General Elk Season

A General Season elk tag allows you to hunt a multi-unit area during a set period of time, and these tags are “Over the Counter”, meaning you do not have to apply for them through the controlled hunt lottery. Oregon offers more variety in its general elk tags compared to deer. Still, you only get one 200 series elk tag per year, so it will either be a general season tag or a controlled hunt tag you won in the big game lottery.

RESOURCE The Elk  Seasons section of Oregon’s big game regulations shows what elk seasons, tags, unit boundaries, and antler restrictions apply in Oregon. The hunt opportunities vary widely, so read the fine print to know the rules in the areas you plan to hunt if you choose a general season tag. It could take a few years to learn the ropes.

PRO TIP  Remember, you can only have one tag per game series in Oregon. This means that for the 100 Series deer tag, you have to pick either a general season tag or a controlled hunt tag in any given year. This rule only applies to what tag you purchase and hunt with for the year. You can apply for a controlled hunt, but ultimately decide to buy and hunt with a general tag if you don’t win the controlled hunt — or even if you when the controlled hunt, but decide not to purchase the tag. Of course, you will lose all preference points if you win a controlled hunt.

Some General Season Considerations

• Buying a general season tag requires no preference points or application fee, so it is a good option for the beginning hunter.
• Since general seasons are easy to get and there are virtually no limits, expect a lot of company in the elk woods compared to controlled hunts. General rifle seasons can be especially chaotic.
• General elk seasons exist in both Western and Eastern Oregon.
• Some general season tags are antlerless elk damage tags. These are new tags as of 2021 and are nearly 100% on private land.
• “Any legal weapon” means any weapon that is legal for that area. Typically, these are rifle hunts and the vast majority of people will use a rifle. But the phrasing was changed a few years ago from “Centerfire Season” since by Oregon rule you can choose to use a bow during firearm season. This is admittedly a confusing aspect of the big game regulations. The best advice is to read through the regulations and understand the hunt zone, bag limit, and weapon restriction for each hunt.
• The best general season units have a lower harvest success rate than the best controlled hunt units. That said, some general units are better than some controlled units.

Extended Youth General Season

ODFW offers youth controlled elk hunts with longer seasons (Aug. 1-Dec. 31).

To apply, hunters must:

• Be 12-17 years old at the time of the hunt.
• Have completed a hunter safety class by the time they hunt.
• Have a hunting license, if 12 or older.
• The application deadline is May 15. For more information about the hunts available and how to apply, see this year’s Oregon Big Game Regulations.

Big Game Harvest Statistics

When deciding on what unit to hunt during a general season, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the area you want to hunt and understand your odds of success in that unit. Big game harvest stats are available online and can help you compare units. It might be worth staying close to home if you have a good honey hole where you know deer live. But, it can also be worth a trip to another area of the state if you live somewhere with a scanty deer population.

RESOURCE Oregon Big Game Harvest Statistics