Oregon Unit 568A Bighorn Sheep Hunting Guide
Oregon Unit 568A sits among the most sought-after — and most difficult to draw — bighorn sheep tags in the state. For hunters chasing a once-in-a-lifetime bighorn ram, this unit consistently produces some of the most reliable harvest outcomes in Oregon's sheep program. With 100% public land across 284,762 acres of rugged, mixed-elevation terrain running from 3,889 to 6,303 feet, Unit 568A offers a rare combination: outstanding access and a track record of hunters getting it done.
This is not a unit hunters casually stumble into. Bighorn sheep tags in Oregon are managed as strictly limited, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and Unit 568A is no exception. But for the hunters who do draw, the data shows this unit rewards preparation and effort with tag success that few other big game hunts anywhere in the West can match.
HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 568A Worth Applying For?
Yes — with the obvious caveat that any Oregon bighorn tag is an extreme long shot to draw in the first place. Once a hunter does draw, however, Unit 568A stands out as one of the stronger bets in the state. Over the past six years of recorded harvest data, this unit has posted a 100% success rate in five of six seasons, with 2025 showing 3 rams harvested by just 2 hunters (a 150% figure reflecting either carryover tags or multiple harvest opportunities within the reporting year). Across 2020 through 2025, hunter numbers have stayed extremely low — never more than 3 hunters afield in a single season — while nearly every hunter who received a tag connected on a ram.
That combination of unrestricted public access and a strong hunter-to-harvest ratio makes this a unit worth prioritizing in the application strategy of any hunter serious about pursuing Oregon bighorn sheep. The 100% public land designation removes the access headaches that plague many western big game units, and the qualitative trophy history for the surrounding counties points to moderate trophy potential — not the flashiest pedigree in the region, but a real chance at a mature, legal ram for hunters willing to put in the scouting time.
The catch, as always with bighorn sheep, is the draw itself. These tags are managed at extremely low volume by design, and demand from applicants — resident and nonresident alike — far outstrips supply. Hunters should check the HuntPilot unit page for current draw odds before building an application strategy, since bighorn sheep tag numbers shift from year to year based on herd health and management objectives.
Herd Health & Harvest Trends
The harvest data for Unit 568A tells a consistent story of a stable, well-managed bighorn population that supports a small but dependable annual harvest. Looking at the six most recent years on record:
- 2025: 2 hunters, 3 harvested, 150% success
- 2024: 2 hunters, 2 harvested, 100% success
- 2023: 2 hunters, 2 harvested, 100% success
- 2022: 2 hunters, 2 harvested, 100% success
- 2021: 3 hunters, 3 harvested, 100% success
- 2020: 3 hunters, 3 harvested, 100% success
This is about as clean a harvest trend line as exists in Western big game hunting. Every year from 2020 through 2024 shows either 2 or 3 hunters afield, and every single one of them tagged out except for the anomaly in 2025, where 2 hunters combined for 3 harvested animals. That level of consistency over a five-plus year window suggests a herd that wildlife managers have kept in careful balance with the number of tags issued — enough rams on the landscape, and mature enough animals available, that nearly every tagholder finds a shooter ram before the season ends.
For hunters, this data point matters enormously. A 100% success rate sustained across five consecutive years is not a fluke — it reflects tight tag allocation matched to a herd that can support it. Unit 568A is not a unit where hunters draw a coveted tag and then spend three weeks getting skunked. Nearly everyone who has drawn this tag in recent memory has gone home with a ram.
Trophy Quality
Oregon's bighorn sheep tags are prized statewide, and the counties overlapping Unit 568A carry a moderate history of trophy-class ram production. This is not among the state's most decorated trophy pedigrees, but moderate trophy history combined with consistently strong harvest success tells hunters that legal, mature rams are present and available in the unit on a regular basis. Hunters should not expect this unit to be a lock for a record-book ram, but the data supports a realistic expectation of a solid, legal ram for those who scout hard and put in the fieldwork before the season.
