11-09-2005, 10:24 PM
Let me see if I can help you. If you are looking for blue grouse this time of year remember that they move to the top of the mountain and winter in the conifers. They should be there by now and snow storms could create an access problem during the rest of the hunt.
The ruffed grouse that is your other options are often found in aspen groves and willow bottoms along mountain streams. The wolf creek pass area is not a bad place to look. Remember that we had a really wet spring and that usually results in poor nesting for forest grouse. populations seem to be real spotty this year.
The chukar parttidge is a whole different situation . They have had a good nesting year. They can be found along just about any mountainous area from the wasatch front all the west to pilot and deep creek mountains. As far as locating guzzlers they probably wouldn't be of much help. They have had lots of pressure and the birds can find enough moisture from the grass shoots that they don't need to drink from the guzzlers. Here are a couple of suggestions. First go to the dwr website and find which areas they released chukars on in september. Most of those areas have both guzzlers and established populations of chukars. There is a new organization in the state called the Utah chukar foundation I know they have been telling their members about areas that have good numbers of birds.
Some of the best hunting is yet to come. Hunting chukars is alot of fun following a new snow. It will concentrate the birds and and move them down to lower elevations. The ability to follow the tracks in the snow will help you locate the birds and make it easier for hunters without dogs. Good luck. gshorthair
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The ruffed grouse that is your other options are often found in aspen groves and willow bottoms along mountain streams. The wolf creek pass area is not a bad place to look. Remember that we had a really wet spring and that usually results in poor nesting for forest grouse. populations seem to be real spotty this year.
The chukar parttidge is a whole different situation . They have had a good nesting year. They can be found along just about any mountainous area from the wasatch front all the west to pilot and deep creek mountains. As far as locating guzzlers they probably wouldn't be of much help. They have had lots of pressure and the birds can find enough moisture from the grass shoots that they don't need to drink from the guzzlers. Here are a couple of suggestions. First go to the dwr website and find which areas they released chukars on in september. Most of those areas have both guzzlers and established populations of chukars. There is a new organization in the state called the Utah chukar foundation I know they have been telling their members about areas that have good numbers of birds.
Some of the best hunting is yet to come. Hunting chukars is alot of fun following a new snow. It will concentrate the birds and and move them down to lower elevations. The ability to follow the tracks in the snow will help you locate the birds and make it easier for hunters without dogs. Good luck. gshorthair
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