Application tips and strategies
Item | Hunting license |
|---|---|
Resident | $34.50 |
Nonresident | $172.00 |
Item | Juvenile hunting license |
Resident | $10.00 |
Nonresident | $10.00 |
Item | Application fee/per species |
Resident | $8.00 |
Nonresident | $8.00 |
Item | *Bighorn sheep |
Resident | $142.00 |
Nonresident | $1,513.50 |
Item | *Rocky Mountain goat |
Resident | $142.00 |
Nonresident | $1,513.50 |
Item | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
Hunting license | $34.50 | $172.00 |
Juvenile hunting license | $10.00 | $10.00 |
Application fee/per species | $8.00 | $8.00 |
*Bighorn sheep | $142.00 | $1,513.50 |
*Rocky Mountain goat | $142.00 | $1,513.50 |
Unit | Wallowa Mountains |
|---|---|
Population | 340 |
Unit | Elkhorn Mountains |
Population | 257 |
Unit | Hat Point |
Population | 150 |
Unit | Vinegar Hill |
Population | 18 |
Unit | Strawberry Mountains |
Population | 90 |
Unit | Wenaha River |
Population | 60 |
Unit | South Wallowas |
Population | 50 |
Unit | Steamboat Creek |
Population | 110 |
Unit | Grande Ronde |
Population | 20 |
Unit | Central Cascades |
Population | 130 |
Unit | Population |
|---|---|
Wallowa Mountains | 340 |
Elkhorn Mountains | 257 |
Hat Point | 150 |
Vinegar Hill | 18 |
Strawberry Mountains | 90 |
Wenaha River | 60 |
South Wallowas | 50 |
Steamboat Creek | 110 |
Grande Ronde | 20 |
Central Cascades | 130 |
Note: The application deadline in Oregon for all species is May 15, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. PST and all applications must be submitted online or at a licensed sales agent.
To view more important information, including a state overview of Oregon’s rules/regulations, the draw system, draw odds and license fee, go to the Oregon state profile. It also includes an interactive map where you can research unit boundaries and data on a unit by unit basis.
Note: There is no point system for bighorn sheep or mountain goats in Oregon. Every applicant is on an equal playing field for the available permits
*Tag fees only required if you are successful in the draw.
In 2022, Oregon’s drought continues to linger, with no signs of improving, as the winter months are now behind us. In terms of the current snowpack, every portion of the state has either stayed the same or declined, compared to 2021. Most of the state is struggling, with <50% - 90% of its annual average of snowpack. Only one portion of the state, in the north-central section, is at 100% of its annual average.
The drought outlook is not good with the bulk of the state in some stages of drought from abnormally dry to extremely dry. The central, to south-central part of the state is experiencing extreme and exceptional drought conditions. Overall, the central part of the state is in bad shape. Going into the hunting seasons of 2022, it will likely be an average to below-average antler growth year again.
Oregon’s draw system for bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat is difficult because there is no point system at all. The draw is completely random and all applicants are on a level playing field for the tags available. This is different from Oregon’s elk, deer and antelope draws where tags are allocated on a modified preference point system.
The cost to apply for bighorn sheep and mountain goat is not cheap given the fact that you have to buy a $172 nonresident hunting license and then pay the $8 application fee per species. You do not have to front the cost of the tags and will only be charged that cost if you are successful in the draw. To apply for bighorn sheep and mountain goat only, an applicant will be out of pocket approximately $188.
When you apply, you will be able to list up to five different selections on your application, but every applicant's first choice is considered before moving to any applicant's second choice. What this means is that there is no chance of drawing a tag on a second choice as all of the tags will be allocated before anyone’s second choice is considered. Choose your first choice carefully as it really is the one that matters.
If you have kids, we would strongly suggest that they apply for youth bighorn sheep and mountain goat tags. The juvenile hunting license is only $10. For $26, your kids would have a chance to draw for both species.
