Early deer around Chopaka

[wahoundsman]

Just curious as if anyone here has hunted the early archery for deer around Lake Chopaka,Chopaka Mtn, or Joe Mills Mtn.I grew up in Oroville but moved away years ago and never did get a chance to hunt up there.My oldest son and I are thinking about heading up that way for the first week of early deer and this is his first season with a bow.Any info would be great.Thank you and everyone...Good Luck!

[wahoundsman]

I know someone on here has had to hunt that area at least once.Not looking for anyone's secret honey hole.Just a little info on deer numbers up high.I know down in the farmland around loomisand near the orchards by Palmer lake there are is some nice whitetails but I am after muleies.

[Dadbear]

Try for mulies west of Loomis.

[MtnMuley]

Sounds like a fun week you have planned to me.  Go up there above Chopaka all week and hunt different areas that look good to you.  You will see deer.  It might be dry, and you might not see a bruiser, but if you put in a week of hunting hard and covering ground, you'll surely see some critters. 

[wahoundsman]

Thanks for the advice fellas.It has been a while since I have been up there but I  remember seeing some pretty nice bucks up there when we use to fish it during the summers.

[coachcw]

I've seen some good bucks bed up right on the face of chopaka hill in the first mile between the road and the field , don't over look that spot .good luck Coach

[boneaddict]

Please let me know if you bump into any goats up on Chopaka.  Its been awhile since I've seen any and I owuld like to photograph them there.

[SHANE(WA)]

find some water

[wahoundsman]

Thanks again everyone.Hey boneaddict, if ya wanna get some good goat pictures, just head up to Milk Creek or Spring Creek and go to the top of Devil's slide.Those Goats are in there right now and in the late afternoon you can get pretty close for some nice pictures.

I found a few springs on my topo program that are a little northwest of Chopaka lake and that's kinda where I had planned on concentrating my efforts in the evening.But I plan on checking those springs out first thing thursday afternoon.

[TeacherMan]

Pm sent 

[300bullelk]

Hey Bone, since I know you are familiar with the area, I can watch the goats from my tree stand while rattlin/gruntin whitetails @ the north end of Palmer in late Nov. Seems like they are gettin' fewer and farther between though in the last 20+ years. I even watched a billy follow this female and court her for about a half hour and finally she gave in. They were at the top of the ridge and would be fairly easy hike from Chopaka Lake. If you go from the Palmer side take a lunch with ya!!! This was last year. There is a small spring that bubbles up on the side of the cliffs there that I found 3 years ago that is a magnet for deer and goats. I have taken a bear from this spot in August but the snakes like it to that time of the year. They don't need to go down to lake now as I did a little excavation work for em!!!!! Good Luck with the photo's and post 'em if you get a chance

[Chopaka81]

I have hunted the area since 81. Headed back there this year too. I only hunt during Rifle Season. The only early hunting I have done over there was up in Horseshoe Basin, I shot a nice buck in '91. We camped east of Smith Lk.

Regarding Mt. Goats, a bug carried by domestic sheep wiped most of them out. There are a few loaner Goats in the area, but nothing like the 80's and early 90's. Sometimes one or two will show up on Grand View and the ridge line east of Chopaka overlooking the valley.

Big Horn Sheep have moved into the area and seem to be thriving.

[MtnMuley]

Saw a few goats up there a month ago.  Seems the herd is doing better than last year, with more of the goats spreading out along the. wall.  You're right though, nothing like it used to be in the 80's and 90's.

[Chopaka81]

Please let me know if you bump into any goats up on Chopaka.  Its been awhile since I've seen any and I owuld like to photograph them there.

This is my feeble attempt at digi-scoping. I spotted this lone billy on the cliffs above Palmer Lake.

[beaslayer6]

i was just up there two weeks ago and seen 20 goat.they are doing just fine up there u just need to know where to look.