This unit has a lot of private timber land as well as state forest ground that is open to public hunting. Dense cover does makes hunting blacktail deer and Roosevelt elk difficult.

This is a good place to hunt Roosevelt elk, especially if you don’t mind hiking away from roads where vehicles are not allowed. Spike and forkhorn bulls are protected, and the huge bulls that came from this area many years ago are largely a thing of the past.

This unit is in the northwestern corner of the state, bordering the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. It has some bluffs and steep slopes, such as on Saddle Mountain itself and in the southwestern corner, but most of the unit is mild in topography. Most land is below 1,000 feet in elevation, but a few places exceed 1,500 feet and even 2,000 feet. Most of the unit is in Clatsop County. The southwestern corner is in Tillamook County, and the eastern part extends into Columbia County.

Most of the land is heavily logged, so there are many clearcuts with brush, saplings and immature trees, mostly spruces, alders and firs. Some of the southwestern corner and the central part of the unit have large sectors of mature forest, where Sitka spruce, several kinds of firs and pines grow out of a dense understory of brush, ferns and various forbs.

Dispersed camping is allowed on most public land. Gnat Creek Campground on Highway 30 near the Columbia River offers sites on the Clatsop State Forest. Backpackers may camp almost anywhere on public land except where posted. Though much of the private timber land is open to hunting, most is open to walk-in hunting only and no camping is permitted on most private properties. Motels in the western half of the unit are in Seaside, Cannon Beach and Astoria. The largest town near the eastern half is Clatskanie, which is just outside the unit. Some motels available include:

Hunters enjoy good access to a great deal of public land. Most of it is part of the Clatsop State Forest. A small part of the southwestern corner is in the Tillamook State Forest. Good roads and some primitive roads provide access to state lands. Saddle Mountain State Park includes more than 3,000 acres on Saddle Mountain. Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area, which covers more than 1,100 acres, offers public hunting north and west of Jewell. All areas posted as “Refuge” are closed to public entry. Part of Jewell Meadows is open to hunting during big game seasons, and some parts are open only for deer hunting during the general rifle season. Note that you’ll need a parking permit from the game department if you plan to hunt on the wildlife area. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended on logging roads. Most of the unit is private, so plan to get landowner permission to hunt on private areas.

Many timber company tracts are open to hunting although most private property is open only to walk-in hunters and only during daytime. Do research before the season to determine where you may hunt and check again during the season to ensure that the area you intend to hunt has not been closed due to fire danger or other reasons. The state publishes a North Coast Cooperative Travel Management Area map in two parts: Part I and Part II. Some private timber company land is closed during the week and open on weekends.

ATVs are permitted on Nicolai Mountain OHV riding area, which has more than 17 miles of trails that are open to dirt bikes, four-wheelers and side-by-sides.