Chuckars or Devil birds!
Well I rolled into the Kamloops Best Western two dogs in tow and a truck full of gear, maps, and over confidence! Little did I know that three days later I would be looking back exhausted bruised sore and removing cactus spines from various parts of my body. Oh, lets not forget the numerous cacti removed from “the boys” including two fully developed clumps buried deep in the pads of Chas (my Drathaar) not noticed until he was asleep! This problem was averted the second morning by actually using the expensive dog boots I had purchased from Cabelas, I'm enthusiastic not smart! My experience with cactus has now toughened me up, notice I didn’t say toughened “the boys” up, they seemed to just deal with it, as opposed to me. When a spike would pierce my leather boot, imbedding itself in my foot I would shriek and limp like a sissy, “the boys” seemed to look on and smile.
Ok why the title…I’m not sure if it’s the unfamiliar landscape these birds inhabit, or maybe their bizarre antics, maybe it’s the strangeness of looking up and on the next ridge seeing the ghost like presence of big horn sheep slipping into the mist. All I can say is only a possessed species of partridge could survive here! Did I mention I’m hooked, the next trip is in the works (with a lay over in Oliver and Osoysoos), the order to Cabelas has been placed, and I am looking into taking a technical climbing course!
Ok now for the hunting, I have been referred to by several of my friends as an upland specialist, not that I’m good at it or that the upland species are the only ones accessible to me but more because it suits me best. Not to mention that I’ve always followed versatile dogs around and love to watch them work upland. Now don’t get me wrong I love waterfowl hunting and those of you that know me I do have enough gear to spend a comfortable day in the marsh, but to be honest “the boys’ shine in the uplands and to keep them confined to a blind just retrieving , well that just does not due them justice.
Since this story seems to be rambling on I’ll cut to the chase, we actually managed to get Chuckar and found lots, if they weren’t sprinting up the hills in front of us they were bursting into flight just out of range screaming down the steep slopes. It didn’t take to long for me to figure out that if I didn’t empty the little 20ga immediately and excursed some restraint one or two birds would linger after the main flock took flight allowing us a chance to take a reasonable shot. Most of the birds taken where in no way over those picture perfect classic points, instead they where while one of “the boys” where tracking, or pointing from a distance where I had to “double time it” to get the running bird in the air! The only exception to this was on our last afternoon after a 3 hour death march over hill and dale. Chas and I where swinging back to the truck when I heard the tell tale call of a single in a valley below us. Chas and I quickly made our way down the steep grade and Chas immediately started making game and then slammed into a point in front a group of sage. I quickly began to power walk by the clump of bushes to get closer to the escaping Chuckar. Noticing that Chas was still on point behind me I quickly gave the release command in order to let him continue to track the single when 12-15 Chuckar exploded from the bush behind me, all escaping unharmed!
What a great trip and now I’m down to only one species of wild upland bird on my life long list, Mr. Bobwhite, could this be the year…
Thanks to everyone on this forum that pointed me in the right direction for this trip, I owe you!
The terrain
Finally!
Conner
Chas
Scottish by birth, British by law,
Highlander by the grace of God"
Anon
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Re: Chuckars or Devil birds!
Buddi doing what she does best!
Originally Posted by Buck
! And for those who are interested make sure you train your dogs with boots before the hunt or at least video tape thier first outing, it's hilarious !
