Thread: Chukar in the CSI region

Well put upland staker . I mite add if they are in an area you may find patches of there shit on those rocky out crops , ( looks out of place you will no there shit ,bit like pheasant ) . If it's fresh don't leave a stone unturned the buggers can be anywhere .

Used to hunt Ashburton lakes area for big brown hairy things 2 decades ago. Lake/Stream and out into the Rakaia. I know its steep and rocky.
Thanks for the replies. It sounds like a bit of a mission for someone who does not reside in the area. We have them up here but is a closed season again and again and again etc, etc

I have seen them on the Molesworth. Numbers are on the increase, so maybe in the years to come, a suitable change to the regulation might happen.

There are of cause a couple of things you can do to help the population. Shoot every wild cat you see in the high country, weather you are hunting deer, chamois or what ever, get every cat and stoat you can. Even if this means spooking the deer you've been stalking for the last 6 hours! (just make sure it's not the property owner's wife's cat!).

Last year we killed almost as many cats as Chukar.

I know three separate guys in the north who go down to hunt chukar, they all say the same thing. 1. Altitude, you never see them below a certain meters ASL. 2. you need dogs, good ones. can't do it without them. 3. you need to be fit! You will cover plenty of ground per single bird. I had an invite of sorts this year, to go down with a guy whos being shooting them for 30 years, But since I am dogless I fear I will be a casual observer!

Originally Posted by Pointer

I know three separate guys in the north who go down to hunt chukar, they all say the same thing. 1. Altitude, you never see them below a certain meters ASL. 2. you need dogs, good ones. can't do it without them. 3. you need to be fit! You will cover plenty of ground per single bird. I had an invite of sorts this year, to go down with a guy whos being shooting them for 30 years, But since I am dogless I fear I will be a casual observer!

I would not get hung up on the altitude , where we hunt they can be anywhere , even on the river terraces . Pointer you can still get shooting without a dog . Position yourself below the working dogs as the birds take off down hill like rockets ! You will hear them coming . First bird I got was like that ,was wicked .

Dogless ???

Sounds brilliant! Shooting like I've never experienced before. The guys I have talked to it reckon numbers are on a gradual increase. Do you find the same in your time chasing them?

We have not hunted them long enough to draw conclusions on increase or decline yet. Biggest covey that my mate put up was 30 birds but norm where we hunt is about 6 . Have noticed more quail

I've seen them on the flats in many different locations now. Saw a pair in the North Canterbury region over the past summer while looking for Chamois.

Like Munsey, I've not hunted them for long enough, but the numbers do fluctuate a bit with predators and poison operations. The biggest issue here could be that they are in regions with high rabbit numbers, the rabbits get poisoned and this could be having an effect on the birds(in the short term). Definitely not saying that the rabbits shouldn't be poisoned. There just could be some correlation here, just like more rabbits mean more hawks and cats.

If you do get an offer to joint a group of hunters, don't turn it down (just get fit). I didn't take my Vizsla last year as he cut a pad open on opening weekend and I still got a bird. Generally they flush down hill, so being below the dogs will help.

I'm planning on making it, but I fear I will become the dog!

CSI F&G have been very helpful. Have mailed me out an info pack, The results of last years hunter diaries etc. Waiting by the mail box now

Originally Posted by mikee

CSI F&G have been very helpful. Have mailed me out an info pack, The results of last years hunter diaries etc. Waiting by the mail box now

Ha! Ha! I can see you standing by it now on google earth and I havent zoomed in, fuck all

Originally Posted by R93

Ha! Ha! I can see you standing by it now on google earth and I havent zoomed in, fuck all

You obviosly must have met me in a previous life to know I ain't that small, zooming not required

AND with all the wet weather I am totally grateful our mail box is still where we planted it

Never mind have Thursday afternoon sporting clays to look forward to and again Sunday

Originally Posted by mikee

You obviosly must have met me in a previous life to know I ain't that small, zooming not required

AND with all the wet weather I am totally grateful our mail box is still where we planted it

Never mind have Thursday afternoon sporting clays to look forward to and again Sunday

It was a stab in the dark, I couldnt help myself Thursday sporting?? I gotta move up there.

Originally Posted by R93

It was a stab in the dark, I couldnt help myself Thursday sporting?? I gotta move up there.

Yeah well I belong to a group of shooters but unfortunately for me most have retired or self employed and as a result they shoot EVERY thursday afternoon and once a month we have a competition round. (Simultaneous pairs only though on Thursdays)

My shooting has improved since being invited to join and with a couple of them shooting in Aussie this weekend I might even have a chance (in my dreams) !!!!