Find Some of the Best Chukar Hunting in the West

Wherever chukar hunters come together, at feed stores, veterinarian’s offices and more often over burgers and beers, the talk eventually turns to the boom-and-bust nature of our favorite bird. Chukar hunting, by its very nature, is an up-and-down game, and right now the weather patterns have lined up with healthy bird populations to shoot chukar numbers to historic highs.

Most of the Western states keep track of chukar harvest, and a careful look at the statistics suggests that chukar populations seem to run in 10-year cycles. If the chukar population could be plotted on an ogive line graph, it might show a blow-off top once every third decade or so.

One Western state in particular, is enjoying a chukar boom some hunters are saying will be the best of our lifetimes. Let’s take a look at what is happening in Oregon, figure out where the best hunting is going to be and then look at the other powerhouse chukar states in the region.

OREGON

In the 2024–2025 season, Oregon chukar hunters bagged an estimated 137,737 birds over the course of the 3 1/2-month season. Those are numbers we have not seen since 2005 and 2006, when chukar hunters harvested 221,418 and 143,920 birds in back-to-back years. In 2007, the bottom fell out.

Disease is one limiting factor. Avian predators certainly take a toll. Another culprit is winter kill. Cold, rainy springs can wipe out a hatch, too. In 2013 and 2014, Oregon’s chukar harvests were just 22,826 and 23,230 birds, respectively.

By early indications, however, we are hitting a blow-off top for the 2025–2026 season. In 2024–2025, hunter harvest was up 54 percent over 2023–2024 for a total reported harvest of 137,737 birds.

Consider that central and eastern Oregon were blessed by mild winters with abundant snowpack three years in a row, and factor in three mild springs without significant hard spring rains. Those are the conditions in which chukars prosper. Also, don’t overlook the bump in the gray partridge harvest, which was up 104 percent last season over the year prior.

For the last few years, Harney and Malheur counties contributed the most birds to the overall total, followed by Wallowa, Union and Baker counties. While the attention will be on the eastern side of the state, the thinking hunter should look at the lower Deschutes and the breaks of the John Day River, where good weather conditions are boosting bird numbers too.

I spoke to Oregon’s upland game bird coordinator, Mikal Cline, in July, and she took the time to look at hunter effort (number of hunter days) relative to estimated total harvest. She says the data indicates that Oregon has fewer chukar hunters than it did in the glory days of 2005 and 2006, and is quick to point out that we are not over-harvesting chukars. Their main predators are not human but avian.

Oregon’s chukar season runs October 12 to January 31, 2026 statewide. The daily bag limit is eight chukars and Hungarian partridges (in combination), with a possession limit of 24 birds.

If You Go: If you’re planning a trip to eastern Oregon to partake of the exceptional chukar hunting this fall and winter, my favorite stop for food is Chabelita’s Taqueria in Vale. Further south and west, there are good lodging options in and around Frenchglen. Fields Station General Store in the tiny outpost of Fields in southeast Oregon is legendary for its hamburgers and milkshakes.

Want to stop for suds on the way to Hells Canyon? Visit beervalleybrewing.com for a map showing where to pick up a 6-pack of Mother Chukar Cream Ale.

IDAHO

Idaho’s best chukar numbers come from the Clearwater, Magic Valley and southwest regions, including the breaks of the Boise, Payette and Owyhee rivers. It doesn’t take a master cartographer to see that Idaho’s Owyhee County sits adjacent to Oregon’s Malheur County, and there are lot of chukars that make a living on both sides of the state line. Another great chukar area is the east bank of the Snake River, which makes sense given the peaking bird numbers on the Oregon side.

As for other areas, much of the Clearwater region is accessible only by foot, boat or horseback. The breaks of the Salmon River and the Clearwater can hold a lot of birds, which are able to escape harsh winters by descending almost all the way to the banks of the big rivers, where temperatures are more moderate. In the Magic Valley region, check out the canyonlands from south of Boise to south of Twin Falls.

Gray partridge numbers are high in northwestern Idaho between Grangeville and up into Kootenai County. The western part of the state offers the best chance for a mixed bag, with gray partridge (Huns) and quail, as well as chukar. Note the Snake River marks the boundary between Idaho and Oregon and Idaho and Washington, and it can pay to buy hunting licenses for both sides of the river.

Chukar season runs September 20 through January 31, 2026. The daily limit is eight chukars and eight gray partridges, with a possession limit of 24 of each species.

If You Go: Consider basing your camp near Riggins and combine steelhead fishing with chukar hunting in the same trip. Lodging options include the Salmon Rapids Lodge and the Big Iron Motel, both of which have treated me well on multiple occasions.

WASHINGTON

Chelan, Douglas, Asotin, Yakima and Kittitas counties are Washington’s best chukar (and gray partridge) producers.

In the central-east region, a good area of focus is the Colockum Wildlife Area west of the Columbia, approximately 20 miles south of Wenatchee and 30 miles northeast of Ellensburg. For the best public access and continuous chukar habitat, look to the Chelan County side all the way to the Okanogon County border, and north to Chelan Butte Wildlife Area. Be aware that roads have been damaged by flooding and wildfire-fighting, and not all the access has been restored.

Chukars can also be found in the breaks on the east side of the Columbia in Douglas County, but there is a higher proportion of private land on that side.

Sometimes overlooked, the southeast corner and Asotin County can be accessed from a base camp near Clarkston at the confluence of the Snake and the Clearwater. Combine steelhead fishing and chukar hunting for an unforgettable trip. Another good option is to hunt the Yakima River watershed for both chukar and quail.

Chukar season in eastern Washington runs October 4 through January 19, 2026. The daily bag limit is six chukars and six gray partridges, with a limit of 18 of each species in possession.

If You Go: For a local watering hole in southeast Washington, try Riverport Brewing in Clarkston, where you’re sure to strike up conversations other chukar hunters.

If you have your sights set on central Washington, consider basing camp at a lodge condo at Canyon River Ranch (canyonriver.net) in the Yakima River canyon. In Ellensburg, a great place to stop for breakfast or a burger is Red Horse Diner on University Way.

NEVADA

While birds are found throughout the northern mountains and as far south as Tonopah and even Las Vegas, the lion’s share of Nevada’s chukar harvest comes from the west side of the state. Prospect the hills around Winnemucca in Humboldt County for some of the Silver State’s best hunting. Washoe, Pershing, Churchill and Storey counties are also known for high harvest and high hunter success per hunt day.

Chukar (and gray partridge) season in Nevada runs October 11 to February 1, 2026. The daily bag limit is six chukar and Hungarian partridge (in combination), and the possession limit is 18 birds.

Nevada also offers Himalayan snowcock hunting in Elko and White Pine counties, where the season runs September 1 to November 30 with a daily bag limit of 2 and a possession limit of 2. A snowcock hunter must obtain a free-use permit available online at ndowlicensing.com

If You Go: If hunting in Humboldt County, consider pulling a trailer into one of the three RV parks near Winnemucca. For authentic Basque-inspired food, stop at Ormachea’s Dinner House.

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• This article was featured in the November 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

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