Named for a lake in its northeastern corner, this central Oregon desert unit holds mule deer, elk and antelope.

Deer hunting is crowded close to roads, and deer are not overly abundant. Elk populations are average with antelope doing really well.

This unit varies from mountains above timberline in the west to wide, arid valleys in the east with foothills, flatlands and low mountains along with marshes and shallow lakes. Elevations are typically 5,000 to 7,000 feet in the higher terrain and 4,500 to 5,000 in most valley locations.

High country is treeless above about 7,200 feet and forested below that, mainly by hemlocks, whitebark pines, firs and lodgepole pines. Most of the central part of the unit is forested by firs, aspens and pines with many logged-over areas, meadows and large open areas covered by shrubs, forbs and wild grasses. The western part is mostly open land covered by low brush and grasses. Many irrigated fields are planted in alfalfa and other crops near Silver Lake and Fort Rock State Park in the west.

Dirt, gravel and paved roads access much of the BLM and Forest Service-controlled parts of the unit, but there’s a lot of private land in places, such as in the southern tip near Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is closed to big game hunting. The 342-square-mile Cabin Lake-Silver Lake Winter Range is closed to motor vehicles from Dec. 1 through March 31. The 113-square-mile Walker Rim Travel Management Area offers access on some roads, while others are closed from three days before rifle deer season and continue through the season. Two areas have permanent road closures and travel rules: Sugar Pine and North Paulina. New travel rules are in effect on the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Maps showing restrictions are available from U.S. Forest Service offices.

Camping is also allowed on most public land along dirt and gravel roads. The Fremont-Winema National Forest maintains several campgrounds. Silver Lake Motel (phone: 541-576-2131) offers lodging in the town of Silver Lake. A place to stay near the southeast corner is Summer Lake Hot Springs retreat near Paisley.