New Or Noteworthy For This Year

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Oregon's Bighorn Sheep Breakdown

Oregon's Mountain Goat Breakdown

OREGON'S 2024 BIGHORN SHEEP AND MOUNTAIN GOAT APPLICATION STRATEGY OVERVIEW

Note: The application deadline in Oregon for all species is May 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PT and all applications must be submitted online or at a licensed sales agent.

BIGHORN SHEEP AND MOUNTAIN GOAT

State Information

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.

Important dates and information

*Tag fees only required if you are successful in the draw.

Snowpack In Oregon

2024

For 2024, Oregon has seen another great year of snow and moisture. This makes two years in a row where every portion of the state is 90% or better and most of the state is greater than 130%. One year of this kind of moisture is great, but two years in a row will be extremely beneficial for bighorn sheep and mountain goat herds. If this moisture pattern continues, there should be plenty of sustainable feed and water throughout the summer and fall months.

2023

In 2023, Oregon has seen winter and spring conditions like most of the western U.S. In terms of the current snowpack, every portion of the state is well over 100% and most of the state is greater than 150%. It was in dire need and, just like its neighboring states, it’s much appreciated. This should work wonders for the feed needed to keep these animals healthy through the summer and into the fall seasons.

Drought Status in Oregon

2024

The drought outlook has shown even more improvement from 2023. I would expect this to get better at least for the next month or so with the expected runoff. The very central part of the state is still in the most need of water, but way better than last year. The last two years in a row of great moisture is working wonders for this state. Going into the 2024 hunting seasons, I would expect to see a big improvement on antler growth and overall herd health.

2023

The Oregon draw system

Oregon’s draw system for bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat is completely random and all applicants are on the same playing field for the tags available. There is a separate pre-draw quota for both residencies. This means that residents have their own tags and nonresidents have theirs. One thing to pay attention to as a nonresident is that you don’t want to apply for units with zero nonresident tags available. This is important to note because the system will let you do so.

The cost to apply for bighorn sheep and mountain goat isn’t cheap. 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’s really the only one that matters.

Oregon has both California and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herds. For nonresidents, they will offer nine tags total in 2024, which is an increase from last year. One of those will be a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram tag in the Bear Creek Unit. The remaining eight tags are for California bighorn sheep. Five of those are ram tags in the John Day, E. Deschutes, E. Beauty’s and S. Central Units, and two are ewe tags for the John Day River and Deschutes River Units.

Overall, populations for California bighorn sheep have seen a slight uptick in statewide population, which explains the overall tag increase. Populations of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herds are maintaining, but they will still have one nonresident tag for the 2024 season.

Managing expectations for Rocky Mountain and California bighorn sheep

Nonresidents seeking bighorn sheep tags in Oregon face limited options. However, if you intend to apply for other species, it's certainly worth the application fee to give yourself a chance. Despite the steep odds, they are slightly more favorable compared to some of the other states. 

Residents have three 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 .88% odds. The biggest thing to pay attention to with the central/northern California bighorn sheep units is the lack of public land. So take that into consideration before applying.

In 2024, there will be a total of 21 mountain goat tags, which is a decrease from last year, and two of those tags will be available to nonresident applicants. The two units/hunts with nonresident tags will be Unit 51 Elkhorn No. 2 and Unit 59 S. Snake River No. 1.

The trophy potential is overall pretty darn good in Oregon’s mountain goat units and there was an average of 76% harvest success between all units. The best trophy potential has been in the Unit 50 Elkhorn hunts with a chance at 50”+ goats; however, most units will provide the opportunity to harvest a big mature billy. 

The Oregon mountain goat herds are sporadically counted, where some herds are counted each year and some aren’t. Not sure why, but that’s how the state does it. The overall population has seen better days, but still hanging in there. There has been a good decrease in tags for the 2024 season.

Managing expectations for mountain goats

RESIDENTS

There are 12 different hunt selections for resident hunters. They are spread out with different season dates across seven different hunt areas. The best odds were Unit 69 Snake River No.2 at .37% and Unit 60 Minam Copper Creek at .40%. Although the odds seem to be steep, they are actually slightly better than most states — even those with hybrid point systems. So, if you’re a resident, it only makes sense to give it a shot.

NONRESIDENTS

Review the table above. As you can see, there are two hunts available to nonresidents. The unit with best odds from 2023 was Unit 50 Elkhorn No. 2 at .07%. I know that Oregon doesn’t offer many opportunities for nonresidents, but if you are applying in the state for any other species, then why not take a chance and put your name in the hat?