OR Elk Unit MELROSE — Melrose

# Tactical Analysis: OR Melrose Unit 223A ## Terrain & Access Melrose spans low elevations (74 ft) to mid-alpine (3,507 ft) across 614,255 acres with only 21% public land. This is a large, fragmented unit requiring significant scouting and local knowledge. The low public-land percentage means much terrain is private—access is a primary challenge, so pre-season landowner relationship-building or lease arrangements are critical. ## Herd & Population Trophy record data from Douglas County (97% unit overlap) shows 22 all-time record-book entries averaging 314 points—a modest baseline. The trend has declined: pre-2000 averages 326, but 2010s averaged 299 and 2020s averaged...