Oregon Elk Deer (Antlerless)

Unit 16 (Santiam West)

Oregon Hunting Guide — Elk, Deer (Antlerless)

ODFW Wildlife Management Unit 216 (Trask) occupies the northeastern portion of Tillamook County in the northern Oregon Coast Range, centered on the Trask River watershed. The Tillamook State Forest dominates much of the unit, providing substantial public access for Roosevelt elk hunting. This is a wet, heavily timbered west-side unit where elk densities are supported by productive forage in clear-cut regeneration areas.

View Draw Odds Oregon Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 16

Where to Find Elk in WMU 216 (Trask)

Roosevelt elk in the Trask unit are closely tied to the Tillamook State Forest's mosaic of timber age classes. The most productive areas are where mature timber borders younger regenerating stands — elk feed in the open brushy areas and retreat to older timber for cover. Trask River tributaries and the numerous small creeks provide water and thermal corridors that elk use consistently.

We recommend focusing scouting effort on areas logged within the past 5–15 years, where forbs and shrubs provide the best forage. Look for tracks and scat concentrations along stream crossings and ridgeline saddles between drainages.

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How to Hunt WMU 216 Elk

The Tillamook State Forest's road network is a double-edged sword in WMU 216 — it provides access but concentrates hunter pressure in road-accessible areas. We recommend parking and hiking at least one to two miles from main roads to find less-pressured elk.

Archery Rut Hunting

September archery hunters in the Trask unit can capitalize on responsive Roosevelt bulls during the rut. Use cow calls and moderately aggressive bugles. The dense timber means encounters happen fast — always have an arrow nocked when calling.

State Forest Road Scouting

Drive Tillamook State Forest roads early in the morning before season to locate fresh sign. Elk crossing points on soft-surface roads leave clear track evidence. Note these crossing areas and hunt them on foot during legal hours.

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Elk Success Rates

The Trask unit supports a productive Roosevelt elk population due to extensive early-successional habitat in the Tillamook State Forest. Success rates track closely with season type and proximity to undisturbed areas. Review current ODFW Big Game Statistics for WMU 216 elk harvest data.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	11	156	7.1%	10
Rifle— Controlled	50	222	22.5%	7
Rifle— Controlled	55	8	100.0%	8
Rifle— Controlled	220	61	100.0%	4
Rifle— Controlled	20	86	23.3%	5

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

WMU 216 includes both general season tag access and limited-entry controlled hunts depending on weapon and season type. Controlled hunts use Oregon's 75/25 preference-point/random draw. Consult the ODFW Controlled Hunt Navigator for WMU 216 specific hunt-number draw odds.

Deer (Antlerless) Hunting in Unit 16

Hunt code 616 (NW Santiam) is an antlerless deer tag within WMU 16. Antlerless tags allow harvest of does to help manage deer populations in balance with available habitat and landowner tolerance. Oregon's draw system controls harvest through limited tag availability.

Where to Find Deer in the NW Santiam Hunt Area

NW Santiam antlerless deer (WMU 16) are distributed throughout the unit's habitat. Doe and fawn groups are less wary than mature bucks and use a wider range of habitat types.

Feeding Areas and Field Edges

Clearcut edges, meadows, and agricultural fields concentrate deer in predictable locations. Scout feeding areas before season.

Water and Travel Corridors

Streams and water sources concentrate deer movement. Travel corridors between bedding and feeding areas are consistent locations for antlerless deer throughout the season.

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How to Hunt the NW Santiam Antlerless Hunt

Antlerless deer hunting in the NW Santiam area offers flexible tactics — doe groups are less wary and more predictable than mature bucks.

Stand Hunting

Set a stand or blind overlooking a known feeding area or water source. Antlerless deer often move in groups. Hunt low-light periods for the most consistent activity.

Shot Placement and Legal Animals

Read your tag and current ODFW regulations carefully before hunting. Antlerless tags have specific restrictions on legal animals — confirm compliance before shooting.

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Deer (Antlerless) Success Rates

Antlerless deer tags in Oregon typically see high success rates — 30-50% or higher — because does and fawn groups are more abundant and predictable than mature bucks. The antlerless tag system allows efficient population management while providing quality hunting opportunities.

Deer (Antlerless) Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Archery— Controlled	50	1,091	4.6%	14
Archery— Controlled	55	692	7.9%	12
Rifle— Controlled	53	139	38.1%	5
Rifle— Controlled	33	160	20.6%	10

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Hunt code 616 is a controlled antlerless tag under Oregon's 75/25 preference-point/random draw system. Antlerless tag demand varies by unit and year — check ODFW draw statistics for current applicant counts. Apply at myodfw.com.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Road Conditions

Tillamook State Forest maintains an extensive road network; some seasonal closures. Standard clearance adequate on main roads.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate — rolling to steep Coast Range, thick brush in harvested areas

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate to high — Tillamook State Forest is popular and close to Portland metro

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Weather

High annual rainfall; expect wet conditions throughout hunting seasons. Waterproof layers required.

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Cell Service

Limited in most drainages and ridges within the state forest

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Nearest Town

Tillamook (30–40 miles west), or Forest Grove/Hillsboro (40+ miles northeast)

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Permit Notes

Mix of general season and controlled hunt tags depending on weapon type; verify with ODFW current regulations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Tillamook State Forest good for elk hunting?

Yes — the Tillamook State Forest in WMU 216 provides substantial public access and is managed with a mix of timber age classes that support strong Roosevelt elk populations. The trade-off is significant hunter pressure, especially on weekends and opening days of popular seasons.

What animals can I harvest on the NW Santiam antlerless tag?

Antlerless tags allow harvest of deer without visible antlers or with antlers below a specified length. Read your tag and current ODFW regulations carefully for exact legal animal definitions for hunt code 616.

How do I apply for the NW Santiam antlerless deer tag?

Apply through ODFW's controlled hunt system at myodfw.com using hunt code 616. Oregon's 75/25 draw split means 25% of tags go to random applicants every year regardless of preference points.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

ODFW Big Game Hunting — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: WMU boundaries, Season structures, License requirements · accessed 2026-04-17
Oregon Big Game Regulations (eRegulations) — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: Season dates, Hunt designations, Bag limits, Weapon restrictions · accessed 2026-04-17
ODFW Big Game Statistics — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: WMU-level elk harvest data, Success rate trends · accessed 2026-04-17
Tillamook State Forest Recreation — Oregon Department of Forestry · supports: Public land access in Tillamook State Forest, Road network and recreation use · accessed 2026-04-17
ODFW Controlled Hunt Navigation — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: 75/25 preference-point/random draw structure, Historical draw odds per hunt number · accessed 2026-04-18