Written by Matt Donovan

Here in northern Nevada, bird hunting with dogs usually means Chukar and, occasionally, a Hun. I have heard people say that it’s impossible to hunt Chukar successfully without a dog, and I’m here to tell you that is not true. I have been passionately hunting Chukar without the aid of K-9 companionship for years, and I have a few tips if you want to give it a try.

Let’s talk about shotguns. I’m a gunsmith and a certified gun nut, and I have hunted Chukar with every combination of shotgun and cartridge there is, so trust me when I say whatever you have, it will get the job done. Upland game doesn’t require a shell limit like migratory birds, so most people prefer having a semi-auto that can hold as many shells as possible. The Benelli Montafeltro is a popular choice, along with all of the Benelli clones available. 

CZ Bobwhite 28 gauge with a Nevada Hungarian Partridge (Gray Partridge).

That being said, on most days, I stray from the norm, when I prefer double guns, both over/under and side by sides. I shoot them better, plus I like the advantage of running two different chokes so that I can select a tighter shot pattern at a moment’s notice. While most double guns allow you to switch barrels with a button on the safety, I find that the most intuitive way to run two different chokes is with double triggers. It takes a little while to get used to having two triggers, but once you do, you can instinctively choose the tighter pattern when those birds get up unexpectedly at a farther distance. My go-to gun for double triggers is the CZ Bobwhite in 28 gauge. It’s a light, pointable gun, and the 28 gauge provides plenty of knockdown power for Chukar. With the addition of a Benelli Ultra Lite in 28 Gauge to my arsenal this year, I may see more semi-auto time than usual.

Speaking of shot patterns, most Chukar hunters would recommend a modified choke, and some even suggest a full choke later in the season when birds become more skittish. As a dogless hunter, I tend to go more open. I often choose cylinder and improved cylinder chokes. I find that without a dog, the birds jump closer, plus I have come to believe that the more open chokes bring me home more birds. Choose shells with shot size somewhere in the #5 to #71/2 range, and try to get at least an ounce of shot when possible. Since most of my shooting is on the closer side, I tend to stick to #6s or #7½s. I would rather have a denser pattern than down-range killing ability. 

Remember to pattern your shotgun as well; all the lead in the world will not help you if you have a giant hole in your pattern. I am as bad as anyone about neglecting this step, but it is crucial. You will be amazed at how much difference two different brands of shells can have in your shotgun. Patterning your shotgun also has the added advantage of helping you fit your gun. Most shotguns naturally point a little high for me, and every shooter is different, so take your shotgun out and set a big piece of cardboard out at 40 yards with a black dot in the middle, and then go back and shoot the dot as quickly as possible. This little experiment can be pretty eye-opening, revealing both where you naturally shoot and how your pattern appears at that distance.

Ithaca Model 37 English Ultralight Deluxe 20 gauge with a Nevada Chukar.

Now, grab a bag to hold your shells, water, and a few birds. There are many great game bags out there that are light and comfortable, made by brands like Final Rise, Badlands, Filson, and Orvis, but don’t let the lack of a $300 bird vest stop you from hunting. Any large shoulder bag will work, and you can decide on a game bag after you get a feel for how you like to hunt. One of the advantages of hunting without a dog is that you can travel light. Having a dog necessitates having water, GPS trackers, etc. I have been known to stuff a semi-auto full of shells and hop out of the truck. Even when I’m going fully loaded, I prefer a British-style game bag over a vest. British game bags are essentially large pouches, similar to a messenger bag, for storing shells and accouterments, with a mesh net bag in the front to hold your dead birds. It makes for a light and easy-to-grab bag that doesn’t have dangly ammo pouches rattling against your thighs as you hike. It works perfectly for hunters like me who go out for a few hours rather than from sunup to sunset.

Now, we need to find the little red-legged devils. Chukar love rocky hills, but they must have access to water. When searching for a new Chukar spot, I look for at least 50 feet of rocky elevation gain over water, whether it’s a river, spring, or guzzler. Chukar are a covey bird, and they like to run uphill in packs when threatened. If you are close to them, they will hide, hoping you walk right past them. I shudder to think of how many birds I have walked past. If possible, I try to get above them. Birds tend to hold better and fly rather than run away when you are coming down on them. 

That being said, if you can get them to hold when coming uphill towards them, the shooting is usually easier. It’s much easier to take a bird that is rising in front of you rather than one that is bombing downhill away from you. If you find yourself chasing them uphill, stop and find another route. Without a dog to get them to stop and hide, you will never beat a Chukar up a mountain in a foot race. I also find locations where I can bottleneck birds between two landscape features, like sheer cliffs and boulders. I try to find something that will make them stop, hide, and impede their movement if they start running again. I always have a Chukar call with me, and I start my day by making a call and listening for a response. If I don’t get one, then I move on. Some days, they don’t want to talk, but if the birds are there, they will eventually say something to you.

Benelli 828U 12 gauge with a full game bag of Nevada Chukar on a snowy day.

There are two great ways to find birds, no matter what part of the season you find yourself in. Early season, when it’s hot, is the dogless hunter’s best friend; the birds must go to water. Lore and personal experience have led me to believe that it is around 9:00-10:00 AM. I find that this is a pretty reliable time to find watering Chukar, and before that, they are often found heading to water. In dry years, focus your efforts on small springs and creeks. Guzzlers are also a solid bet, but I find that they tend to get hunted more often than other locations, and spooky birds are hard to bring down without a dog.

As the season progresses and the birds face increased pressure, they tend to move further uphill away from water sources and spread out into smaller groups. This middle portion of the season can be more difficult for a hunter without a dog. Once the snow flies, though, you will be back in business with the second great way to find birds. After it snows, the birds don’t have to stay close to water to get a drink. I don’t know if they eat snow or find meltwater in the rocks, but once it snows, the birds spread out considerably. I love a fresh dusting of snow, and it is almost irresistible to go out and hit the hills. With a fresh dusting of snow, you can get on Chukar tracks. Once I get on a set of tracks, I keep on them, and unless something spooks them into flying, you will get on birds. I have been known to follow a single set of tracks for quite some time.

Don’t let anyone say you can’t hunt Chukar without a dog because you can, and successfully. I have been doing it for the bulk of my life and have taken home plenty of Chukar. With all that being said, I would like to mention that I might be in the market for a bird dog. Happy hunting.

Matt Donovan is a small-town gunsmith in northern Nevada. He enjoys hunting, collecting guns, spending time with his wife and two children, and chasing small springs around the floor of his shop. If you would like to read more from Matt, check out his blog at thewritinggunsmith.substack.com, buy his Amazon book at https://a.co/d/cZA5f2G, or follow him at www.facebook.com/DonovanGunsmithing