I was out chasing doves and quail for the opener, and you can read about it Thursday, but I was curious how the chukar population looked after a couple of poor seasons. The initial word is encouraging.

I got first-hand reports from three hardcore chukar hunters who hit different parts of Southwest Idaho. Two reported limits and the other reported seeing more birds than last year. Granted, these guys know where to find birds and have excellent dogs. They also aren't afraid to stomp the terra. They're the silhouettes you see on ridgetops and folks who will spend all day following birds.

So there you have it. There are some birds out there, and you have until the end of January to get them.

Have fun.