The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners increased the possession limit for chukar and Hungarian partridge from 12 to 18 at their June meeting. This amendment to the biennial upland game season and bag regulations will be in effect for this fall's hunting season.

"Good to excellent range conditions and a wide distribution of birds mean that these new limits will not have a biological impact on the chukar resource," said Shawn Espinosa, game biologist with the department.

The abundance of birds and the amendment mean that a hunter can have a three-day possession limit rather than a two-day limit. If rising gas prices cause a hunter to plan fewer trips this year, the three-day limit allows him or her to extend each trip. This brings Nevada's limits closer to those of neighboring states.

Last summer and fall, chukar were captured at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center in California, and relocated to nine sites across the state.

The intent of the relocation was to establish a good number of birds for the next spring's breeding season. Such efforts, combined with good habitat conditions, have strengthened chukar populations.

A $10 Upland Game Stamp is required for hunting upland game birds, including chukar. Proceeds from this stamp are used solely for the protection and propogation of upland game birds, and for the acquisition, development, and preservation of upland game bird habitats in Nevada. That includes development of water sources, referred to as guzzlers, which sustain wildlife populations across varying precipitation cycles.