Unit 42 Hood
A high-public Mount Hood National Forest unit of wet-Cascade blacktail and Roosevelt elk on the north and west flanks of the mountain.
West Cascades — Mount Hood / Columbia Gorge · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
377
sq mi
Public land
72%
approx.
Elevation
100–11,239
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 42 (Hood) wraps the north and west flanks of Mount Hood, running from the Hood River west and north to the Columbia River in the Columbia Gorge, bounded south by Hwy 35 to Barlow Pass and the Pacific Crest Trail. At roughly 72% public land — overwhelmingly Mount Hood National Forest — it is one of the more accessible units in the region, but it's steep, wet, brushy west-Cascade timber where Columbian black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk hold in heavy cover. Spring black bear and cougar round out the big game. A major caveat: the Bull Run watershed in the unit's northwest is Portland's closed drinking-water reserve, off-limits to public entry.
Terrain
Dramatic relief from the Columbia River near Bonneville (about 100 ft) up the forested west and north slopes of Mount Hood to the glaciated 11,239-ft summit on the southern boundary. The bulk of huntable country is steep, timbered mid-elevation Cascade slope cut by the Hood River and its forks, Gorge tributary canyons, and countless drainages.
Cover: Dense, wet west-Cascade forest — Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar with heavy brush understory (vine maple, salal, huckleberry, devil's club in the wet bottoms), grading to subalpine fir and open parkland near timberline on Mt Hood. Clearcut units and their brushy regrowth create the key deer-and-elk forage openings.
Landmarks: Mount Hood (11,239 ft) · Columbia River Gorge · Hood River and its East/West Forks · Lost Lake · Lolo Pass · Barlow Pass · Bull Run Watershed (CLOSED) · Bonneville
Access
At about 72% public, Mount Hood National Forest gives the Hood unit broad walk-in access via an extensive forest road grid off Hwy 35, the Lolo Pass Rd, and Gorge-side roads. The glaring exception is the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit in the northwest — Portland's municipal water supply, closed to all public entry. Private orchard, farm, and timber ground fills the lower Hood River valley. Some higher terrain is wilderness (Mt Hood Wilderness) and non-motorized.
Managers: U.S. Forest Service (Mount Hood National Forest — Hood River Ranger District), City of Portland (Bull Run Watershed — CLOSED to entry), Private timber and Hood River valley orchard/farm land
Access points: State Hwy 35 up the east side toward Barlow Pass (main forest corridor) · Lolo Pass Rd from Hood River / Dee toward Lost Lake and the PCT · Forest roads off the Hood River valley (Parkdale / Dee) · Historic Columbia River Hwy / I-84 Gorge exits on the north
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
common opportunityColumbian black-tailed deer are the primary deer of this wet west-Cascade unit, holding in the dense timber and brushy clearcut regrowth. Blacktail are notoriously secretive in heavy cover, so success comes from hunting edges and cuts rather than glassing open country.
- →Hunt the edges of clearcuts and brushy regrowth units at first and last light where blacktail feed
- →Still-hunt slowly through timber-and-brush transitions — blacktail hold tight and move little in daylight
- →Key on the brushy forage openings and old cut units bordering mature timber bedding cover
- →Focus the wetter, brushier north-slope drainages where deer hold security cover
Roosevelt Elk
common opportunityRoosevelt elk inhabit the timbered west and north slopes, using clearcut forage and heavy timber cover. Densities are moderate in this steep, brushy terrain, and elk here demand hard, boots-on-the-ground hunting in thick country.
- →Work the clearcut-and-timber edges early and late where elk feed on regrowth
- →Still-hunt and listen in the heavy timber — elk hold in dense cover and travel brushy drainages
- →Get off the road grid into steep, roadless timber pockets where pressured elk retreat
- →Locate herds during the rut in timber-to-opening transition zones
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are common in this wet, productive west-Cascade forest, feeding on spring green-up and fall berries. Spring opportunity exists through the controlled framework, and the brushy clearcuts and berry fields offer some of the best glassing.
- →Glass green-up clearcuts and forest openings on south slopes in spring
- →Focus berry-rich cut units and brushy drainages in late summer and fall
- →Cover ground glassing the clearcut edges — the open forage units are the key to seeing bears in this timber
Cougar
common opportunityCougar are present throughout the timbered unit, following the blacktail and elk. Available on the general statewide tag; cats concentrate where deer and elk travel the drainage and cut edges.
- →Hunt the drainages and cut edges where deer and elk concentrate
- →Cut roads and ridgelines for tracks after fresh snow
- →Use predator calls in the broken timber
Pro tips
- →The Bull Run Watershed in the northwest is Portland's water supply and CLOSED to all public entry — do not plan any hunt there
- →This is thick, wet blacktail country — hunt clearcut edges and still-hunt cover slowly; glassing open country the eastern way won't work
- →At ~72% public (Mt Hood NF), walk-in access is excellent — but respect Mt Hood Wilderness non-motorized rules and private valley ground
- →Wet, quiet forest floor is an advantage for still-hunting — use the rain to move silently through timber
- →Key on brushy clearcut regrowth for both deer forage and spring/fall bear
Watch out for
- !Bull Run Watershed Management Unit (NW) is closed to public entry — Portland's drinking water
- !Mount Hood Wilderness is non-motorized (foot/horse only)
- !Private orchard, farm, and timber ground fills the lower Hood River valley — verify boundaries
- !High forest roads snow shut early/late; wet roads turn greasy — carry chains and rain gear
- !Steep, brushy, wet terrain is physically demanding and easy to get turned around in — carry navigation
Logistics
Hood River is the main supply town — full services, I-84 access, and the gateway up the Hood River valley to the forest, with Parkdale and Dee closer to the mountain and Cascade Locks on the Gorge. Government Camp sits near the south boundary at Barlow Pass. Dispersed camping and developed campgrounds are plentiful on the Mount Hood National Forest. The Hood River Ranger District office is a good stop for road and closure info. Fuel and stock up in Hood River before heading up the mountain.
Nearest towns: Hood River, Parkdale, Cascade Locks, The Dalles, Government Camp
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Oregon sources:
Research sources: ODFW Hood Unit 42 · Mount Hood National Forest (USFS) · Portland Water Bureau — Bull Run Watershed (closure)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 42 in Oregon?
- Unit 42 (Hood) covers about 377 square miles, ranging from roughly 100 to 11,239 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 42?
- Approximately 72% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: U.S. Forest Service (Mount Hood National Forest — Hood River Ranger District), City of Portland (Bull Run Watershed — CLOSED to entry), Private timber and Hood River valley orchard/farm land. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 42?
- Blacktail Deer, Roosevelt Elk, 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 42 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.