The current status of Chukar (<i>Alectoris chukar</i> J. E. Gray, 1830) in Armenia

Abstract The Chukar Alectoris chukar is one of the most popular game birds Armenia, but there no governmental monitoring programme for that exploited species. We carried out national surveys in 2003–2019 and estimate current occupied range Armenia as 5,082 km 2 (17% country). In 2019, we population size at 12,472 breeding pairs (95% CL: 10,266–14,677). Its trend shows a moderate decline underlying strong annual fluctuations. occurs on 20 public hunting lands covering 2,414 total. abundance these estimated to 5,558 2019 3,656–7,460). Surveys seven Hunters’ Unions found are 10,000 20,000 active hunters. number permits issued annually increased ten-fold between 2016 exceeding capacity 2019. A hunter survey each shot average (± SD) 5.88±3.05 2018/19 season, which extrapolates 17,052–34,104 specimens (at least 46% autumn numbers). Current management practice thus unsustainable provide recommendations sustainable approaches should replace it urgently.