Oregon Unit 53 Elk: Draw Odds, Harvest & Access

Hardest draw in Unit 532026 draw

275 tags, 32 applied, 25% drew.

125th hardest of 418 Oregon elk draws in 2026.

Hunt codes

Elk huntsin Unit 53

Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.

Hunt code	What it is	Draw result · 2024	Success 3-yr
253M	One antlerless elk · muzzleloader · Nov 1–Dec 31Catherine Cr Unit Muzzleloader	55 of 55 drew	0–16%
253A	One antlerless elk · any legal weapon · Nov 21–Nov 29Catherine Cr Unit	54 of 78 drew	14–23%
253T	One antlerless elk · youth only · Aug 15–Dec 31Catherine Cr Unit Youth	20 of 45 drew	24–54%
253X	One bull elk · any legal weapon · Oct 28–Nov 1Catherine Cr Unit	288 of 789 drew	30–32%
M53	Catherine Cr

Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.

Harvest & herd

How hunters didand how the herd is doing.

Harvest success by hunt, 2019–2025

% success

253T24–52%

28%

47%

24%

52%

31%

201920202022202320242025

253A14–24%

14%

24%

15%

2022202320242025

253X30–32%

30%

32%

30%

2019202020222023

253M0–16%

0%

12%

16%

202320242025

45%+28–45%Under 28%

How the herd is doing

Herd unit Catherine Cr

2020–2026

Population estimate 2026

2,384

Bulls / 100 cows 2026

14

Calves / 100 cows 2026

19

Population estimateRising

2020202120222023202420252026

Bulls per 100 cowsFalling

2020202120222023202420252026

Calves per 100 cowsFalling

2020202120222023202420252026

Before you apply

Points: “For deer, elk, pronghorn and spring bear hunts (Premium Hunts excluded), most tags (75%) are awarded to those first choice applicants with the most preference points. The remaining 25% are awarded randomly amongst all first choice applicants, so everyone that applies always…”
Tag fee: “NONRESIDENT ELK $588.00 $660.00 $715.00 $775.00”
Tag fee: “RESIDENT ELK $49.50 $56.00 $60.00 $65.00”
Tag fee: “SPECIAL ELK (DV/Pioneer) $26.00 $29.00 $31.00 $33.00”

Rules for 2026.

Season dates · 2026

253AAny Legal Weapon · Any Legal WeaponNov 21–Nov 29
253MMuzzleloader · MuzzleloaderNov 1–Dec 31
253TYouth Only · Youth OnlyAug 15–Dec 31
253XAny Legal Weapon · Any Legal WeaponOct 28–Nov 1

Confirm in the regulations before you go.

Map & access

Unit 53and the units around it

Neighbors with a FarWide page open on click.

Public land & access

Each program opens on the state's site. Check on-the-ground signage.

Offline maps

Take Unit 53into your map app

Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.

Free

Unit boundary

The unit outline only.

Unit 53

KMZ GPX GeoJSON

Members

Unit 53 hunt pack

One file, layered: the unit boundary, with each elk hunt's draw odds and harvest success attached to the unit.

Unit boundary
Draw odds per hunt
Harvest success per hunt

Download hunt pack (KMZ) GPX

Unit 53 · 253M

55 of 55 drew

Success0–16%

Email me when 2027 boundaries post

Oregon Unit 53:elk draw odds & harvest

Elk huntsin Unit 53

How hunters didand how the herd is doing.

Unit 53and the units around it

Take Unit 53into your map app