Rock Chucks in the wind

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WeaselCircus

Member
Anybody know if rock chucks are bothered by windy conditions? A friend and I were going to do some scouting of new areas but if the winds are up and that causes the chucks to stay in their buttows then it'd be a wasted trip. Sage rats don't seem to like the wind and you won't see them out as much when breezy, but not sure about chucks.
 
I've only hunted southern ID for rock chucks a couple times, but we would see a lot more critters when it wasn't as windy. Even when the wind was blowing, I felt like the best time to scout for them was the first and last 2 hours of the day. Midday was always hit or miss for us.
 
Thanks, that's kind of what I was thinking. Have time this week with the kids out on spring break but the forecast is calling for clouds and high winds all dang week...
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I would take them anyway. If you don't go there is a 100% chance you won't get into them. When you have kids along, for some reason the critters show up.
 
Good point. Kind of like how the best way to jump up some game (deer, pheasants, ducks, etc) is to set your gun down and walk over to water a bush. And the farther away the gun is the better!
 
Originally Posted By: WeaselCircusGood point. Kind of like how the best way to jump up some game (deer, pheasants, ducks, etc) is to set your gun down and walk over to water a bush. And the farther away the gun is the better!

Ain't that the truth. Put the gun down and get ready to not shoot.
 
Ive been watching rock chucks all week while calling. It has been overcast, raining, and wind to 16 mph.
Have also seen ducks, geese and plenty of roosters very close.
It's that time of year. No snakes yet.
 
For scouting spring 'chucks, full sunup is a great time to be looking. We call those springtime morning 'chucks sun worshippers. Seems like this time of year, when the mornings are still pretty cold, they ALL come out to soak up the first full strong rays in the morning. May not hold true everywhere, but I know most of the places we used to shoot them early in the year - you could find out just how many there were by being in a good spot to watch at first full light.

Edit to say - not first full "light" but first full sun rays. As soon as the sun starts to warm the rocks, the sun worshippers would all be out at once soaking in those warming rays.

- DAA
 
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Good info guys. Saturday forecast is looking really nice (sunny and not much wind) so we are planning a trip. Will have to head out earlier than I was thinking to catch those early risers.
 
Out west here, some wind doesn't much bother them. "High" winds keeps everything down not just chucks.

What really makes them skittish is passing clouds that cast shadows that roll across the landscape, which is common in the spring. They run to cover.

Also they don't start coming up for sun until around 9am (3+ hours after sunrise). Starting earlier is a waste of time. I suspect the rocks cool down a lot at night as the temp drops at elevation, and the chucks wait until the sun has warmed them back up a bit before coming out.
 
Found some! Got a pretty good day with only a mild breeze and went out for the afternoon scouting a couple new spots. Ended up with 7 all shot with my 22 Hornet.

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Originally Posted By: WeaselCircusFound some! Got a pretty good day with only a mild breeze and went out for the afternoon scouting a couple new spots. Ended up with 7 all shot with my 22 Hornet.

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wouldn't happen to be a savage would it? Haha
 
They do not like wind much, but if you glass carefully you can see their heads and beady eyes peeking from their holes.

The problem is, I DON"T like the wind at all, so it keeps me in the jeep glassing and drinking coffee until I spot one!



BTW: Do not panic, I am not on a road, I am on a private runway. Farmer has me shooting chucks there because not only are they wiping out his hay field, they are undermining his runway.

 
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