Unit 14 (Trask)

The eastern portions hold more deer

ODFW's forecast for the western Trask unit says endured winter well, with average post-winter mortality. It also says deer densities tend to be highest in the eastern portions of these units, and that recent clearcuts on state forestlands are worth scouting. That puts the Highway 18, Highway 6 and Highway 47 side of the Trask Unit near the top of your list. Public land is a minority here, so know your property lines.

Named ground

South Saddle Mountain reaches 3,446 feet, Trask Mountain 3,430, Woods Point 3,193, Mount Hebo 3,179 and Edwards Butte 3,164. The unit runs from near sea level up to those summits. The boundary starts at McMinnville, follows Highway 18 to the Salmon River and out to the Pacific, then north to Tillamook Bay and east to Highway 6, Highway 8 at Forest Grove and Highway 99W. Cape Lookout, Trask River Park and Castle Rock campgrounds are named camps. Look at the map for a cut next to older second-growth, since deer use both for feed and cover. Scout the day before and note where trails cross the road.

The ground ODFW draws for this hunt

The Trask Unit, WMU 14, covers about 1,317 square miles measured on ODFW's polygon, and ODFW rates it 42% public land. Named features inside the line fall in Yamhill County, Tillamook County, Washington County and Polk County. Elevation runs from about 7 to 3,446 feet. The highest named points are South Saddle Mountain (3,446 ft), Trask Mountain (3,430 ft) and Woods Point (3,193 ft). ODFW's line is the legal one, so check it against a current land-ownership map, and get permission before you cross private ground or a locked gate inside it.

Muzzleloader in the rut

The Trask Unit Muzzleloader hunt gives you a second chance at a buck. ODFW's forecast says bucks are rutting in the last few weeks of the general season, so expect chasing and daylight movement. Sit where you can see a long stretch of brush edge. A muzzleloader means one shot at a measured distance, so wait for the right moment and keep your powder dry in wet coast weather.

Access and timber company land

Industrial forestland is open to at least non-motorized access once fire season ends, except for Weyerhaeuser lands, which stay in a fee program. Check the owner's website before you drive in. There are weapon restrictions in the Cascade Head and Lincoln City area of the Trask unit, so check the regulations for your hunt if you're near the coast. Thick coast range cover swallows a wounded deer fast, so mark where you shot and wait before you follow.

ODFW's 2026 buck deer hunts on this ground

Seasons, bag limits and tags come from ODFW's 2026 regulations. Check the current book before you apply or go, because these change every year.

• 114M Trask Unit Muzzleloader, Nov. 7 - Nov. 20: 220 tags, one deer.

The 2025 harvest in ODFW's numbers

ODFW's 2025 statistics for this WMU, covering all deer hunters, every season and tag type.

• Trask: 5,513 hunters, 1,718 animals, 31% success over 38,938 hunter days.

Roads in and the nearest towns

The longest named roads through this ground are OR 18, OR 6, OR 47 and University Falls Road. The nearest towns are Beaver (13 mi), Tillamook (17 mi) and Willamina (17 mi), measured from the centre of the unit.

Eastern portions and state forest cuts

ODFW's forecast says deer on the north coast came through winter well, and that deer densities tend to be highest in the eastern portions of the units. Recent clearcuts on state forestlands are worth scouting. That puts the Highway 18, Highway 6 and Highway 47 side of the unit at the top of your list, with Beaver, Willamina and Sheridan nearby. Public land is a minority, so know your boundaries.

Boundary and weapon rules

The boundary runs from McMinnville down Highway 18 to the Salmon River and the Pacific, north to Tillamook Bay, then east on the Wilson River to Highway 6. ODFW's hunt description warns that specific weapon restrictions apply in the Cascade Head and Lincoln City area of the Trask unit, so read the regulations if you're hunting near the coast. South Saddle Mountain, Trask Mountain, Woods Point, Mount Hebo and Edwards Butte are named high points, all under 3,500 feet. Trask River Park and Castle Rock are named camps. Look for a cut beside older second-growth, since deer use both. Scout a day ahead and note where trails cross the road.

The ground ODFW draws for this hunt

The Trask Unit, WMU 14, covers about 1,317 square miles measured on ODFW's polygon, and ODFW rates it 42% public land. Named features inside the line fall in Yamhill County, Tillamook County, Washington County and Polk County. Elevation runs from about 7 to 3,446 feet. The highest named points are South Saddle Mountain (3,446 ft), Trask Mountain (3,430 ft) and Woods Point (3,193 ft). ODFW's line is the legal one, so check it against a current land-ownership map, and get permission before you cross private ground or a locked gate inside it.

Edge hunting at first and last light

Does and fawns feed on the edges of young cuts and regrowth, so sit where you can see a long edge and wait. Don't walk through the middle of a cut or you'll push every deer out. A steady rest, a clear view of the animal and a check behind it for fawns are all you need. Take your time and make the first shot count.

Industrial timber and the youth hunt

Industrial forestlands will be open to non-motorized access after fire season, except for Weyerhaeuser lands in a fee access program. Check each owner's website before you drive in. The Trask Unit youth hunt gives young hunters a chance on the same ground, so keep the approach short and the pace slow. Coast range logging roads turn slick in the rain, and deer drag heavy on wet slopes, so cool and bag the meat fast and carry a headlamp.

ODFW's 2026 antlerless deer hunts on this ground

Seasons, bag limits and tags come from ODFW's 2026 regulations. Check the current book before you apply or go, because these change every year.

• 614 Trask Unit, Oct. 3 - Nov. 6: 502 tags, one antlerless deer.
• 614T Trask Unit Youth, Oct. 3 - Nov. 8: 127 tags, one antlerless deer.

The 2025 harvest in ODFW's numbers

ODFW's 2025 statistics for this WMU, covering all deer hunters, every season and tag type.

• Trask: 5,513 hunters, 1,718 animals, 31% success over 38,938 hunter days.

Roads in and the nearest towns

The longest named roads through this ground are OR 18, OR 6, OR 47 and University Falls Road. The nearest towns are Beaver (13 mi), Tillamook (17 mi) and Willamina (17 mi), measured from the centre of the unit.