Quick Tips
- Much of the land all looks the same, carry a GPS to stay oriented
- Get in roadless canyons to find bigger bucks and bulls
- Stand hunting about 50 yards from roads can be productive
- Get permission to hunt private land in the eastern part of the unit
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Columbian Blacktail Deer | 80"-100" | 110"+ |
| Roosevelt Elk | 240"-260" | 280"+ |
On The Ground
A heavily forested and roaded unit with lots of steep land and brushy, dense cover, this unit gets a lot of hunting pressure from nearby Corvallis on its eastern border as well as from the Portland-Salem metropolitan area. It has good numbers of elk and blacktail deer.
This is a difficult unit to hunt because of steep terrain, heavy cover, lots of roads and many other hunters who can buy over-the-counter general tags to hunt bucks and bulls.
Terrain
West of Corvallis and bordering the Pacific Ocean, this unit is composed mostly of low hills. Most of them are less than 1,500 feet above sea level but have many steep slopes that are difficult to hike due to heavy cover. A small area north of Grass Hill exceeds 2,500 in elevation.
Roughly 1,960 square miles
43% public land
Elevations from 0-4,100 feet
Vegetation
Most land is forested with spruces, firs, hemlock and other trees while parts of the area have been logged. Many clearcut areas have brush, grass and low trees, Meadows are common. Some private land is farmed. Some people consider the coast in this area to be among the most scenic places in America. In wilderness areas, some Sitka spruce trees are as large as nine feet in diameter. Alder and maple trees are common. The forest understory is typically dense with brush, ferns, berry plants and a myriad of wildflowers.
Access
A large part of the unit, especially the southern half, is in the Siuslaw National Forest. The eastern half of the unit is mostly a checkerboard pattern of private and public land with large areas of private property along the eastern edge near Corvallis and Monroe. Wilderness areas include 5,798-acre Drift Creek, which is a few miles northeast of Alsea Bay, and the 7,486-acre Rock Creek and 9,173-acre Cummins Creek areas, which are within half a mile of the ocean in the southern third of the unit. About nine square miles in the Luckiamute road closure area in the Stott Mountain and Alsea units are permanently closed to hunters driving motor vehicles. The Stott Mountain-North Alsea road closure area is temporarily closed from a day before bow season until the end of the elk rifle season. In the Alsea unit gated and posted roads north of U.S. Highway 20 and west of State Highway 223 are closed. Some roads are closed permanently in the Mid-Coast area.
No vehicles are permitted in wilderness areas
Except in wilderness areas, roads occupy virtually every square mile
Camping and Lodging
Several campgrounds are near the Alsea River, including Canal Creek, Blackberry and Riveredge. Blackberry Campground is along Highway 34 and borders the river. Some hunters camp on public ground outside campgrounds and are expected to practice “Leave No Trace” camping practices. Backpackers may camp almost anywhere except where posted. Many motels and hotels are in cities such as Newport and Corvallis, ranging from inexpensive two-star motels to extravagant tourist-oriented facilities that cost several hundred dollars a night.
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