Hunters interested in Unit 31 - Keno, Oregon should be aware of several key factors impacting their hunting experience. Despite previous high harvest success rates, current deer populations have declined, possibly due to the presence of three known wolf packs affecting deer and elk habitats. This unit is not recognized by Boone and Crockett (B&C) for Blacktail Deer or Roosevelt Elk, so hunters should verify species designations when planning their hunt. For those navigating the unit, especially in late season archery, pay attention to weather as the clay roads near the Klamath River Canyon can become impassable when wet; using a quad or UTV may be helpful, but there are road closures to consider.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-150" | 160"+ |
| Columbian Blacktail Deer | 130"-150" | 160"+ |
| Roosevelt Elk | 240"-260" | 280"+ |
High
Low
This unit is on the east side of the Cascade Mountains and is west of Klamath Falls. Hunters here take blacktail and Roosevelt elk.
Elk here are few and far between. Deer hunting tends to be crowded, so few bucks get big, and the majority of the blacktail have small antler size.
West of Klamath Falls and bordering California, this unit has some steep mountains and canyons along with mild to flat terrain. The western boundary is the crest line of the Cascade Mountains south of Crater Lake National Park. Most of the higher land is in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Upper Klamath Lake at 61,543 acres is the largest lake in Oregon and one of the biggest in the U.S. More than a dozen lakes are in the Cascade Mountains and in Sky Lake Wilderness, the eastern third of which are in this unit. The higher, western half of the unit is mostly between 4,500 and 6,300 feet in elevation. The eastern half is valley bottomlands at 3,800 to 4,100 feet and foothills of the Cascades and the Siskiyou Mountains, which are mostly below 4,500 feet. Except for a strip of land in Jackson County, the entire unit is in Klamath County.
Most of the higher country is heavily forested with about 30 species of conifers, including various spruces, firs and pines. Along the California border are large burns, oakbrush woodlands, junipers, sagebrush and rock outcroppings along with logged areas and some grassy pastures and conifer woods. Common plants in this unit include ponderosa pine, mountain mahogany, aspen, cottonwood, Klamath plum, scablands, introduced cheatgrass, Sandberg's bluegrass, greasewood, saltgrass, bitterbrush and ponderosa pine.
Roughly 1,043 square miles
41% public land
Elevations from 4,100-8,200 feet
Hunters enjoy good road access in much of the Fremont-Winema National Forest with the exception of the Sky Lakes and Mountain Lakes Wilderness Areas, where vehicles are not allowed. The Forest Service makes vehicle use maps available here. Keno Access Road provides access to BLM land in the Surveyor Mountain area south of the Forest Service ground. Roads also provide access to the Klamath River breaks.
Lake of the Woods Resort offers lodging at Lake of the Woods on the western border. Aspen Point Campground is also at Lake of the Woods. Other lodging options include Rocky Point Resort at Upper Klamath Lake. It offers cabins and tent and RV camping sites. Fourmile Lake Campground is on the shores of Fourmile Lake on the western edge and gives access to Sky Lakes Wilderness. Klamath Falls KOA provides private RV and tent camping and as well as small cabins in Klamath Falls. Several motels are in Klamath Falls, including Cimarron Inn.