Top 3 Choke Tubes for Hunting Fast Flying Chukar

The most important thing in chukar hunting is being able to hit a fast-moving bird, but second is having the right choke in your shotgun when the bird eventually flushes. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the three choke tubes widely considered best for hunting chukars and what makes them so popular.

Choke tube diameter selection is usually dependent on shot size and the distance you will be hunting, and with chukars it is no different. Lead #7.5 shot and steel #6’s are popular chukar hunting shotshell loads, so it’s important to find a choke that patterns this ammo well.

Best Choke Tubes for Chukar Hunting

These are the three choke tubes you chould consider for chukar hunting that can produce more consistent results with both lead and steel shot. As always, patterning your shotgun is extremely important to find out which choke tubes and ammo work best out of it.

1) Carlson’s Modified Choke Tube

Carlson’s is one of the most trusted choke tube brands in the industry and their extended modified choke is perfect for chukar hunting. It delivers a dense pattern out to 30 yards with lead #7.5’s and makes for a versatile all-around choke tube for most situations.

The Carlson’s modified allows you to hit long range birds, without having to sacrifice the close in shots. This is great for those quick action hunts where you don’t have to second guess your choke or stop to change it out. This is the TOP pick.

Carlson's Modified Choke Tube - Extended - Non Ported

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2) Carlson’s White Wing Choke

The White Wing choke by Carlson’s is another option for added range in high winds or days the birds are flying high. This choke comes in Improved Modified and paired with #6 shot steel is a good combo for shots to 35 yards.

This choke is perfect for hunting open areas such as hillsides where it may be hard to sneak up on birds and they flush at longer ranges. If you already have good luck with Carlson’s chokes in other sizes, check out this IM choke. This is the pick for MAX range.

Carlson's Long Range White Wing Choke - Extended

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2) TRUGLO Double-Threat Choke

The TRUGLO Double-Threat Choke is designed to make quick choke adjustments in the field. It’s precision-made using CNC to adhere to tight tolerances and can be twisted quickly to change the diameter of the choke.

It has a DECOY and PASS setting for close or longer shots, respectively. This choke can be used with both lead and steel shot. It’s perfect for days when the birds are unpredictable, and you can adjust it for close or long shots in seconds. This is the BUDGET pick.

Truglo Double Threat Choke - Extended- Adjustable

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Why a modified choke works best for Chukar Hunting

Modified chokes are the middle ground of choke diameters (0.705”) and because of this are versatile in many different hunting situations. Chokes in modified can handle chukars flushing close and long fast-moving passing shots overhead.

Modified choke tubes work especially well with #7.5 lead shot and it’s not uncommon to pattern this choke and ammo combination and receive 80% coverage in a 30 inch circle at 35 yards. Steel shot also works well with a modified choke tube like the Carlson’s extended choke mentioned above.

Hunting wild chukars vs pen raised birds

Wild chukars are a lot harder to hunt than pen raised and released birds. Your choke setup will likely need to be tailored to which of these types of chukars you will be hunting.

Pen raised or released birds tend to be slow and flush late. This means most of your shots are going to be within 20-25 yards where an Improved Cylinder (0.716”) which opens the shot up quicker will be the top choice.

For wild chukars, the modified (0.705”) or improved modified (0.695”) are the top choices that will keep your pattern together for shots between 30 and 40 yards.

Chukar Choke Tubes and Ranges

Improved Cylinder (10-20 yards) – Up close flushing shots
Modified (20-40 yards) – Flushing and long range flushing shots
Improved Modified (35-45 yards) – Long range flushing shots
Full Choke (40-60 yards) – High flying birds over 40 yards

The chart above shows the recommended choke tube and range in yards for chukar hunting. Modified is the best choke for typical chukar hunting shots that include close flushes and bird exiting scenarios. Improved cylinder is the best for close flushing shots just as the chukar rises. Improved modified (IM) and full chokes are best for longer range shots after the bird is exiting and gained full momentum.

High flying chukars

A high flying chukar is any bird over 40 yards. High flying chukars usually flush somewhere out of sight, but end up right over you at a high rate of speed. They can be one of the most challenging shots in upland bird hunting.

Choke and ammo combinations for these high flying birds need to be able to hold together beyond 40 yards. A full choke can even be a viable choke size in this situation. Increasing shot size to lead #5’s or Steel #4’s is also warranted.

Chukar Hunting Field Tips

Get a set of improved cylinder, modified, and improved modified chokes
This will let you switch chokes as conditions change
Lead #7.5’s and an IC choke tube work well on pen raised birds
Keep shots below 40 yards, know your ammo and choke limitations
A full choke may be needed for those days where birds are flushing prematurely
Wind days, especially those with cross winds, you may need to up your pellet size
Pattern your shotgun to find out what choke and ammo work best
If using a tight choke, allow a bird flushing close to get distance before shooting

Modified choke tubes can take a lot of the guess work out of chukar hunting. They usually work well with most ammo and won’t damage the birds at close ranges.

Having a set of choke tubes in your hunting vest or backpack is the best option that works well for changing conditions. You can tailor your setup to how chukars are responding while in the field and changing a choke only takes seconds with a good choke wrench.

What to expect

When it comes to choosing the right choke tube for Chukar Hunting, Carlson’s Modified choke stands out from its competitors. The Carlson’s Modified choke is engineered with a unique design that provides consistent and even shot patterns, resulting in better accuracy and a higher precision. Unlike most of its competitors, the Modified choke ensures that the shot is evenly distributed, reducing the chances of having holes or gaps in your pattern. Overall, the Carlson’s Modified choke is a top performer, delivering outstanding results that set it apart from the competition.

Bottom Line

chukar hunting requires a choke size geared toward the situation at hand. #7.5 Lead shot and #6 steel shot are popular pellet sizes most chukar hunters use. Naturally, finding a choke tube that patterns these loads well is key to success in the field.

A modified choke such as the extended chokes that Carlson’s offers work well for an all-around chukar hunting choke tube. There are several other options including the White Wing choke and the improved modified from Browning.

Hunting wild chukars or pen raised birds can help determine which choke size you may need. Shots on wild chukars tend to be longer where a modified or improved modified are best. Pen raised birds may only require an improved cylinder for shots inside 20 yards.

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