Oregon offers both California and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herds. For nonresidents, they will offer six total tags. In 2022, one of those will be a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram tag in the Bear Creek unit and California bighorn ram tags in the John Day River, East Beatys Butte/Alvord Peaks and South Central as well as a ewe tag in the Deschutes River Unit.
Overall, populations for California bighorn sheep are down with a statewide population estimate of approximately 4,012. Populations of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are also down with a statewide population estimate of 711.
Nonresidents have five ram hunts that they can apply for in 2022. One of those is a Rocky Mountain bighorn unit, which is the Bear Creek option. Draw Odds for this hunt are displayed in the Rocky Mountain Bighorn table above.
There are also three units that offer nonresident California bighorn ram tags. The John Day River second season is offering two tags; odds were .12%. The best odds were for the 75 - S Central No. 1 hunt at .24%.
With the new Wenaha ram tag, residents now have four units they can apply for to hunt Rocky Mountain bighorn rams, with the best odds in Unit 60 - Bear Creek at .16%. California bighorn ram tags were offered for 26 hunts — all of them offering less than 1% odds. The best odds were for the Unit 43 - Biggs/E Deschutes Rv No.3 hunt with .92% odds. Resident applicants can review the odds in the hit list above for other options, trophy potentials and odds.
In 2022, there will be a total of 29 mountain goat tags; two of those will be available to nonresidents. The two units/hunts that will have a nonresident tag will be Unit 51 Elkhorn No. 2 and Unit 59 Hat Point No. 1.
Trophy potential is good in Oregon’s mountain goat units and the harvest success was 100% across all hunts in 2020. The best trophy potential has been in Unit 50 Elkhorn hunts, although, once again, most units will provide the opportunity to harvest a big mature billy.
All but two of the goat herds were counted in 2021. The table below outlines the most recent counts for each herd.
There are 16 different hunt selections for resident hunters. They are spread out with different season dates across ten different hunt areas. The best odds were Unit 60 - Minam Goat Mt No.2 at .79% and Unit 60 - Minam Copper Creek at .52%. The following table outlines every resident mountain goat hunt for 2022 and the odds.
Review the table above. As you can see, there were two hunts available to nonresidents. The best odds out of the two nonresident options was Unit 59 - Snake River Hat Point No. 1 at .13%.
There is a new Wenaha Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep resident ram tag.
John Day River hunts No. 2 and 3, added an additional resident tag to each hunt.
Oregon will offer two nonresident mountain goat tags in 2022.
You can apply online here.
The deadline to apply is May 15, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Results will be available by June 20, 2022.
If you made an error on your application, corrections can be made until June 1.
You are required to purchase a hunting license prior to applying.
Applicants do not have to front the cost of the permits they apply for.
There are no group applications accepted for bighorn sheep or mountain goat.
If you are successful, you will receive a notification to purchase your tag.
Hunters 17 years old or younger need to have a hunter’s education certificate unless they are ages nine to 15 and enrolled in the youth mentor program.
Bighorn sheep and mountain goat tags are considered once-in-a-lifetime tags.
For Mtn goat and Bighorn Ewe tag holders, an orientation class with the district biologist is required.
