Oregon Unit 568B Bighorn Sheep Hunting Guide

Oregon Unit 568B stands out as one of the more consistently productive bighorn sheep units in the state, offering hunters a rare combination of near-total public land access and a track record of steady harvest success. For hunters chasing a once-in-a-lifetime bighorn tag, understanding the terrain, harvest history, and application process for this unit is essential before investing points, time, or money into the pursuit. This article breaks down what the data actually shows about Unit 568B so hunters can make an informed decision about whether to apply.

Spanning nearly 2.2 million acres with elevations ranging from 3,366 to 8,280 feet, Unit 568B offers a wide vertical range of habitat, from lower-elevation canyon and sagebrush country up into higher rocky terrain that bighorn sheep favor for lambing and escape cover. With 97% public land and no wilderness designation within the unit, this is about as accessible as bighorn sheep hunting gets in the West — a significant advantage for do-it-yourself hunters who don't want to navigate complicated private land access or guide requirements.

HuntPilot Analysis

Is Unit 568B worth applying for? Based on the harvest data alone, this unit deserves serious consideration from any hunter building points for Oregon bighorn sheep. Over the past six years of recorded harvest (2020–2025), success rates have been remarkably strong: 100% success in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024, with 75% success in 2023 and 2025. That's four hunters drawing tags each year, with harvest totals of four, four, three, four, four, and three rams respectively across those six seasons. A unit that consistently produces success rates at or above 75% for six consecutive years is an exceptional outlier in bighorn sheep hunting, where many units see far more volatility.

The 97% public land figure is another major point in this unit's favor. DIY hunters won't be fighting for access through private ranches or negotiating trespass permissions — nearly the entire unit is open for scouting, glassing, and hunting on public ground. Combined with the complete absence of wilderness designation, hunters can use motorized access to scout and approach hunting areas without the logistical complications that wilderness boundaries can create in other Western sheep units.

Where hunters should temper expectations is trophy quality. The counties overlapping this unit carry a limited history of producing trophy-class rams in the record books. That doesn't mean big rams aren't present — bighorn sheep hunts are inherently trophy hunts by nature of the tag's scarcity and the animal's status — but hunters shouldn't assume this unit is a trophy-record hotspot. The data supports this unit as a strong opportunity unit with dependable harvest success, not necessarily a unit chasing record-book rams. For most hunters who draw a bighorn tag anywhere in the West, simply filling the tag on a mature ram is the primary goal, and this unit delivers on that front.

Every serious sheep hunter building points in Oregon should have this unit on their short list based on the harvest consistency alone.

Harvest Success Rates

The harvest numbers for Unit 568B are the strongest data point supporting this unit's reputation. Looking at the most recent six seasons:

• 2025: 4 hunters, 3 harvested (75% success)
• 2024: 4 hunters, 4 harvested (100% success)
• 2023: 4 hunters, 3 harvested (75% success)
• 2022: 4 hunters, 4 harvested (100% success)
• 2021: 4 hunters, 4 harvested (100% success)
• 2020: 4 hunters, 4 harvested (100% success)

This is a small, tightly managed hunt — only four hunters drawn per year across this stretch of seasons — but the consistency of that success rate across six straight years is notable. Four of the six years show perfect harvest, and the two "off" years still produced 75% success. For context, many bighorn units nationwide see far more year-to-year swings, including seasons where hunters go home empty-handed. Unit 568B's track record suggests a healthy, huntable ram population and terrain that allows hunters with limited tag numbers to locate and close on legal rams within the season.

Hunters should keep in mind that this is a very low-volume hunt by design — bighorn sheep management everywhere in the West relies on conservative tag numbers to protect herd health, and Unit 568B is no exception. But for the handful of hunters who draw here each year, the odds of tagging a ram once they're in the field are excellent based on this six-year track record.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for Unit 568B and the counties it overlaps shows a limited history of record-book entries. This doesn't mean the unit lacks quality rams — bighorn tags are hard enough to draw anywhere that most successful hunters are thrilled with any mature ram — but hunters should not go into this unit expecting it to be a well-documented trophy destination. The available trophy history suggests this is more of a solid opportunity unit than a proven producer of record-class rams. Hunters focused purely on chasing a record-book ram may want to weigh this unit's strong harvest consistency against its more modest trophy pedigree before deciding where to focus limited application resources.

Access & Terrain

Unit 568B offers outstanding access by Western sheep-hunting standards. With 97% public land, hunters have nearly unrestricted ability to scout, glass, and hunt across almost the entire unit without needing to secure private land permission. The complete lack of wilderness designation (0%) means hunters aren't restricted to foot or horseback access in designated wilderness zones — a meaningful advantage for older hunters, those with physical limitations, or anyone wanting to maximize efficiency during a short season.

The elevation range of 3,366 to 8,280 feet spans a substantial vertical gradient, indicating varied terrain from lower canyon and rimrock country up into higher elevation ridgelines and peaks — classic bighorn sheep habitat that offers escape terrain, lambing cliffs, and open feeding areas. Hunters should expect to cover significant elevation change while scouting, and glassing from vantage points across this range will likely be central to locating rams before making a stalk. Given the massive size of the overall unit acreage at nearly 2.2 million acres, hunters have a lot of ground to cover, and pre-season scouting is critical to narrowing down where rams are concentrated. HuntPilot's mapping tools can help hunters overlay public land boundaries and identify likely glassing points and access routes within this expansive unit before the season begins.

How to Apply

Beyond the application fee, hunters need to budget for the license and tag costs required to participate:

Nonresidents should be aware that the tag fee jumps substantially compared to the resident rate, reflecting the premium nature of drawing an out-of-state bighorn sheep tag.

For current draw odds and point requirements specific to this unit, visit the HuntPilot Oregon state page at /states/or or the unit-specific HuntPilot page for the most up-to-date application data.

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 568B? Unit 568B covers a huge range of elevation, from 3,366 feet up to 8,280 feet, spanning nearly 2.2 million acres. This suggests a mix of lower canyon and rimrock terrain transitioning into higher, more rugged ridgeline and peak habitat typical of bighorn sheep country. With 97% public land and no wilderness designation, hunters have wide-open access to scout and hunt across nearly the entire unit without needing motorized-access restrictions or private land permissions.

What is harvest success like in Unit 568B? Harvest success in this unit has been excellent over the past six recorded seasons. Success rates were 100% in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024, and 75% in both 2023 and 2025, with four hunters drawn each year. This consistency makes Unit 568B one of the more dependable bighorn sheep units in Oregon for hunters who do manage to draw a tag.

How big are the bighorn sheep in Unit 568B? Trophy record data for the counties overlapping this unit shows a limited history of record-book entries. While mature, legal rams are clearly present given the strong harvest rates, hunters should not expect this unit to be known as a trophy-record producer. Most hunters who draw here should focus on harvesting a mature, legal ram rather than specifically targeting record-book potential.

Is Oregon Unit 568B worth applying for? Based on the available data, yes — particularly for hunters focused on tag fulfillment and access quality. Hunters chasing a documented trophy-record unit may want to weigh other options, but for reliable opportunity and access, this unit performs well.

Do I need a guide to hunt bighorn sheep in Unit 568B? No. Oregon does not impose a guide requirement for nonresident hunters in this unit, and with 0% wilderness designation, there are no wilderness-related access restrictions that would necessitate hiring an outfitter. Hunters can pursue this tag as a self-guided DIY hunt if they choose, though the difficulty of locating and closing on bighorn sheep still rewards thorough scouting and physical preparation.