Unit 25 Sixes
Port Orford-to-Gold Beach coast unit — a premier over-the-counter archery Roosevelt elk destination on mostly private timber.
ODFW Southwest — South Coast / Curry · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
998
sq mi
Public land
29%
approx.
Elevation
0–3,600
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Sixes (Unit 25) runs the far southwest Oregon coast in Curry and Coos counties, from the surf line at Cape Blanco and Port Orford inland across the Sixes and Elk river country to the Powers Highway, and south to the Rogue River near Gold Beach. It is hilly to mountainous, heavily forested coastal timber with a clearcut-and-old-growth mosaic, and it holds strong Roosevelt elk and Columbian blacktail deer — historically a producer of record-class animals. Only about 29 percent of the unit is public (Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Coos Bay BLM); the northern two-thirds is largely private and off-limits without permission. It is one of Oregon's best over-the-counter archery elk units for hunters who secure access.
Terrain
Steep, hilly-to-mountainous coastal terrain rising from sea level and the Sixes/Elk river estuaries to roughly 3,600 feet inland. The central third is heavily forested; elsewhere it is a mix of dense timber and clearcuts. Public timber sits mostly between about 1,500 and 3,600 feet, while most private ground lies below 2,000 feet.
Cover: Dense Douglas-fir, hemlock, and cedar coastal rainforest with heavy salal, fern, and salmonberry, broken by logged units in every stage of regrowth. The brush, deciduous saplings, and wild grasses that fill recent cuts are the primary feed that concentrates elk, deer, and bear.
Landmarks: Cape Blanco (westernmost point in Oregon) · Sixes River · Elk River · Humbug Mountain · Grassy Knob Wilderness (Rogue River-Siskiyou NF) · Rogue River / Illahe (south boundary) · Port Orford / Gold Beach coast
Access
Only ~29% is public, mostly the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF and scattered Coos Bay BLM ground on the eastern and southern portions. The northern two-thirds and much of the coastal frontage is private timber and ranch land that requires landowner or company permission — do not assume walk-in access. Best hunting is on logged lands, much of which is private. North Sixes questions: ODFW Charleston (541-888-5515); South Sixes: Gold Beach (541-247-7605).
Managers: USFS - Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, BLM - Coos Bay District, Private industrial timber, Private ranch/coastal land
Access points: US 101 corridor (Port Orford, Gold Beach) · Sixes River Road / Elk River Road · Powers Highway (northeast boundary access toward Powers) · Rogue River / Illahe road system (south) · Grassy Knob NF access east of Port Orford
Species notes
Roosevelt Elk
common qualityThe signature draw of the unit and one of Oregon's best over-the-counter archery Roosevelt elk hunts. Herds work the logged-and-timber mosaic, and while few world-class bulls have come off it in recent decades, the unit historically produced record-class animals and still holds mature bulls for hunters with access to the right private and public cuts.
- →Focus on recently logged units where brush, saplings, and grasses draw elk to feed — most of the best cuts are private, so secure permission early
- →Glass reprod units and cut edges at dawn and dusk, then move in through adjacent timber
- →Work the security timber between feeding cuts and bedding cover; elk shift with pressure into the thickest stuff
- →During archery season, hunt slopes near water and wallows and be ready for hung-up bulls in heavy brush
Blacktail Deer
common opportunityColumbian blacktail are widespread through the coastal timber and clearcut mosaic. The unit has historically produced heavy bucks, but deer live in thick cover and are hard to glass; the best odds come with access to lightly hunted private timber.
- →Hunt clearcut and reprod-unit edges at first and last light for feeding deer
- →Still-hunt timber benches and creek bottoms into the wind midday
- →Cut soft roads and skid trails after coastal rain for fresh tracks
- →Prioritize private-timber access for the biggest-antlered bucks
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are common throughout the coastal timber. Regenerating cuts, berry fields, and creek bottoms concentrate bears, especially during spring green-up.
- →Glass green clearcuts and roadside forb flushes at dawn and dusk in spring
- →Key on berry patches and skunk-cabbage bottoms in late summer and fall
- →Cover ground on logging roads glassing cuts across drainages
- →Watch bottomland brush and creek corridors for feeding bears
Cougar
common opportunityCougars follow the deer and elk through the dense coastal timber and are present unit-wide. Most are taken incidentally by big-game hunters.
- →Carry a tag and watch muddy roads for fresh tracks while deer/elk hunting
- →Use a predator call in steep timbered canyons and near kills
- →Hunt the cover edges and rim breaks that hold deer
- →Track after rain along roads and ridgelines
Pro tips
- →This is an OTC archery elk gem — but the payoff hinges on securing access to the private logged units where the elk feed; start knocking on doors early
- →With only 29% public, treat legal access as the primary hunt-planning problem, not an afterthought
- →Hunt fresh clearcuts and reprod units at the edges of light for both elk and deer
- →Call the correct ODFW office (Charleston for north, Gold Beach for south) for current sub-unit access and herd conditions
- →Glass across drainages at dawn to locate animals before committing to a wet, brushy stalk
Watch out for
- !Northern two-thirds of the unit is largely private and closed without permission — the biggest access limiter in the unit
- !Coastal private timber is increasingly gated or permit-only; confirm company access programs before hunting
- !Grassy Knob Wilderness is non-motorized hike/horseback only
- !Late-summer industrial fire closures can lock private-timber road systems
- !Steep, wet, brushy coastal terrain makes recovery and pack-outs slow
Logistics
Port Orford and Gold Beach anchor the coast with fuel, groceries, and lodging (Port Orford motels/guest habitats; Coquille and Bandon to the north). RV camping is available at Sunshine Bar Campground about 19 miles east of Port Orford, plus coastal state parks. Expect gravel logging roads, weekday log-truck traffic, and persistent coastal fog and rain.
Nearest towns: Port Orford, Gold Beach, Coquille, Bandon, Powers
Nearby units
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Oregon sources:
Research sources: ODFW — Sixes Unit 25 · GOHUNT — Oregon Unit 25 Sixes profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 25 in Oregon?
- Unit 25 (Sixes) covers about 998 square miles, ranging from roughly 0 to 3,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 25?
- Approximately 29% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS - Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, BLM - Coos Bay District, Private industrial timber, Private ranch/coastal land. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 25?
- Roosevelt Elk, Blacktail Deer, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Oregon agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 25 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.