Given that bighorn sheep tags are once-in-a-lifetime draws in Oregon, most hunters who pull a Unit 568A tag will be selective and patient, glassing extensively before committing to a ram. The moderate trophy potential here means trophy quality is a secondary consideration behind the near-certainty of tag success — this is a unit where hunters can be confident they'll get a shot at a mature ram, even if it's not guaranteed to be a record-class animal.
Access & Terrain
Unit 568A is entirely public land — 100% by acreage — which is a significant advantage for any hunter fortunate enough to draw this tag. There's no need to negotiate private land access, lease hunting rights, or work around landowner permission issues. Every acre of the unit's 284,762 total acres is open to the hunter who holds the tag.
Elevation in the unit ranges from 3,889 feet up to 6,303 feet, putting this squarely in classic bighorn country — rimrock, canyon breaks, and open sagebrush-and-grass slopes that offer both the visibility bighorns favor and the technical terrain that makes them notoriously tough to close the distance on. There is no wilderness designation within the unit boundary, meaning no special wilderness-access restrictions apply and motorized access to trailheads and staging areas is generally more straightforward than in wilderness-heavy units elsewhere in the West.
The terrain itself demands physical preparation. Bighorn country of this elevation range typically means steep, broken ground with limited shade and long sightlines — conditions that reward hunters who scout extensively before the season and know where rams bed, feed, and travel. Hunters serious about this unit should use mapping tools, including HuntPilot's public land and terrain overlays, to identify likely glassing points and access routes well in advance of the season rather than trying to learn the country from scratch during a short hunt window.
How to Apply
Oregon's bighorn sheep tags are among the most competitive draws in North American big game hunting, and Unit 568A is applied for through the state's standard bighorn sheep application process.
Note the license fee requirement — both resident and nonresident applicants must hold a qualifying hunting license before they're eligible to submit a bighorn sheep application. This is a cost on top of the application fee itself, and it's easy for first-time applicants to overlook.
Given the extremely limited nature of bighorn sheep tags in Oregon, hunters should treat this as a long-term, multi-year application strategy rather than a single-shot attempt. Demand for these tags is heavily contested across both residency categories. For current draw odds specific to Unit 568A, hunters should consult the HuntPilot Oregon state page (/states/or) for the most up-to-date figures, since tag numbers and applicant pools shift from year to year.
Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Oregon page at /states/or.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the terrain like in Oregon Unit 568A?
The unit spans elevations from 3,889 to 6,303 feet, consistent with classic bighorn sheep habitat — canyon rimrock, open slopes, and broken terrain that offers the long sightlines and escape terrain bighorns favor. There is no wilderness designation in the unit, so access to the terrain is generally more straightforward than in wilderness-restricted units, though the physical demands of glassing and climbing in this elevation band remain significant.
What is harvest success like in Unit 568A?
Harvest success in this unit has been outstanding in recent years. From 2020 through 2024, the unit posted 100% success in four of five seasons, and in 2025 two hunters combined to harvest three rams. Hunter numbers have stayed extremely low throughout this period — never more than three hunters in a season — which has allowed nearly every tagholder to fill their tag.
How big are the bighorn sheep in Unit 568A?
The counties overlapping this unit carry a moderate history of producing trophy-class rams. This isn't the top trophy pedigree in the state, but combined with the unit's consistent harvest success, hunters can reasonably expect a legitimate opportunity at a mature, legal ram rather than a token opportunity with low odds of finding a shooter.
Is Unit 568A worth applying for?
For hunters who prioritize actually filling a bighorn sheep tag once they draw, yes. The unit's 100% public land access removes major logistical barriers, and its harvest data shows some of the most consistent success rates of any limited-entry bighorn hunt. The tradeoff is the draw itself — bighorn tags anywhere in Oregon are extremely difficult to draw, and hunters should check current draw odds on the HuntPilot unit page before building an application strategy around this specific unit.
How much does it cost to apply for a bighorn sheep tag in Unit 568A?
Fees and deadlines change every draw cycle, so the current figures live on HuntPilot's Oregon page at /states/or rather than here.