Free Republic

Under new rules, hunters will have 12 fewer days and the daily bag limit will be cut by two birds per person. The decision by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission on Thursday was the only major change to the upland bird hunting rules, which are set every two years. Chukar and hungarian partridge season will run from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 through the 2011-12. The daily bag limits is six of each species, and the possession limit is 12 each. "I've had lots of phone calls and letters from avid chukar hunters who felt there's been a decline...

After two seasons of chukar hunting that could best be described as grim, chukar hunters have reason to be encouraged. It appears that chukar numbers are on the rise. Surveying the highlands along Brownlee Reservoir on August 26, wildlife biologist Jake Powell counted nearly 900 chukars in the 12 square mile survey area. That translates to 73.7 chukars per square mile, double last year's dismal count of 37.8. "It's encouraging news," Powell noted. "We found 106 groups of chukars distributed across the entire survey area with an average group size of 8.3 birds." In contrast, the 2007 and 2008 surveys...

Bird populations are down due to harsh winters, drought. Biologists say spring weather and nesting success are crucial for them to recover.and they may take years to rise Southwest Idaho's chukar population has taken a dive in the last two years due to harsh winters and drought, and it might take that many years for populations to recover even under improved weather and nesting conditions. That's the word from Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologist Andy Ogden. This could be a pivotal year for chukars because they typically live only two years. A high proportion of Idaho's chukars are...