Texas Hunting Forum

Chachalacha hunting

Posted By: goosehunter51

Chachalacha hunting - 06/09/15 02:59 AM

I'll give this another try again this year. Does anyone know a place that I can hunt Chachalacha? I'm not looking for a hot barrelled hunt. I'd be happy to just bring one home for taxidermy. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Greg
Posted By: John Humbert

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/09/15 03:14 AM

If you find something, let me know. I want one too!
Posted By: Mike Honcho

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/09/15 04:34 AM

we have em down here in the valley,check with all the valley guys on the forum. we have em on our place but ive only shot one my entire life and i had no clue what it was at first. if i start seeing em, ill ask my uncle if its cool to bring someone along. have a good one.
Posted By: MS1454

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/09/15 01:34 PM

What's that? Is it like a chupa?
Posted By: hermano W

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/09/15 05:41 PM

They make a call that sounds like somebody cranking on an old Dodge trying to get it started. Live in very dense cover which makes them hard to hunt or even see.
Posted By: Pointer

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/09/15 06:29 PM

Originally Posted By: MS1454
What's that? Is it like a chupa?


If I am thinking correctly, they look like a roadrunner had an affair with a chicken.
Posted By: Cast

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/09/15 06:36 PM

I didn't believe it! Here's proof -



Posted By: Mundo

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/09/15 09:15 PM

Originally Posted By: goosehunter51
I'll give this another try again this year. Does anyone know a place that I can hunt Chachalacha? I'm not looking for a hot barrelled hunt. I'd be happy to just bring one home for taxidermy. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Greg


You will need to be south of Raymondville or Rio Grande City. Chacalacas are not good upland birds. They don't hold for dogs, are slow fliers and favor heavy, heavy brush. The are dark meat. You might try the folks at El Canelo ranch in Raymondville. They run a guided quail operation but are in an area with chacalaca habitat and might be able to put you on some. They become backyard birds and will come to feeders in homes near heavy brush in Brownsville/Harlingen area. If you can find some rural areas with brushy undeveloped rescacas (oxbow lakes) you can find chacalacas. However, lots of people consider them sort of pets and will
not allow access to them. BTW--you know that jungle bird call you almost always hear in movie soundtracks? They are almost always chachalacas tho they are not a jungle bird, they like arid thorn scrub. Often they will run on the ground through spiny scrub a ways before flying into larger trees and flying from tree to tree. One way find them is to listen for them calling in early morning, especially on overcast days.
Posted By: bill oxner

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/09/15 10:41 PM

I would not shoot one.
Posted By: Pointer

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/10/15 01:19 AM

Believe it or not, altho I am almost 80 miles north of Raymondville, I spotted one in my yard a few years ago. Showed the wife and kids, but they had no idea what they were looking at.
Posted By: Simple Searcher

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/10/15 01:52 AM

There was a group of them loud suckers outside of my hotel window when I was down in Harlingen many years back. I wish I had a shotgun to shut them up. They are loud.
Posted By: Nogalus Prairie

Re: Chachalacha hunting - 06/11/15 02:03 AM

I have never hunted them but would love to at least once. If only to yell the unique call at the shot:

"BOOM CHACHALACHA!!!"

smile
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