OR Elk Unit KEATING — Keating

# OR KEATING — Tactical Analysis ## Terrain & Access Unit Keating spans 2,075–9,537 ft elevation across ~389,000 acres with 60% public land. This is high-desert elk country with mixed terrain and solid access, though terrain difficulty increases at higher elevations. No wilderness restrictions apply. ## Herd Quality & Population **Bull:cow ratio is severely depressed.** 2025 data shows 5:100 (well below the 20–25:100 minimum for healthy recruitment). The 2023–2024 spikes to 13:100 are flagged as unreliable small-sample artifacts. Multi-year trend (2021–2025) averages ~9:100—indicating a cow-heavy herd with poor bull production. This translates to fewer mature bulls and lower trophy potential....