Unit 54 (Mt Emily)
Oregon Hunting Guide — Elk, Bear
Mt Emily is the big block between Pendleton, Weston, Elgin and I-84, topped by Mount Emily at 6110 feet. ODFW puts the herd below objective yet still calls it a trophy-quality elk hunt, and recent wildfires could affect access.
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Elk Hunting in Unit 54
Mt Emily is the big block between Pendleton, Weston, Elgin and I-84, topped by Mount Emily at 6110 feet. ODFW puts the herd below objective yet still calls it a trophy-quality elk hunt, and recent wildfires could affect access.
Where to Find Elk in the Mt Emily Unit: north-facing drainages and fire-edge forage
Four highways and a stack of summits
Highway 11 runs Pendleton to Weston, Highway 204 climbs to Elgin, Highway 82 drops back toward the interstate, and I-84 closes the loop at Pendleton. Inside that frame, Mount Emily is the high point at 6110 feet, with Thimbleberry Mountain, Green Mountain, Black Mountain and Rocky Bedground all above 5200. The low corners sit near 1247 feet. A good share of the unit is private, so public elk country concentrates on the Umatilla Forks, Woodward and Woodland side roads, and along Sandridge Road.
Where drought and fire push them
ODFW's forecast reports medium to large wildfires that could affect access in Mt Emily. It also says a dry spring killed vegetation early, so deer and elk are more localized around better forage and water. Look in north-facing drainages, which hold feed longer than south slopes. The herd here sits below management objective, which means fewer elk to find. The same forecast still calls Mt Emily a trophy-quality elk hunt, so the animals you do find may be worth the walk. Sandridge Road and Highway 204 are the quickest ways to see how the ground changes from the valley edge to the summits. Walk a short way from either one and the foot traffic thins out fast.
The ground ODFW draws for this hunt
The Mt Emily Unit, WMU 54, covers about 768 square miles measured on ODFW's polygon, and ODFW rates it 44% public land. Named features inside the line fall in Umatilla County and Union County. Elevation runs from about 1,247 to 6,110 feet. The highest named points are Mount Emily (6,110 ft), Thimbleberry Mountain (5,561 ft) and Green Mountain (5,452 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 54 terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
The lay of it
- 1,258–5,173 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 3,297 ft ; peaks can run higher.
- 767.7 sq mi inside the boundary.
Who owns the ground
- National Forest — 60%
- State Trust — 8%
- Private / Other — 32%
Roughly 68% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.
Water on the ground
- 31 tanks
- 5 springs
- 212 stream segments
- 5 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: Mount Emily (6,110 ft), Herron Ridge (5,672 ft), Pfefferkorn Ridge (5,650 ft), Thimbleberry Mountain (5,561 ft)
Holding ground: Horseshoe Prairie (5,324 ft), Pileup Saddle (4,934 ft), Dusty Saddle (4,903 ft), Mouse Spring, Will Rogers Spring
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 Mt Emily Unit: scout the burns and glass the shaded draws
Elk Success Rates
ODFW published no 2025 harvest figure we can tie to this ground for elk.
Elk Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts Req |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 56 | 3,001 | 1.8% | 26 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 3 | 237 | 0.4% | 26 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 143 | 74 | 100.0% | 20 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 7 | 6 | 100.0% | 20 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 528 | 578 | 86.9% | 21 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 26 | 51 | 51.0% | 21 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 58 | 8,127 | 0.7% | 28 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 3 | 494 | 0.2% | 28 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 231 | 197 | 100.0% | 14 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 12 | 17 | 64.7% | 14 |
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.
- 254X Mt Emily Unit No. 1: 528 tags for 2026; 787 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 254Y2 Mt Emily Unit No. 3: 231 tags for 2026; 8,621 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 254Y1 Mt Emily Unit No. 2: 58 tags for 2026; 629 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 ground does this Oregon black bear page cover?
What's the biggest 2026 black bear hunt here?
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Upgrade to Pro — $49/yrSources & Verification
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
- Wildlife Management Units (ArcGIS) — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: 768 square miles · accessed 2026-10-30
- Geographic Names Information System — named features inside the boundary — U.S. Geological Survey · supports: Mount Emily 6,110 ft, Thimbleberry Mountain 5,561 ft · accessed 2026-10-30