Wednesday, July 15, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Coos Bay Striped Bass: Oregon's Overlooked Summer Trophy Fishery

Coos Bay Striped Bass: Oregon's Overlooked Summer Trophy Fishery

Most Oregon anglers drive right past one of the coast's best summer fisheries. Coos Bay holds a self-sustaining population of striped bass — fish that run 10 to 25 pounds and hit hard. Here's how to fish it right, from reading tides to choosing the right lure for the slough.

By HFR Staff  ·  July 15, 2026
White-Tailed Deer Hunting in Northeast Oregon: Blue Mountains Bucks on Public Land
Hunting

White-Tailed Deer Hunting in Northeast Oregon: Blue Mountains Bucks on Public Land

Oregon's northeast corner is famous for elk, but the white-tailed deer living in the same Umatilla National Forest timber are an open secret. OTC tags, almost no competition, and heavy bucks — here's how to find and hunt Blue Mountains whitetails.

July 15, 2026
Reloading 12-Gauge Shotshells for Waterfowl: Steel and Bismuth Loads for Pacific Flyway Duck Hunters
Reloading

Reloading 12-Gauge Shotshells for Waterfowl: Steel and Bismuth Loads for Pacific Flyway Duck Hunters

Shotshell reloading for non-toxic waterfowl loads is one of the most underutilized skills in the handloading world. Custom steel and bismuth 12-gauge loads can match premium factory ammo at a fraction of the cost — here's everything you need to get started before teal season.

July 15, 2026
Menagerie Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Most Dramatic Rock Spire Country
Backpacking

Menagerie Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Most Dramatic Rock Spire Country

A dozen andesite volcanic spires rise from old-growth Douglas fir forest 80 miles from Salem — and almost nobody knows they're there. The Menagerie Wilderness is Oregon's best-kept backpacking secret, with solitude, wildlife, and scenery that rivals the Three Sisters.

July 15, 2026
Eagle Creek Trail: Backpacking the Columbia River Gorge's Premier Waterfall Canyon
Backpacking

Eagle Creek Trail: Backpacking the Columbia River Gorge's Premier Waterfall Canyon

The Eagle Creek Trail is one of the most spectacular hikes in the Pacific Northwest — carved into basalt canyon walls, passing seven waterfalls, and threading through a tunnel behind a 150-foot falls. Most tourists turn around at Punch Bowl. The real trip starts where they stop.

July 14, 2026
Bowhunting Shot Placement for Elk and Deer: Every Angle Explained
Archery

Bowhunting Shot Placement for Elk and Deer: Every Angle Explained

Understanding exactly where to aim on every presentation angle is the single most important skill a bowhunter can develop — more important than draw weight, broadhead choice, or shooting form.

July 14, 2026
Reloading the .257 Weatherby Magnum: High-Velocity Loads for Open-Country Deer and Pronghorn
Reloading

Reloading the .257 Weatherby Magnum: High-Velocity Loads for Open-Country Deer and Pronghorn

Factory .257 Weatherby ammo is expensive and hard to find. Handloading transforms this flat-shooting magnum into one of the most capable and cost-effective open-country hunting rounds available.

July 14, 2026
Oregon Fall Rifle Mule Deer: Zone A and B Tactics for Public Land Bucks
Hunting

Oregon Fall Rifle Mule Deer: Zone A and B Tactics for Public Land Bucks

Zone A sagebrush flats and Zone B Blue Mountain ridges hold good mule deer — but the general rifle season draws crowds. Here's how to beat the pressure and find mature bucks on Oregon public land.

July 14, 2026
Oregon Bay Shrimping Guide: Coos Bay, Yaquina, and Tillamook Estuary Tactics
Fishing

Oregon Bay Shrimping Guide: Coos Bay, Yaquina, and Tillamook Estuary Tactics

Oregon's bays are loaded with bay shrimp — and most anglers drive right past them. Here's how to drop pots in Coos Bay, Yaquina Bay, and Tillamook Bay for a cooler full of sweet spring shrimp.

July 14, 2026
Pistol Caliber Carbines for the Pacific Northwest: Why the 9mm PCC Deserves a Place in Your Safe
Shooting

Pistol Caliber Carbines for the Pacific Northwest: Why the 9mm PCC Deserves a Place in Your Safe

Pistol caliber carbines in 9mm fill a genuine niche for Pacific Northwest shooters: suppressor-friendly, low-recoil, indoor-range legal, and capable of sharing ammo with your carry gun. Here's a complete breakdown of the top platforms, optics, ammo, and why the PCC deserves a serious look.

July 13, 2026