Date: 10/3/05
Contact: Lynne Foster
Phone: (775) 688-1997

Conditions Ideal for Chukar This Year

Habitat conditions in Nevada’s backcountry have been nearly ideal for chukar partridge this year. Significant winter precipitation followed by timely spring rains and a warm, dry June have all provided the necessary ingredients to support egg-laying and chick-rearing this summer.

Most natural water sources are flowing well and many guzzlers (rainwater collection and storage devices) have ample water. Late summer precipitation has supported the production of seeds and green forage, and the emergence of insects necessary to support chick development and the building of fat reserves for the coming winter.

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) personnel along with volunteer observers have been in the field during the summer assessing brood production and population densities. These are reported within the agency’s Nevada Hunting Season Forecast for Chukar Partridge – 2005, found on the department’s web site, www.ndow.org. This report does not predict hunter success, but forecasts chukar densities based upon data compiled through mid-September. Hunters should note that chukar abundance and distribution can be quickly influenced by a variety of natural and human-caused factors.

More in-depth detail about chukar and other small game and furbearers can be found in the 2005 Upland and Migratory Game Bird, Rabbit, and Furbearing Mammals Harvest Data and Population Status Reports, also on the web site. You can check the 2004 and previous years’ harvest statistics in this document as well.

If you are new to chukar hunting in Nevada, the information within these publications will be particularly helpful to you. After reading them, if you need advice on how to get started, where to go, and what equipment to have, consider contactinga department biologist for friendly advice on how to make your time in the field fruitful and enjoyable.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for the protection, restoration and management of fish and wildlife resources, and the promotion of boating safety on Nevada’s waters. Wildlife offices are located in Las Vegas, Henderson, Winnemucca, Fallon, Elko, and Reno. For more information, contact the agency web site at www.ndow.org.

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