Elk hunting for ChukarEdit

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Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series by members of TU’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project. For more, visit www.oursportingheritage.org, a site dedicated to protecting our backcountry resources.

By Gregg Bafundo

I love elk hunting - the massive loads, and the crazy weather, too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry but never perfect. All the work getting camp packed in and out. Not to mention all the crowds in Washington. It seems I spend most of my time avoiding other hunters instead of chasing bulls.

Frustrating? Yep.

That’s why come October I grab my scattergun and head to the desert.

Huh?

In a word: Chukar, that small crazy bird that lives in the rocky crags and harshest country of central Washington. I’m lucky in that I have access to some pretty cool country behind a locked gate. I was once asked if I had to choose between fishing, elk hunting or upland game what would I choose? I chose upland game.

Why?

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