the Snake!

 

[SJB358]

Great pictures! Looks like some awesome country! Scotty