Quick Tips
- Excellent steelhead and salmon fishing at times in small rivers
- Check of fire restrictions before hunting
- Pack into Kalmiopsis Wilderness to escape crowds
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Columbian Blacktail Deer | 110"-130" | 140"+ |
| Roosevelt Elk | 230"-260" | 280"+ |
On The Ground
This unit is the southwestern corner of the Oregon, bordering the Pacific Ocean and California. Most of it is in the Siskiyou National Forest, holding Roosevelt elk and blacktail deer.
A good unit for blacktail deer with some possibilities of glassing in the eastern half of the unit, where forest fires have cleared dense forest. Hunters typically have a hard time finding Roosevelt elk with 4x4 or larger antlers.
Terrain
Beaches and rocky, scenic coastline from the western boundary of this unit, which is mostly composed of forested mountains and hills in the east and mountains covered with wildfire-destroyed forests in the west. Most elevations are below 2,000 feet, but many ridges and peaks exceed 3,000 feet in elevation with the highest points above 4,000, including the Big Craggies, which top out at 4,619 feet above sea level. The western boundary is mostly along flat farmland with a western finger extending to Grants Pass. A few smaller towns lie along the western and eastern edges, including Selma, O’Brien, Cave Junction, Harbor, Brookings and Gold Beach. The unit is in Curry and Josephine counties.
Roughly 1,691 square miles
83% public land
Elevations from 0-5,300 feet
Vegetation
The western half is heavily forested, mostly with conifers and mainly Sitka spruce, while the eastern half is more open as the result of forest fires that have killed millions of trees, many of them still standing. Grass and low brush grow in the burned-over areas with stringers of deciduous and coniferous trees in patches and along draws and waterways. Watch for poison oak in places. Abundant berry bushes draw thousands of visitors every year.
Access
The vast majority of land is controlled by the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest with smaller sectors of state and BLM property. Stay on designated routes. Unlike most other western National Forests, the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest does not make vehicle use maps available online. Physical maps can be purchased online here. ATVs can be handy on some rough roads. Most roads are open to all motorized vehicles. Private land is common along the western edge and near the Pacific Coast. Most land within eight miles of the coast is private. No vehicles are allowed in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. State parks are subject to hunting closures.
Camping and Lodging
Many campgrounds are scattered across this unit, including private and public facilities. At least four RV parks are at Brookings, including At Rivers Edge RV Resort. Motels are in several towns, including:
Country Hills Resort in Cave Junction
Lake Selmac Resort in Selma
The Lodge at Riverside in Grants Pass
Gold Beach Inn at Gold Beach
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