OR Elk Unit FOSSIL — Fossil

# OR FOSSIL — Tactical Analysis ## Terrain & Access Fossil spans 1,300–5,900 ft elevation across 902,553 acres with only 16% public land—a significant access constraint. Expect fragmented public holdings in sagebrush-steppe and lower mixed-conifer terrain typical of Oregon's high desert. Private land dominates and will require permission or guide services for productive hunting. ## Herd Quality Bull:cow ratios are consistently poor to average. The 2024 spike to 30:100 is flagged as a likely small survey artifact; ignore it. The 2023–2025 trend (8–12:100) reflects a herd struggling under harvest pressure, with limited mature bulls available. This is not a trophy-caliber...