Dean Creek Wildlife Area

Dean Creek Wildlife Area
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map of the United States
Location	Douglas County, Oregon
Nearest city	Reedsport
Coordinates	43°41′N 124°00′W
Area	1,040 acres (4.2 km2)
Established	1991
Governing body	ODFW and BLM

Dean Creek Wildlife Area (or Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area) near Reedsport, Oregon, USA

The Dean Creek Wildlife Area (or Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area) is a wildlife management area located near Reedsport, Oregon, United States. There are overlooks located along Oregon Route 38 which provide views of the area and its year-around herds of elk.

History

Prior to the 1990s, the stretch of the Umpqua River where Hwy 38 lay was primarily used as farmland, particularly for raising cattle. In 1991, the Bureau of Land Management cooperated with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to sustain the area.

The 1,040 acres (4.2 km²) are roughly divided between pasture and woodland. The pasture (with some wetlands) covers about 440 acres (1.78 km²) of the area and is generally visible from the road. Year around visitors can observe species of elk, beaver, mallard, and geese. The remaining 600 acres (2.43 km²) of the wildlife area comprise mainly conifer trees and other hardwoods.