2026 season at a glance: September 26, 2026–February 15, 2027 · youth hunt September 19–21 · daily limit 5 · possession limit 15 · Utah hunting or combination license required.
2026 Utah chukar forecast
Chukar hunting opens on September 26th. It’s just over two weeks away and I cannot wait. So what does the season look like? Well, DWR’s 2026 upland-game forecast is out and things look good so far. Numbers should be average or slightly increased in some areas of Utah, with drought-related declines expected in the south and southeast. It should also be noted that DWR stopped releasing pen-raised chukars on public land in 2025, so the birds you find on Utah’s public chukar ranges should be wild.
Season dates, limits, and license requirements
Utah’s 2026–27 upland-game guidebook sets the general chukar season from September 26, 2026, through February 15, 2027, giving hunters nearly five months to pursue birds across the state. Utah also offers an early youth chukar and gray partridge hunt September 19–21 for qualifying hunters age 17 and younger.
The daily bag limit is five chukars, with a possession limit of 15 birds. Chukar are a general upland-game species in Utah, so hunters do not need to draw or purchase a separate chukar permit. A valid Utah hunting license or combination license is required.
Where I look for chukar
If you are going out on your own, look for rocky, dry, and steep terrain. My favorite hills to walk almost look like a cheatgrass monoculture, but you can find them in bunchgrass and sage as well. Early season they can be found predominantly near water, but their reliance on water becomes less significant as the season moves on and snow becomes available.
Why I approach birds from below
My methods for hunting chukar are slightly different than most of the advice I hear online. It seems to me that most people prefer approaching chukar from above and shooting them as they fly away downhill. I’ve never liked this. Shooting an object as it moves away and down has never been natural to me, and I’m always scared of shooting my dog.
Most people tell you not to chase chukars uphill. I do it on purpose.
What I prefer is approaching the birds from below. A good chukar dog will eventually learn how to pressure and pin running birds. Either way, birds running uphill has never been a significant problem for me. The best thing about coming from below is that they almost always fly down, so you get a lot of really good bird presentations out away from your dog.
Chokes and loads
As to chokes, I know a lot of guys like to run modified chokes. It’s probably smart; there can be some long-range shots. I like to run improved cylinder and just about any one-ounce load of lead 7½s. The pattern is like a swarm of bees, and it has been incredibly effective for me. I do keep some 6s ready if birds start taking off too far away, though.
For more on one of the shotguns I’ve been preparing for chukar country, see my 500-round Benelli Ethos field review.
Early-season heat and rattlesnakes
Watch out if you are out there early season. It’s still hot in Utah and the rattlesnakes are still out. My personal rule of thumb is to wait until the daily low temperature plus the daily high temperature stays below 100 for three days in a row. There’s nothing scientific about it, but it has worked well enough to keep my dogs out of the emergency room so far.
If you love chukar hunting and want to remind everyone else why it is the purest form of upland hunting, check out our T-shirt store and wear your upland superiority proudly.
Published after editorial review
Last revised 9/10/2026. Evidence and limitations should be interpreted as described in the article.
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