Drew
Well-known member
The much awaited upland gamebird surveys for Oregon are out. As expected. The hunting for pheasants will be better than last year, although not many adult pheasants to work with from last year their chick production and survival are amazing. So we should see a lot of young pheasants this year. Adult Quail are up 44% from last year and again had amazing chick survival with damn near 12 chicks per adult which is hard to believe. Chukar are up slightly from last year with amazing chick production this year with 13.5 chicks per adult. Lastly, I did look at Harney County for their Chukar numbers and their surveys resulted in 150 adult birds per 10 miles with 2.5 chicks per adult. So, an incredible number of adult birds but not many chicks.
Malheur County Results:
Chukar - Surveys on established routes yielded 48 birds per 10 miles, this is a 7 percent increase from last year and 4 percent above the 10-year average of 45 birds per 10 miles. Brood production was excellent at 13.5 chicks per brood, total number of brood classified was similar than last year. Most notable increase in chukar number was in the northern part of Malheur County. This is the second year in a row with good chukar production with incidental observations of good chukar numbers across the district.
Pheasant - Surveys along established routes yielded 3.1 birds per 10 miles, a 4 percent increase in number of birds observed from the 3-year average and 42 percent below the 10-year average. Chick production was excellent at 4.6 chicks per brood. Hunting prospects will vary depending on the farming practices in the area where you have permission to hunt. The outlying areas around Willow Creek and Vale have higher bird numbers than areas closer to Ontario and Nyssa.
There are very few public lands in the area available to pheasant hunters and the few parcels that are available tend to get hunted daily. One option for private lands access is the Cow Hollow fundraiser to benefit the Cow Hollow Park.
California quail - Surveys on established routes yielded 52 quail per 10 miles, a 44 percent increase from last year and 31 percent above the 10-year average. Production was excellent at 11.8 chicks per brood with good production observed in range and agricultural lands.
Malheur County Results:
Chukar - Surveys on established routes yielded 48 birds per 10 miles, this is a 7 percent increase from last year and 4 percent above the 10-year average of 45 birds per 10 miles. Brood production was excellent at 13.5 chicks per brood, total number of brood classified was similar than last year. Most notable increase in chukar number was in the northern part of Malheur County. This is the second year in a row with good chukar production with incidental observations of good chukar numbers across the district.
Pheasant - Surveys along established routes yielded 3.1 birds per 10 miles, a 4 percent increase in number of birds observed from the 3-year average and 42 percent below the 10-year average. Chick production was excellent at 4.6 chicks per brood. Hunting prospects will vary depending on the farming practices in the area where you have permission to hunt. The outlying areas around Willow Creek and Vale have higher bird numbers than areas closer to Ontario and Nyssa.
There are very few public lands in the area available to pheasant hunters and the few parcels that are available tend to get hunted daily. One option for private lands access is the Cow Hollow fundraiser to benefit the Cow Hollow Park.
California quail - Surveys on established routes yielded 52 quail per 10 miles, a 44 percent increase from last year and 31 percent above the 10-year average. Production was excellent at 11.8 chicks per brood with good production observed in range and agricultural lands.