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.