Contact: Aaron Meier
Phone: (775) 688-1998
 

NDOW RELEASES CHUKAR FORECAST

Numbers of chukar are expected to be good to excellent when chukar season opens October 14.

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) biologist Shawn Espinosa reports that chukar hunting season should be good to excellent in western Nevada with the potential to be one of the best hunting seasons on record. Adult population levels are at fairly high levels and another good production year should provide plenty of young birds for harvest this coming fall.

NDOW’s 2006 Regional Upland Game Hunting Forecast covering sage-grouse, forest grouse (blue and ruffed grouse), chukar and Hungarian partridge, quail and pheasant is currently available at http://www.ndow.org/hunt/seasons/upland/index.shtm.

The 2006-07 chukar hunting season is also expected to be very good to excellent in northwestern Nevada. While the daily limit for chukar has remained at six an increase in the possession limit from 12 to 18 birds will allow hunters to take advantage of high bird numbers, and extend hunting by a day.

Espinosa adds that hunters should also expect good chukar hunting this season in eastern Nevada, except for freshly burned areas.

The forecast reports that chukar season is expected to be good in central Nevada, and should be comparable to the 2005-06 season. Although bird availability may be somewhat lower than it was during the 2004-05 season, hunters taking to the field this season should find the hunting noticeably better than those experienced between 1999 and 2003, with favorable climatic conditions continuing to benefit upland game populations in the area.

The 2006-07 chukar season begins October 14. Further information on the upcoming chukar season can be obtained on the upland game page of NDOW at http://www.ndow.org/hunt/seasons/upland/.

Upland game hunters are reminded to purchase an upland game stamp. Funds generated from the sale of the upland game bird stamps will go toward the development, preservation and acquisition of habitats for upland game birds. A substantial maintenance program for the states' upland game water developments, called guzzlers, is also under way.

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.