Oregon Unit 56 Elk: Draw Odds, Harvest & Access

Hardest draw in Unit 562026 draw

43 tags, 3,969 applied, under 1% drew.

One of Oregon's hardest elk draws: 3rd hardest of 418 in 2026.

Hunt codes

Elk huntsin Unit 56

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

Hunt code	What it is	Draw result · 2024	Success 3-yr
256R1	One bull elk · archery · Aug 29–Sep 27Wenaha Unit Bow No. 1	39 of 3,579 drew	40–61%
256R2	One spike elk · archery · Aug 29–Sep 27Wenaha Unit Bow No. 2	51 of 51 drew	4%
256X	One spike elk · any legal weapon · Oct 28–Nov 1Wenaha Unit No. 1	307 of 307 drew	5–12%
256Y1	One bull elk · any legal weapon · Oct 28–Nov 15Wenaha Unit No. 2	38 of 3,917 drew	54–70%
256Y2	One spike elk · any legal weapon · Nov 7–Nov 15Wenaha Unit No. 3	104 of 104 drew	13–14%
M56	Wenaha

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

256X5–12%

5%

7%

10%

12%

5%

12%

201920202022202320242025

256Y26–17%

9%

6%

17%

14%

13%

201920202022202320242025

256Y154–70%

67%

56%

54%

70%

60%

20192020202220232024

256R140–62%

40%

62%

20232024

256R24%

4%

2023

45%+28–45%Under 28%

How the herd is doing

Herd unit Wenaha

2020–2026

Population estimate 2026

1,308

Bulls / 100 cows 2024

7

Calves / 100 cows 2026

17

Population estimateFalling

20202021202220252026

Bulls per 100 cowsFalling

20202021202220232024

Calves per 100 cowsRising

202020212022202320242026

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

256R1Archery · ArcheryAug 29–Sep 27
256R2Archery · ArcheryAug 29–Sep 27
256XAny Legal Weapon · Any Legal WeaponOct 28–Nov 1
256Y1Any Legal Weapon · Any Legal WeaponOct 28–Nov 15
256Y2Any Legal Weapon · Any Legal WeaponNov 7–Nov 15

Confirm in the regulations before you go.

Map & access

Unit 56and 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 56into 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 56

KMZ GPX GeoJSON

Members

Unit 56 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 56 · 256R1

39 of 3,579 drew

Success40–61%

Email me when 2027 boundaries post

Oregon Unit 56:elk draw odds & harvest

Elk huntsin Unit 56

How hunters didand how the herd is doing.

Unit 56and the units around it

Take Unit 56into your map app