Tuesday, July 7, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Ice Lake Loop in Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness: Backpacking to the Wallowas' Most Spectacular Alpine Basin

Ice Lake Loop in Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness: Backpacking to the Wallowas' Most Spectacular Alpine Basin

Ice Lake sits at 7,900 feet in the heart of Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness, ringed by granite peaks and home to mountain goats. Here's how to get there and what to expect on this spectacular alpine backpacking trip.

By HFR Staff  ·  July 7, 2026
Spotting Scopes for Western Hunters: Glass, Tripods, and Magnification That Actually Work in the Field
Shooting

Spotting Scopes for Western Hunters: Glass, Tripods, and Magnification That Actually Work in the Field

A quality spotting scope might be the single most underrated piece of gear a western hunter carries. Here's how to choose the right one, set it up, and use it to find more animals.

July 7, 2026
Reloading the .280 Remington: The Original Long-Range Deer and Elk Cartridge
Reloading

Reloading the .280 Remington: The Original Long-Range Deer and Elk Cartridge

Before the 7mm PRC and 6.5 Creedmoor dominated the conversation, the .280 Remington was quietly putting elk on the ground across the West. It still does — and it reloads beautifully.

July 7, 2026
Hunting Oregon's Silvies Unit for Archery Bull Elk: A Public Land DIY Guide
Hunting

Hunting Oregon's Silvies Unit for Archery Bull Elk: A Public Land DIY Guide

The Silvies Unit sits in the heart of central Oregon's high desert, offering archery elk hunters a realistic shot at mature bulls on public land. Here's what it takes to do it right on your own.

July 7, 2026
Buoy 10 Columbia River Chinook: Oregon's Premier August Salmon Fishery
Fishing

Buoy 10 Columbia River Chinook: Oregon's Premier August Salmon Fishery

The Buoy 10 season opens August 1 on the lower Columbia River, drawing thousands of anglers to one of the most productive chinook and coho fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. Here's how to get ready before the opener.

July 7, 2026
Minam River Canyon: Backpacking Into the Eagle Cap Wilderness Through Oregon's Deepest River Gorge
Backpacking

Minam River Canyon: Backpacking Into the Eagle Cap Wilderness Through Oregon's Deepest River Gorge

The Minam River drainage is lower, lusher, longer, and far less traveled than the Lakes Basin crowds. Old-growth ponderosa pine, wild cutthroat trout, Roosevelt elk, and a Wild and Scenic river corridor through Oregon's finest wilderness. A 3-4 day backpacking guide to the Minam Canyon.

July 6, 2026
NRL22 Rimfire Competition: Getting Started in Precision .22 LR Shooting in the Pacific Northwest
Shooting

NRL22 Rimfire Competition: Getting Started in Precision .22 LR Shooting in the Pacific Northwest

NRL22 is the most accessible entry point for practical precision shooting, and Oregon clubs are running sanctioned matches year-round. If you want to get into long-range shooting without a $3,000 centerfire investment, here's everything you need — rifles, optics, ammo, local clubs, and what to expect at your first match.

July 6, 2026
Reloading the .30 Nosler: Long-Range Elk Loads for Oregon's Open Country
Reloading

Reloading the .30 Nosler: Long-Range Elk Loads for Oregon's Open Country

The .30 Nosler pushes 180-grain bullets faster than a .300 Win Mag in a standard-length action. For open-country elk hunters in Oregon's Blue Mountains, Wallowas, or high Cascades, the handload advantage is real. Components, powder selection, AccuBond loads, and brass management for the .30 Nosler.

July 6, 2026
Archery Pronghorn at Oregon's Hart Mountain Unit: Spot-and-Stalk Tactics for High Desert Goats
Hunting

Archery Pronghorn at Oregon's Hart Mountain Unit: Spot-and-Stalk Tactics for High Desert Goats

Of all the Western archery hunts, few test a bowhunter like archery pronghorn. Oregon's Hart Mountain Unit offers one of the most challenging and rewarding archery pronghorn experiences in the Pacific Northwest. Water hole setups, stalk tactics, gear, and logistics for the open high desert.

July 6, 2026
Alsea River Fall Chinook Preview: Scouting Oregon's Premier Coastal Salmon River Before the September Run
Fishing

Alsea River Fall Chinook Preview: Scouting Oregon's Premier Coastal Salmon River Before the September Run

July is the time to start thinking about fall chinook. By the time the Alsea River turns green and the first rains push into the Coast Range, the anglers who did their homework in summer are the ones backing down the boat ramp with confidence. Timing, access, tactics, and gear for Oregon's Alsea River chinook season.

July 6, 2026