Unit 17 Stott Mtn
Compact mid-coast timber unit between the Siletz and Salmon rivers — Roosevelt elk and blacktail on a mix of state forest, BLM, and private timber.
West Oregon — Central Coast Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
499
sq mi
Public land
22%
approx.
Elevation
0–3,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Stott Mountain Unit (Unit 17) is a compact roughly 500 sq mi block of the Central Coast Range on the Oregon mid-coast, running from the Willamette Valley edge near Dallas and Falls City west over forested mountains to the Pacific between the Salmon River and Siletz Bay. About 22% is public — a mix of Oregon Department of Forestry lands, BLM O&C parcels, and a small piece of Siuslaw National Forest — interlaced with heavy private industrial timber. It is a Roosevelt elk and Columbian blacktail unit hunted off a dense logging-road network, with the South Fork Siletz, Fanno Ridge, and the coastal drainages holding the best-known concentrations. Like neighboring Trask, its coastal corner falls in the Cascade Head–Lincoln City Special Area with weapon restrictions.
Terrain
Sea-level bays and river mouths climb quickly into steep, densely timbered Coast Range mountains cut by the Siletz and Salmon river systems. Relief reaches roughly 3,000 ft near Stott Mountain and the interior ridges. Terrain is broken, brushy, and wet with short sightlines.
Cover: Coastal temperate forest of Douglas fir, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and western red cedar over alder draws, with a heavy understory of salmonberry, salal, sword fern, and berry brush. A shifting patchwork of active and regenerating clearcuts creates the key forage edge.
Landmarks: Stott Mountain (unit high point) · Siletz River and South Fork Siletz River · Salmon River (north boundary) · Fanno Ridge · Euchre Creek / Gravel Creek / Mill Creek drainages · Falls City and the Valsetz country (east edge) · Siletz Bay and the Pacific coastline (west boundary)
Access
About 22% public, scattered as ODF and BLM O&C parcels checkerboarded with heavy private industrial timber — ownership is interfingered, so verify boundaries carefully. Popular elk areas include the South Fork Siletz, Fanno Ridge, Gravel Creek, Mill Creek, Elk Creek, Euchre Creek, Murphy Road, and the mainstem Siletz. The Cascade Head–Lincoln City Special Area (shared with Unit 14) restricts hunting to archery and shotgun-with-slug only. ODFW and land managers maintain travel-management and road-closure info; industrial timber gates and seasonal fire closures affect access.
Managers: Oregon Dept. of Forestry (state forest lands), Bureau of Land Management - Northwest Oregon District (O&C parcels), Private industrial timber companies, USFS - Siuslaw National Forest (small acreage), Private farmland (east valley edge near Dallas)
Access points: State Hwy 18 (Salmon River Hwy, north corridor near Rose Lodge) · State Hwy 22 (Willamina–Valley Junction) · US Hwy 101 (western coastal access) · State Hwy 229 (Siletz River Rd) · Valsetz Road / Falls City (east access) · Coast Range logging-road grid off the Siletz drainages
Species notes
Roosevelt Elk
common opportunityRoosevelt elk are the unit's headline draw, holding in the Siletz and coastal drainages and shifting with logging activity. Mature bulls are present but pressured; this is an effort-and-access opportunity hunt rather than a trophy unit.
- →Hunt clearcut-to-timber edges at first and last light — elk feed openings and bed dark second-growth
- →Key the well-known concentrations: South Fork Siletz, Fanno Ridge, Gravel Creek, Mill Creek, Euchre Creek, and the mainstem Siletz
- →Get behind gates on foot or bike to escape road-hunting pressure
- →Still-hunt slow in wet timber and work fresh sign, wallows, and trails; long glassing lanes are rare
- →During the rut, locate bugling bulls along drainage heads and ridge benches
Blacktail Deer
common opportunityColumbian blacktail are widespread through the timber and along the rural east-side edge, with good survival in mild coastal winters. Pressure keeps most bucks young, but mature bucks hold in thick brush and along the timber/farm fringe.
- →Work clearcut and regrowth edges at dawn and dusk, then still-hunt salmonberry and salal cover midday
- →Hunt the private-timber/valley-farm transition near Dallas and Falls City for feeding bucks
- →Expect close-range jump shooting in brush over open spotting
- →Slow down and hunt quietly; late seasons and the rut move bigger bucks
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are common in the wet, berry-rich coastal timber and take a spring general tag plus fall opportunity. The mid-coast holds solid densities.
- →Spring: glass green-up on south-facing clearcuts and road cuts for feeding bears
- →Fall: key on salmonberry and huckleberry patches
- →Drive and glass the logging-road grid at first and last light over fresh clearcut openings
Pro tips
- →Start on the named public concentrations — South Fork Siletz, Fanno Ridge, and the coastal creeks
- →Map ODF/BLM vs private timber before season; ownership is heavily checkerboarded
- →Confirm whether you are inside the Cascade Head–Lincoln City Special Area weapon restriction
- →Scout clearcut ages — 2 to 10-year regrowth holds the most forage and animals
- →Get behind industrial-timber and ODF gates on foot to shed pressure
Watch out for
- !Only ~22% public and heavily interfingered with private timber — verify boundaries before shooting
- !Cascade Head–Lincoln City Special Area bans centerfire rifles in the coastal corner
- !Industrial-timber gate closures and permit programs can limit motorized access
- !Fire-danger closures in late summer/early fall
- !Steep, brushy, wet terrain and washed-out spur roads make travel slow
Logistics
Lincoln City, Newport, and Dallas offer full services, fuel, and lodging around the unit's edges; Siletz and Falls City are smaller staging points. Dispersed camping is available on state and BLM ground, and coastal state parks provide developed options. Expect wet, muddy roads and carry a Coast Range road map plus recovery gear; interior cell coverage is poor.
Nearest towns: Lincoln City, Siletz, Newport, Dallas, Falls City, Otis, Depoe Bay
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Oregon sources:
Research sources: ODFW Stott Mountain Unit 17 · ODFW Big Game Unit boundary map · Oregon eRegulations — Elk Hunt Descriptions
FAQ
- How big is Unit 17 in Oregon?
- Unit 17 (Stott Mtn) covers about 499 square miles, ranging from roughly 0 to 3,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 17?
- Approximately 22% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Oregon Dept. of Forestry (state forest lands), Bureau of Land Management - Northwest Oregon District (O&C parcels), Private industrial timber companies, USFS - Siuslaw National Forest (small acreage), Private farmland (east valley edge near Dallas). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 17?
- Roosevelt Elk, Blacktail Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Oregon agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 17 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.