Chukar Counts Up in Snake and Salmon River Area

Not only are Chinook and steelhead fishing seasons open in the Snake River, but chukar counts are higher than they've been in years on the lower Snake and Salmon rivers south of Lewiston. Idaho Fish and Game biologists surveyed the Clearwater Region's Salmon and Snake river chukar routes August 26 and 27. They counted more chukars on both routes than in the most recent previous surveys in 2008. The chukar and gray partridge season opens statewide September 18. They counted a total of 1,491 chukars on the Salmon River route - an increase of 95 percent over the 766 birds tallied in 2008 and 69 percent higher than the long-term average of 882 from 1994 through 2008. This total is the second highest count observed on this route - 1, 722 birds were counted in 2004. They tallied 125 birds per square mile, 15 groups per square mile, and nine birds per group. Biologists counted a total of 1,276 chukars on the Snake River route, the most ever observed since the initiation of this survey in 1994. This total is an increase of 136 percent over the 2008 total of 541 and 76 percent higher than the long-term average of 725, from 1994 through 2008. They counted 79 birds per square mile, seven groups per square mile and 12 birds per group. The chukar survey reported earlier for the Brownlee area estimated numbers similar to last year, though somewhat below the 10-year average.