Unit | 56 - Wenaha |
|---|---|
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 1 resident |
Resident odds | New 2022 |
Nonresident odds | N/A |
Unit | 59 - N Snake Rv |
Trophy potential | 180”+ |
2021 tags | 2 resident |
Resident odds | .1% |
Nonresident odds | N/A |
Unit | 59 - S Snake Rv |
Trophy potential | 180”+ |
2021 tags | 1 resident |
Resident odds | .14% |
Nonresident odds | N/A |
Unit | 60 - Bear Creek |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 1 resident1 nonresident |
Resident odds | .16% |
Nonresident odds | .14% |
Unit | 43 - John Day Rv No.1 |
|---|---|
Trophy potential | 175”+ |
2021 tags | 7 resident tags |
Resident odds | .22% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 43 - John Day Rv No. 2 |
Trophy potential | 175”+ |
2021 tags | 5 resident tags2 nonresident tags |
Resident odds | .34% |
Nonresident odds | .12% |
Unit | 43 - John Day Rv No. 3 |
Trophy potential | 175”+ |
2021 tags | 7 resident tags |
Resident odds | .52% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 43 - E Deschutes Rv No. 1 |
Trophy potential | 175”+ |
2021 tags | 2 resident tags |
Resident odds | .39% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 43 - E Deschutes Rv No. 2 |
Trophy potential | 175”+ |
2021 tags | 2 resident tags |
Resident odds | .52% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 43 - E Deschutes Rv No. 3 |
Trophy potential | 175”+ |
2021 tags | 2 resident tags |
Resident odds | .63% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 43 - W Deschutes Rv No. 1 |
Trophy potential | 175”+ |
2021 tags | 3 resident tags |
Resident odds | .58% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 43 - W Deschutes Rv No. 2 |
Trophy potential | 175”+ |
2021 tags | 3 resident tags |
Resident odds | .55% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 43 - W Deschutes Rv No. 3 |
Trophy potential | 175”+ |
2021 tags | 3 resident tags |
Resident odds | .92% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 46 - Aldrich |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 3 resident tags |
Resident odds | .23% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 46 - McClellan |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 2 resident tags |
Resident odds | .34% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 48 - Potamus |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 2 resident tag |
Resident odds | .12% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 69 - Steens Mt No. 1 |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 3 resident tags |
Resident odds | .11% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 69 - Steens Mt No. 2 |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 3 resident tags |
Resident odds | .26% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 70 - E Beatys Butte/Alvord Peaks No. 1 |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 2 resident tags |
Resident odds | .22% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 70 - E Beatys Butte/Alvord Peaks No. 2 |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 1 resident tag1 nonresident tag |
Resident odds | .29% |
Nonresident odds | .16% |
Unit | 70 - Coleman - E Guano |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 1 resident tags |
Resident odds | .51% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 74 - Warner |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 2 resident tags |
Resident odds | .19% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 75 - S Central No. 1 |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 1 resident tags1 nonresident tags |
Resident odds | .26% |
Nonresident odds | .24% |
Unit | 75 - S Central No. 2 |
Trophy potential | 170”+ |
2021 tags | 2 resident tags |
Resident odds | .5% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | Trophy potential | 2021 tags | Resident odds | Nonresident odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
43 - John Day Rv No.1 | 175”+ | 7 resident tags | .22% | NA |
