The Nevada 2015-16 Chukar Forecast is available, a basic guide for Nevada chukar hunters.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) conducted aerial surveys during mid-August over 13 designated survey plots of Nevada mountain ranges. These surveys provide a “one-time” snapshot of chukar density in small areas of the surveyed mountain ranges.
Overall bird density decreased this year by 6%, however the forecast is not all bad news. Sizeable increases in chukar density were observed in Rock Creek, Izzenhood, Pine Forest and Santa Rosa ranges. Notably, the Rock Creek survey plot near Elko shows an increase in chukar density of 68%.
Over one half of the Nevada ranges surveyed were observed to have declines in chukar density, leading to the overall average decrease of 6% for the 2015-16 forecast.
Remember, this survey only takes into account small areas of the Nevada ranges, and NDOW emphasizes that some areas within the surveyed ranges could actually fare much better or worse once the season gets going.
In any case, the forecast provides Nevada chukar hunters a basic overview of this season’s chukar density, so use it as a tool for planning this season’s chukar hunting areas.
2015-16 Nevada Chukar Forecast: