CHACHALACA HUNTING!

[86er]

This unique species can only be hunted in 4 Counties in Texas (Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and I forgot the other one) and nowhere else in the US. They are sometimes referred to as the Mexican Pheasant. The size is similar to a hen pheasant. They males get more color but they each will get a greenish head, red sploch on the face and white tail tips. They cackle and make a lot of noise when they flush, like a male ringneck pheasant. Their habitat is inhospitable to humans, arid prickly pear cactus area that are also attractive to rattlesnakes. We hunted them in the most bizarre way. My host had a large "wild cat", so he called it. It is about a 20 pound cat with no tail that he claims is half house cat and half wild cat. Anyway, we'd walk quietly through the prickly pear flats while he carried the cat over his shoulder. When we saw chachalaca up ahead, he'd put the cat down and the cat would prance around until he saw the birds up ahead (or maybe smelled them, I don't know). The cat would then sneak in with sort of a low crawl. When he was close he would charge in and the birds would flush. We used smallbore shotguns. The cat did not retrieve but sometimes would run over to the downed bird and kind of play with it. My second host had a similar tactic. He carried a little half breed dog in a basket. When chachalaca were spotted he'd put the dog on the ground and the dog would follow the scent and rush in to flush the birds. This dog did not retieve either but would sometimes go to the downed bird and sit there and bark. It was a unique experience with the terrain, unusual tactics and strange birds. I really enjoyed it and I will be adding two mature chachalaca to my game room where I have over 35 ducks and birds of different species mounted.

[kimwcook]

Never heard of them before. You have 30+ stuffed birds. I really, really need a man cave. It would be a hard sale to my better half just to have a elk or mule deer head mount in the house. Let alone 30+ birds. Good on you and thanks for the HR.

[Charles]

For many years, there was no open season on them. I have a couple that hang out in my back yard. I live in Cameron Country.

[Rusty]

Sounds like an interesting hunt, worthy of a TV show to show how it's done.

[Nath]

Nice, thats how Tia flushes really only she will retrieve.

You never said what you shot them with Joe!

N.

[O.S.O.K.]

Interesting - did you eat them? How were they? I suppose one of them was left whole for the taxidermist... I have one pintail drake mounted - that's it for avians

My wife says it plenty enough

[crs]

Cool post, thanks.

[FWiedner]

What an interesting creature.

Probably tastes like chicken.

Thanks for sharing your hunt, Joe!

[Tycer]

Nancy calls bull. She just does not understand what a guy will do to hunt.

[rjohns94]

Very kewl

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Well, apparently I'm going to have to say it if no one else will ...

Boom chachalaca, boom chachalaca, boom chachalaca, boom.

[BAGTIC]

There are also some chachalaca on Sapelo and a couple other coastal islands in Georgia. They were introduced many years ago by hunters.

[piller]

If they are a pheasant, cut the up like a supermarket chicken, place in a baking dish, cover with Campbell's Golden Mushroom soup, bake 1 hour at 400, and enjoy.

[papabear]

Joe nice looking birds they will go well in your room with the rest of your trophies
sounds like you had a fun hunt
Bill "papabear"

[Ji in Hawaii]

Aloha Joe, Congratulations on a new species. I had a surf buddy here about 27 years ago who was raised in Brownsville Texas, and I got him back into hunting taking him to the dairy I used to hunt doves at. He even had his dad back in Texas sent him his old Savage 97 pump shotgun. He'd always talked about hunting Chachalacas adventures, and the harsh terrain they preferred. I love hunting upland game so the Chachalaca has been on my bucket list ever since. Thanks for the pictures, now I know what they look like.