October 5th, 2026 | Oregon Hunters Association | OHA News | Management practices must target management objectives Currently, only 59% (20) of wildlife management units (WMUs) are above the population management objective (MO) for Rocky Mountain elk. Meanwhile, on the west side of the state, just 17% (3) of WMUs for Roosevelt elk are meeting their population management goals. In WMUs where elk populations are at or above their population MO, OHA strongly supports abundant antlerless elk hunting opportunities. This is adaptive management: when a resource exceeds established objectives, increased hunting opportunities should follow. Unfortunately, Rocky Mountain elk populations are below MO in 41% (14) of WMUs, while Roosevelt elk populations are below MO in 83% (15) of WMUs across Oregon. Many factors influence elk population trends, including forage quality and quantity, predation, development, disturbance (such as road density), and, to a lesser extent, disease. OHA is working to address all of these limiting factors. However, antlerless elk harvest can also have a significant impact on elk population size. Debates about the effects of these various factors on elk populations are warranted and should be part of the management discussion. However, hunters should not overlook the fact that increasing antlerless elk harvest is the primary way to reduce elk population size. While supporting robust antlerless elk hunting opportunities in WMUs at or above population MO, OHA is also advocating for a thorough review of antlerless elk tag allocations, including general-season antlerless elk damage tags, in areas where elk populations are not meeting management objectives. Rocky Mountain elk bull ratios are currently below MO in at least 17 WMUs, while Roosevelt elk bull ratios are below MO in at least eight WMUs. OHA supports efforts to address low bull ratios in the Coast Range and is encouraging the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to address low bull ratios statewide. Above all, OHA is emphasizing the need to revise Oregon’s Elk Management Plan, which was published 23 years ago.

September 27th, 2026 | Oregon Hunters Association | OHA News | The Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) is supporting an effort to remove cougars in the Trout Creek Mountains to improve the success of future bighorn sheep translocations. The effort is intended to help establish and strengthen the existing herd as wildlife managers work to address its declining population and genetic diversity. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) plans to translocate bighorn sheep in the near future to supplement the existing herd and enhance its genetic diversity. Successfully establishing these animals in their new surroundings will be an important part of that effort. Cougar predation has negatively affected bighorn sheep translocation efforts in Oregon, highlighting the challenges associated with introducing animals to a new landscape. Previous translocations have demonstrated how predation can affect the number of sheep that remain in an area following their release. In the early 2000s, three of the 17 bighorn sheep released during a translocation along the Minam River were killed by cougars within one week. In a separate translocation in the Steens Mountains, five of the 10 collared ewes were killed by cougars. In both instances, the remaining sheep scattered and left the area, further complicating the efforts to establish the animals in their intended locations. “The science is clear,” said OHA Conservation Director Tyler Dungannon. “If you want to successfully translocate bighorn sheep, in most cases, you need to first reduce predator densities and remove individuals that will prey upon the naïve ungulates that are new to the landscape.” OHA believes this effort will improve the likelihood of success for future bighorn sheep translocations in the Trout Creek Mountains. By addressing predation concerns ahead of the planned releases, the effort aims to support the existing herd and help improve its population size and genetic diversity over time. Although the primary objective is to benefit bighorn sheep, the effort may also have benefits for other wildlife in the region. The Trout Creek mule deer herd occupies a range currently listed as “very high management concern” in the Oregon Mule Deer Management Plan. While not the primary focus of the cougar removal effort, potential benefits to this mule deer herd provide an additional conservation consideration.