Cast & Blast - Chukar Hunting/Steelhead Fishing
Description
Chukar are an amazing (and tasty!) upland game bird that is native to Asia. They were introduced into Idaho between 1933 & 1957. We're pretty happy they found home in the Salmon River Canyon! They give us a very unique opportunity to hunt them while we are out Steelhead Fishing from a drift boat.
Chukar are not an easy bird to hunt. They require steep & rough hikes covering large amounts of elevation. Though we occasionally run into coveys of birds riverside while floating, we usually need to follow their calls & work to reach them.
We generally recommend those interested in a "Cast & Blast" trip to come for at least 2 days, so we get ample time to split Chukar Hunting & Steelhead Fishing equally. It's easy to let time get away from you on a long hike chasing the sounds of birds, or a few hot holes catching Steelhead!
Season: Late September - January 31 Price: 240/angler (Minimum 2).
What to Expect
When?: Late September - January 31
Where?: Salmon River - Riggins, Idaho. We have a 59 miles of amazing scenic river we are permitted to fish & hunt on
Price?: $240/angler (minimum 2 spots per boat)
How long?: Full day - 10 hours
What kind of fishing techniques are used?: Drift Boat gear fishing, including pulling plugs, drifting bait, and float fishing.
What else can we catch?: Book your trip between September 15 & October 31 for a fun Fall Chinook Salmon fishery, too!
Can we do a longer trip?: Definitely! We actually encourage it heavily when booking a Cast & Blast trip. It's easy to let the hours go by on a hike, or get caught up in fishing - come out for a few days and you'll get a great mix of fishing & hunting!
What does SRD Provide?: Experienced Steelhead fishing & Chukar hunting guides, all fishing gear needed, snacks, coffee, water, comfortable heated drift boat.
What do we need to bring?: Idaho Steelhead Permit & Fishing License, General Hunting License, lunch, camera, sunglasses, shotgun, ammo, hiking boots, hunter orange vest or hat, drinks of choice.
How should we dress?: Dress warm & with multiple layers! We fish & hunt rain, snow, or shine! Bring quality rain gear & check the forecast beforehand! Please come with hunter orange vest and/or hat.
Can I bring my dog?: Totally! We love dogs on our boats! We ask that you do not bring your dog if they have not spent time in a boat. Though we know bird dogs are very well-trained dogs, sometimes the new environment of being in a boat can be a challenge for them.
Does SRD provide the gun?: We do not provide your firearm or ammo. Please come prepared with both.
Gear & Equipment
Please come prepared with your own shotgun and ammo. We recommend a 20 or 12 gauge, size 6-7 shot.
Hunter Orange is required.
Good hiking boots are necessary, the terrain is extremely steep & rugged. Please bring gaiters if you're serious about long hikes.
If you plan to bring a dog (absolutely not necessary on this trip, but nice to have if you have a well-trained dog) please consider if your dog has ever been in a boat or not. We frequently have folks with very well-trained bird dogs who can't handle being in a boat around fishing equipment or whitewater rapids. It's a very new environment for dogs who haven't grown up around it and the reactions the dogs give are sometimes very unexpected. Consider a lifejacket for your dog.
We will provide all the fishing equipment & bait for Steelhead & Salmon Fishing.
Weapon Details
See above
Pricing Details
2025 pricing: $240/angler (required minimum of 2 seats purchased)
Our drift boats can support up to 3 sportsmen per boat. 3 folks is a tight fit, consider 4 people and 2 boats if you are already considering 3, especially if you are bringing a dog(s).
Terms & Conditions
Reservations: A 50% deposit of final trip price is required to reserve your date & boat at the time of booking.
Your final payment will be due within 14 days of your trip launch. This payment will be auto-charged to the card on file if final payment is not received within 14 days of your trip launch.
Refunds: All Deposits & Final payments are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Cancellations & Date Changes: 14+ days prior to your trip launch: Change of date with no charge allowed.
14 days to 72 hours prior to your trip launch: Change of date allowed +20% rebooking fee.
72 hours prior to your trip launch: No date change accepted. Trip cost will be forfeited.
"No show" cancellation: Trip cost will be forfeited.
Transfers: Transfer of your launch date & deposit or full payment to another guest or party is acceptable at any time prior to your trip.
Cancellations due to safety: Within our discretion & professional experience, we may deem river flows or any other ongoing events of nature unsafe for any reason. Clients will be given the option of to cancel their trip and receive a full refund or rebook for another date.
Other: We do not cancel trips based on weather forecast or current weather conditions. Please come prepared for the elements.
Salmon River Drifters, LLC reserves the right to cancel a trip for any person at any time. If this occurs prior to your trip launch the reservation holder will receive a full refund of trip cost
Camp/Accommodations
If you book a multi-day camping trip (Bookings open August, 2025) your trip will be supported by a separate gearboat and crew who sets up and takes down camp every day as we move downstream.
Physical Requirements
None, particularly. This trip can be done a couple of ways. We get hunters who want to go on long hikes, if you plan to hike a lot prepare for steep & rugged terrain. This isn't the midwest!
More often than not, we get sportsmen who are more interested in fishing, and only choose to pursue birds when they see or hear the cackle of chukar around us.
If you prefer to plan on long days on the mountain, please consider 2-3 days of hunting & fishing. We cover 6-9 river miles by boat every day, and it's easy to get held up on a hunt and the hours get away from you!
Permit & Tag Application Process
Please see (url removed) for more information.