Monday, June 8, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
North Umpqua Trail to Umpqua Hot Springs: Oregon's Best 2-Day Hot Spring Hike

North Umpqua Trail to Umpqua Hot Springs: Oregon's Best 2-Day Hot Spring Hike

The Umpqua Hot Springs sit along one of Oregon's most scenic rivers, accessible via a stunning stretch of the North Umpqua Trail. Here's the complete 2-day route, camping info, and what to expect at the springs.

By HFR Staff  ·  June 8, 2026
Bugling In: A Complete Guide to Calling Bull Elk During Oregon's Archery Rut
Archery

Bugling In: A Complete Guide to Calling Bull Elk During Oregon's Archery Rut

Calling a bull elk into bow range is one of the most thrilling experiences in North American hunting. Here's a complete breakdown of bugling, cow calling, and reading elk behavior during Oregon's archery rut.

June 8, 2026
Reloading the .458 SOCOM: Big-Bore AR Loads for Hogs and Black Bear
Reloading

Reloading the .458 SOCOM: Big-Bore AR Loads for Hogs and Black Bear

The .458 SOCOM turns your AR-15 into a genuine big-bore hunting machine. Here's a complete reloading guide covering components, load data, and field-tested results on hogs and black bear.

June 8, 2026
Clackamas River Spring Chinook: A Bank Angler's Guide to Oregon's Metro-Area Salmon Run
Fishing

Clackamas River Spring Chinook: A Bank Angler's Guide to Oregon's Metro-Area Salmon Run

The Clackamas River offers one of Oregon's most accessible spring Chinook runs—big fish within an hour of Portland. Here's how to work the bank holes, pick your gear, and time the peak of the run.

June 8, 2026
Reloading the .450 Bushmaster: Straight-Wall Deer Loads for the AR Platform
Reloading

Reloading the .450 Bushmaster: Straight-Wall Deer Loads for the AR Platform

The .450 Bushmaster punches a .452-inch hole through deer at carbine ranges, runs in an AR-15 lower, and is legal for straight-wall cartridge restrictions in multiple states. Here's what you need to know to handload it well.

June 7, 2026
Building a DOPE Chart for Long-Range Hunting: Field Data, Apps, and Confirmed Drops That Actually Count
Shooting

Building a DOPE Chart for Long-Range Hunting: Field Data, Apps, and Confirmed Drops That Actually Count

A ballistic app is a starting point, not a solution. Building a verified DOPE chart at the range — confirmed at real distance with your actual rifle and load — is the only thing that lets you make ethical long shots on animals in the field.

June 7, 2026
California Quail Hunting in Oregon's Umpqua Valley and Rogue River Country
Hunting

California Quail Hunting in Oregon's Umpqua Valley and Rogue River Country

Oregon's most abundant upland bird doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves. California quail thrive in the brushy draws and oak woodlands of the Umpqua and Rogue valleys — and the September opener arrives faster than most hunters are ready for.

June 7, 2026
Summer Trout on the McKenzie River: Wade Fishing Oregon's Classic Wild Cutthroat Water
Fishing

Summer Trout on the McKenzie River: Wade Fishing Oregon's Classic Wild Cutthroat Water

The McKenzie River runs cold and clear through June, and the wild cutthroat and rainbow trout that hold in its riffles and pocket water are as willing as they'll be all year. Here's how to read the river and catch fish from Eugene to the headwaters.

June 7, 2026
Drift Creek Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Trip Through Oregon's Old-Growth Coast Range
Backpacking

Drift Creek Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Trip Through Oregon's Old-Growth Coast Range

The Drift Creek Wilderness in Lincoln County protects one of the largest remaining stands of old-growth temperate rainforest on Oregon's Coast Range. Here's everything you need for a weekend trip.

June 6, 2026
Reloading the .300 PRC: Long-Range Precision Loads for Open-Country Elk and Mule Deer
Reloading

Reloading the .300 PRC: Long-Range Precision Loads for Open-Country Elk and Mule Deer

The .300 PRC is one of the most capable long-range hunting cartridges available today. Here's a practical guide to reloading it for field accuracy and terminal performance.

June 6, 2026