April showers may bring May flowers, but May showers apparently saved this year’s chukar hunting season.
This year’s Nevada Chukar Hunting Forecast, an annual report put out by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) that uses data from aerial surveys that take place across 13 different survey plots, was recently released. The forecast predicts fair to good chukar hunting opportunities throughout northwestern and north-central Nevada. In most cases, numbers should be similar to last season; however, there were some areas where densities were up and the number of young birds noticeably outweighed the number of adults.
“A rainy month of May saved the day for the 2015-16 chukar season,” said Shawn Espinosa, upland game biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). “Without moisture received during this month and into June, the upcoming chukar season would likely have been a complete bust.”
NDOW biologists found that timely rainfall received in May improved habitat conditions throughout much of northern Nevada. The much needed moisture helped with forbs, grasses and insect production, which in turn helped with production.
“A mild winter helped birds carry over pretty well from last season and they were in great shape,” said Espinosa. “They just needed that extra moisture to have a good hatch this year and it looks like that’s what happened.
He reports that hunters should expect to find similar opportunities to those of the 2014-15 season. However, due to good production noted in many areas, hunters should find better success early in the season. “If winter ever returns to Nevada and there is measurable snow accumulation, you can expect good hunting opportunities later in the season as well,” said Espinosa.
Surveys were conducted during the week of Aug. 18 — 21, which is approximately the same period that this survey is conducted each year. Conditions were fairly optimal for the survey with warm to hot temperatures and limited water resources, making chukar coveys fairly easy to locate. Even though the overall density of birds decreased by 6 percent compared to the 2014 survey, it’s important to note that there is variation within and among mountain ranges and the results are not always entirely accurate for a particular mountain range. This may be the case this year in Pershing County where surveys did not necessarily match observations from the ground or in other areas where rainfall was not as intense and prolonged as in other areas.
Chukar and Hungarian partridge season will open Oct. 10 and run through Feb. 7, 2016. The hunt is open to both resident and non-resident hunters with limits set at six daily and 18 in possession. Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.
You can find the Nevada Chukar Hunting Forecast on the department website at www.ndow.org.
An upland game bird stamp is required for anyone age 12 or older, to hunt upland game birds, except turkey and crow. The $10 stamp is available at NDOW offices, authorized license agents statewide throughout Nevada and online at www.ndowlicensing.com. Funds from the stamp sales are used to support guzzler maintenance and habitat work that benefits upland game bird species.