43 - John Day Rv No. 2 | 175”+ | 5 resident tags2 nonresident tags | .34% | .12% |
43 - John Day Rv No. 3 | 175”+ | 7 resident tags | .52% | NA |
43 - E Deschutes Rv No. 1 | 175”+ | 2 resident tags | .39% | NA |
43 - E Deschutes Rv No. 2 | 175”+ | 2 resident tags | .52% | NA |
43 - E Deschutes Rv No. 3 | 175”+ | 2 resident tags | .63% | NA |
43 - W Deschutes Rv No. 1 | 175”+ | 3 resident tags | .58% | NA |
43 - W Deschutes Rv No. 2 | 175”+ | 3 resident tags | .55% | NA |
43 - W Deschutes Rv No. 3 | 175”+ | 3 resident tags | .92% | NA |
46 - Aldrich | 170”+ | 3 resident tags | .23% | NA |
46 - McClellan | 170”+ | 2 resident tags | .34% | NA |
48 - Potamus | 170”+ | 2 resident tag | .12% | NA |
69 - Steens Mt No. 1 | 170”+ | 3 resident tags | .11% | NA |
69 - Steens Mt No. 2 | 170”+ | 3 resident tags | .26% | NA |
70 - E Beatys Butte/Alvord Peaks No. 1 | 170”+ | 2 resident tags | .22% | NA |
70 - E Beatys Butte/Alvord Peaks No. 2 | 170”+ | 1 resident tag1 nonresident tag | .29% | .16% |
70 - Coleman - E Guano | 170”+ | 1 resident tags | .51% | NA |
74 - Warner | 170”+ | 2 resident tags | .19% | NA |
75 - S Central No. 1 | 170”+ | 1 resident tags1 nonresident tags | .26% | .24% |
75 - S Central No. 2 | 170”+ | 2 resident tags | .5% | NA |
Unit | 46 - Murderers Creek |
|---|---|
Tags | Strawberry Mountain |
Residentodds | 2 resident tags |
Nonresident odds | .07% |
NA | |
Unit | |
Tags | 3 resident tags |
Residentodds | .13% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | |
Tags | 1 resident tag1 nonresident tag |
Residentodds | .1% |
Nonresident odds | .1% |
Unit | |
Tags | 3 resident tags |
Residentodds | .2% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 53 - S Wallowa Mt |
Tags | 1 resident tag |
Residentodds | .25% |
Nonresident odds | NA |
Unit | 56 - Wenaha |
Tags | North Wenaha |
Residentodds | 1 resident tag |
Nonresident odds | .17% |
NA | |
Unit | 59 - Snake River |
Tags | Hat Point No. 1 |
Residentodds | 1 resident tag1 nonresident tag |
Nonresident odds | .14% |
.13% | |
Unit | 59 - Snake River |
Tags | Hat Point No. 2 |
Residentodds | 3 resident tags |
Nonresident odds | .36% |
NA | |
Unit | 59 - Snake River |
Tags | S Snake River No. 1 |
Residentodds | 2 resident tags |
Nonresident odds | .26% |
NA | |
Unit | 59 - Snake River |
Tags | S Snake River No. 2 |
Residentodds | 2 resident tags |
Nonresident odds | .29% |
NA | |
Unit | 60 - Minam |
Tags | E Hurricane Cr |
Residentodds | 1 resident tag |
Nonresident odds | .22% |
NA | |
Unit | 60 - Minam |
Tags | W Hurricane Cr |
Residentodds | 1 resident tag |
Nonresident odds | .3% |
NA | |
Unit | 60 - Minam |
Tags | Goat Mt No. 1 |
Residentodds | 2 resident tags |
Nonresident odds | .3% |
NA | |
Unit | 60 - Minam |
Tags | Goat Mt No. 2 |
Residentodds | 2 resident tags |
Nonresident odds | .79% |
NA | |
Unit | 60 - Minam |
Tags | Copper Creek |
Residentodds | 1 resident tag |
Nonresident odds | .52% |
NA | |
Unit | 61 - Imnaha |
Tags | Cusick Mt |
Residentodds | 1 resident tag |
Nonresident odds | .14% |
NA |
Unit | Tags | Residentodds | Nonresident odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
46 - Murderers Creek | Strawberry Mountain | 2 resident tags | .07% | NA |
3 resident tags | .13% | NA | ||
1 resident tag1 nonresident tag | .1% | .1% | ||
3 resident tags | .2% | NA | ||
53 - S Wallowa Mt | 1 resident tag | .25% | NA | |
56 - Wenaha | North Wenaha | 1 resident tag | .17% | NA |
59 - Snake River | Hat Point No. 1 | 1 resident tag1 nonresident tag | .14% | .13% |
59 - Snake River | Hat Point No. 2 | 3 resident tags | .36% | NA |
59 - Snake River | S Snake River No. 1 | 2 resident tags | .26% | NA |
59 - Snake River | S Snake River No. 2 | 2 resident tags | .29% | NA |
60 - Minam | E Hurricane Cr | 1 resident tag | .22% | NA |
60 - Minam | W Hurricane Cr | 1 resident tag | .3% | NA |
60 - Minam | Goat Mt No. 1 | 2 resident tags | .3% | NA |
60 - Minam | Goat Mt No. 2 | 2 resident tags | .79% | NA |
60 - Minam | Copper Creek | 1 resident tag | .52% | NA |
61 - Imnaha | Cusick Mt | 1 resident tag | .14% | NA |
