OR Elk Unit MALHEUR RIVER — Malheur River

# Malheur River (Unit 266) — Tactical Analysis ## Terrain & Access This large high-desert unit (1.85M acres, 75% public) spans 2,518–6,671 ft elevation across eastern Oregon's Harney County. Expect sagebrush, ponderosa pine, and scattered juniper typical of the Blue Mountains and high-desert transition zone. Abundant public land and multiple season options provide good hunting flexibility. ## Herd Quality & Population Bull:cow ratio is critically low at 13:100 (2025), unchanged from 2021–2023 baseline. This indicates a heavily harvested herd with very few mature bulls. Trophy potential is severely limited—expect typical bulls in the 240–290 class, not record-book candidates. ## Trophy...