Unit 41 (White River)
Oregon Hunting Guide — Elk, Black Bear
White River runs from The Dalles and Maupin to Mount Hood's east side, climbing to Lookout Mountain at 6,526 feet. ODFW reports a bull ratio slightly above objective, and the unit mixes forest, burns, private land and a closed watershed.
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Elk Hunting in Unit 41
White River runs from The Dalles and Maupin to Mount Hood's east side, climbing to Lookout Mountain at 6,526 feet. ODFW reports a bull ratio slightly above objective, and the unit mixes forest, burns, private land and a closed watershed.
Where to Find Elk in the White River Unit: burns, logged openings and the forest east of Mount Hood
Scattered herds in thick timber
ODFW's forecast says hunters will find elk in scattered herds throughout the forested parts of the White River and Hood units, and public land there is dominated by dense vegetation. The more open areas created by recent burns and logging are where elk feed, and also where you can see them. The named high points are Lookout Mountain, Badger Butte, Gunsight Butte, Bonney Butte and Echo Point, and the unit drops to near the Columbia River.
Numbers and private ground
The most recent survey showed a bull ratio slightly above management objective and a steady calf ratio, according to the forecast, and success has been slightly above long-term averages. In the Maupin and West Biggs areas, most elk are on private land, and the forecast notes a few on BLM and state land with very low hunting pressure. The McQuinn Strip is closed to public hunting. The Dalles Watershed is closed to motor vehicles and requires a city permit. Tygh Valley, Dufur, The Dalles and Maupin are the named towns around the edges. Highway 197, Highway 216 and Highway 35 cross the unit, with Interstate 84 along the Columbia. Public land is under half of the unit overall, so keep your map's ownership layer open.
The ground ODFW draws for this hunt
The White Rvr Unit, WMU 41, covers about 937 square miles measured on ODFW's polygon, and ODFW rates it 43% public land. Named features inside the line fall in Wasco County, Hood River County and Clackamas County. Elevation runs from about 87 to 6,526 feet. The highest named points are Lookout Mountain (6,526 ft), Badger Butte (5,970 ft) and Gunsight Butte (5,901 ft). ODFW's line is the legal one, so check it against a current land-ownership map, and get permission before you cross private ground or a locked gate inside it.
Unit 41 terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
The lay of it
- 134–5,320 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 2,300 ft ; peaks can run higher. That spread means you can hunt two seasons in one day — plan clothing for both ends.
- 938.1 sq mi inside the boundary. Big enough that picking one drainage beats driving three.
Who owns the ground
- Private / Other — 100%
Roughly 0% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.
Water on the ground
- 279 tanks
- 101 springs
- 774 stream segments
- 29 lakes
Counts from mapping data, so this is how many exist, not how many hold water in a dry year. Sitting water only pays where you find fresh tracks.
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: Lookout Mountain (6,526 ft), Badger Butte (5,970 ft), Gunsight Butte (5,901 ft), Bonney Butte (5,583 ft)
Holding ground: High Prairie (6,047 ft), Bonney Meadows (5,197 ft), Eightmile Meadow (5,063 ft)
Every one of these was tested against the unit polygon before it went on the map. They are starting points, not agency recommendations.
How to Hunt Elk in the White River Unit: get off the roads and glass the openings
Elk Success Rates
Unit 41: 2 of 27 hunters, 7%. Figures are ODFW's own 2025 harvest statistics.
Elk Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts Req |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 33 | 129 | 24.8% | 4 |
| Archery — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 2 | 6 | 16.7% | 4 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 55 | 290 | 18.6% | 6 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 3 | 8 | 12.5% | 6 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 231 | 255 | 89.8% | 7 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 12 | 3 | 66.7% | 7 |
| Rifle — Controlled either sex (resident) | 40 | 53 | 75.5% | 3 |
| Rifle — Controlled either sex (nonresident) | 2 | 1 | 100.0% | 3 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 550 | 304 | 100.0% | 6 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 28 | 6 | 100.0% | 6 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 1210 | 368 | 100.0% | 9 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 61 | 11 | 100.0% | 9 |
Data from 2025 draw results. Each row is one residency pool — read the label before the number.
Open in Draw Odds EngineFrom ODFW's 2026 regulations, residents and nonresidents together: 2026 tags against 2025 first-choice applicants.
- 241Y White Rvr - Hood No. 2: 1,210 tags for 2026; 310 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 241X White Rvr - Hood No. 1: 550 tags for 2026; 258 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 241C White Rvr Private: 231 tags for 2026; 298 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 241B White Rvr - Hood: 55 tags for 2026; 135 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 241A The Dalles Watershed: 33 tags for 2026; 230 first-choice applicants in 2025.
ODFW sets a point cut-off per hunt each year; its point summary reports carry it.
Unit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
What ground does this Oregon elk page cover?
What's the biggest 2026 elk hunt here?
What was hunter success for elk here in 2025?
What ground does this Oregon black bear page cover?
What's the biggest 2026 black bear hunt here?
What was hunter success for black bear here in 2025?
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Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-10-30.
- 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: Hunt areas and boundary descriptions, Seasons, bag limits and 2026 tags · accessed 2026-10-30
- Big Game hunting forecast, 2026/27 — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: Field reports by hunt area and WMU · accessed 2026-10-30
- Big game hunting harvest statistics, 2025 — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: Hunters, harvest and success · accessed 2026-10-30
- Wildlife Management Units (ArcGIS) — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: 937 square miles · accessed 2026-10-30
- Geographic Names Information System — named features inside the boundary — U.S. Geological Survey · supports: Lookout Mountain 6,526 ft, Badger Butte 5,970 ft · accessed 2026-10-30