Unit 28 Applegate elk hunting: harvest, hunts and 2026 seasons
ODFW estimates hunters took 37 elk in the Applegate Unit (28) in 2025 (28 bulls and 10 antlerless) and counted 397 elk hunters there, across 12 general seasons and controlled hunts. ODFW's figures for 2021 to 2025 average 28 elk a year. The unit is 57% public land, most of it national forest, by USGS PAD-US.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: ODFW, 2021 to 2025. Seasons and tags: ODFW's 2026 regulations and 2026 draw. Land: USGS PAD-US 4.1.
National park land (no hunting)National forestBLMODFW landState forest and trust landBureau of ReclamationOther public (city, county, parks, military)Unit 28Neighboring unitsLake, reservoir or riverHighway
| ODFW zone | Southwest |
|---|---|
| Size | 847,666 acres (1,324 square miles) |
| Public land | 57% (483,217 acres) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 37 (28 bulls) |
| Elk hunters, 2025 | 397, 1,998 days |
| Elk per 100 hunters, 2025 | 9 |
| General seasons, 2026 | General archery, General Western Oregon Coast 1st season and General Western Oregon Coast 2nd season |
| 2026 controlled hunts listed here | 3 |
| Towns in and near it | Ashland, Central Point, Jacksonville and Cave Junction |
How many elk are harvested in Unit 28?
ODFW's elk harvest for the Applegate Unit by year: 37 in 2025, 41 in 2024 and 21 in 2023. 9 elk were taken for every 100 hunters in 2025.
| Year | Hunters | Days hunted | Elk harvested | Bulls | Antlerless | Elk per 100 hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 397 | 1,998 | 37 | 28 | 10 | 9 |
| 2024 | 378 | 1,971 | 41 | 32 | 6 | 11 |
| 2023 | 349 | 1,668 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 6 |
| 2022 | 367 | 1,758 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 6 |
| 2021 | 350 | 1,635 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 5 |
Source: ODFW harvest statistics (2021 to 2025), from ODFW's mandatory harvest reporting. Each year adds up ODFW's rows for the unit across its any legal weapon, archery and muzzleloader summaries, general and controlled; damage tags are not in these totals. A hunter counted on two tag types is counted twice. Per 100 hunters is worked out from ODFW's two figures.
Which elk hunts were used in Unit 28 in 2025?
General season tags: 372 hunters, 29 elk. Controlled hunts: 9 rows in ODFW's table, 25 hunters, 8 elk. ODFW's own row for each, 2025:
| Hunt or season | Tag type | Hunters | Days | Harvested | ODFW success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast 2nd season | Any legal weapon, general | 134 | 467 | 6 | 5% |
| Western Elk Archery | Archery, general | 132 | 999 | 20 | 15% |
| Coast 1st season | Any legal weapon, general | 106 | 315 | 3 | 3% |
| 228A Applegate-Evans Cr | Any legal weapon, controlled | 14 | 154 | 5 | 33% |
| 228T Applegate-Evans Cr Youth | Any legal weapon, controlled | 8 | 32 | 2 | 29% |
| 200R Oregon Youth Bow | Archery, controlled | 2 | 26 | 0 | 0% |
| Western General Bow Elk w/ 218R | Archery, controlled | 1 | 5 | 1 | 100% |
| Western General Bow Elk w/ 216R1 | Archery, controlled | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Western General Bow Elk w/ 216R2 | Archery, controlled | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Western General Bow Elk w/ 217R | Archery, controlled | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Western General Bow Elk w/ 219R | Archery, controlled | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Western General Bow Elk w/ 221R | Archery, controlled | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Source: ODFW's 2025 elk harvest summaries (ODFW harvest statistics (2025)). A hunt that spans several units is split by unit in ODFW's tables; these are the Applegate rows.
When is elk season in Unit 28 in 2026?
General seasons that cover the Applegate Unit in 2026:
- General archery elk, Aug. 29 - Sept. 27: one elk, page 47.
- General Western Oregon Coast 1st season elk, Nov. 14 - Nov. 17: one bull elk, page 45.
- General Western Oregon Coast 2nd season elk, Nov. 21 - Nov. 27: one bull elk, page 45.
Controlled elk hunts in ODFW's 2026 tables that include the unit, with ODFW's 2026 tags and its June 2026 draw (residents who drew, of residents who put the hunt first):
| Hunt | Name | Bag limit | 2026 season | 2026 tags | 2026 draw, residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200R | Oregon Youth Bow | One elk | Aug. 29 - Sep. 27 | 330 | 129 of 129 |
| 228T | Applegate Unit Youth | One antlerless elk | Aug. 15 - Dec. 31 | 22 | 19 of 19 |
| 228 | Applegate Unit | One antlerless elk | Nov. 15 - Mar. 31, 2027 | 22 | 21 of 108 |
Source: ODFW 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, pages 45 to 58; draw: ODFW's 2026 Preference Point Draw Reports. Hunts are matched to the unit by ODFW's own harvest rows. Check ODFW before you go; seasons can change.
How much public land is in Unit 28?
57% of the Applegate Unit is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 483,217 of 847,666 acres. The largest share is national forest, 250,998 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of unit |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 250,998 | 29.6% |
| BLM | 229,076 | 27% |
| National park land (no hunting) | 4,531 | 0.5% |
| State forest and trust land | 3,119 | 0.4% |
| Other public (city, county, parks, military) | 2,814 | 0.3% |
| ODFW land | 23 | under 0.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 1 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside ODFW's unit boundary from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land by manager, 2025). Tribal and private land are not counted as public.
How do you get to Unit 28?
Highways through the unit: I-5 (about 82 miles inside it), OR 99 (about 63 miles inside it), US 199 (about 42 miles inside it), OR 238 (about 39 miles inside it) and OR 46 (about 20 miles inside it). Towns inside: Ashland, Central Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix and Talent.
Which units border Unit 28?
The Applegate Unit touches 3 other units. Their public land and ODFW's latest elk figures, for comparison:
| Unit | Public land | Elk hunters | Elk harvested | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 27 Chetco | 81.9% | 330 | 86 | 2025 |
| Unit 29 Evans Creek | 42.7% | 366 | 34 | 2025 |
| Unit 30 Rogue | 56.6% | 2,011 | 119 | 2025 |
Also for Unit 28: deer hunting.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in Unit 28 without drawing a tag?
Yes. General archery elk (Aug. 29 - Sept. 27) is open in the Applegate Unit, bag limit one elk; General Western Oregon Coast 1st season elk (Nov. 14 - Nov. 17) is open in the Applegate Unit, bag limit one bull elk; General Western Oregon Coast 2nd season elk (Nov. 21 - Nov. 27) is open in the Applegate Unit, bag limit one bull elk, by ODFW's 2026 regulations.
How many elk are taken in Unit 28 each year?
ODFW estimates 37 in 2025, 41 in 2024 and 21 in 2023, adding up its rows for the Applegate Unit across general and controlled elk tags.
What is the closest town to Unit 28?
Ashland, Central Point and Jacksonville are inside the unit. Just outside: Cave Junction (on the line), Rogue River (on the line) and Gold Hill (on the line).
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, hunters and days: ODFW harvest statistics (2021 to 2025).
- Seasons, hunts, tags and bag limits: ODFW 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations. Draw: ODFW 2026 Preference Point Draw Reports.
- Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land by manager, 2025). Unit boundary: ODFW Wildlife Management Units (Compass dataset).
- Highways, water and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and the 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Numbers are copied from ODFW and USGS, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
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