Thursday, August 13, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
PCP Air Rifles for Oregon Hunters: Off-Season Practice, Small Game, and Pest Control

PCP Air Rifles for Oregon Hunters: Off-Season Practice, Small Game, and Pest Control

High-powered PCP air rifles have crossed a threshold. With enough energy to ethically take small game and pest species, and enough precision to sharpen your marksmanship year-round, they've earned a real place in the Oregon outdoorsman's toolkit.

By HFR Staff  ·  August 13, 2026
Bullet Seating Depth Tuning: How COAL Affects Accuracy in Hunting Handloads
Reloading

Bullet Seating Depth Tuning: How COAL Affects Accuracy in Hunting Handloads

Seating depth is one of the most powerful — and most ignored — accuracy variables in handloading. Here's how to test it systematically and find the sweet spot for your hunting rifle.

August 13, 2026
Archery Elk on Oregon's Heppner Unit: DIY Blue Mountains Bull Tactics for August
Hunting

Archery Elk on Oregon's Heppner Unit: DIY Blue Mountains Bull Tactics for August

The Heppner Unit in northeast Oregon's Blue Mountains holds a solid population of Rocky Mountain elk on public land. Here's how to find bulls, beat the pressure, and punch your archery tag in August.

August 13, 2026
Fall Coho Salmon on Oregon's Mid-Coast Rivers: Siletz, Yaquina, and Salmon River Timing and Tactics
Fishing

Fall Coho Salmon on Oregon's Mid-Coast Rivers: Siletz, Yaquina, and Salmon River Timing and Tactics

September and October coho returns to Oregon's mid-coast rivers are among the most accessible and rewarding salmon fisheries in the state. Here's how to read the conditions and catch fish on three of the best.

August 13, 2026
Scope Cant and Reticle Leveling: The Overlooked Accuracy Killer for Long-Range Hunters
Shooting

Scope Cant and Reticle Leveling: The Overlooked Accuracy Killer for Long-Range Hunters

A canted scope introduces errors that grow geometrically with distance. Here's how to diagnose the problem, level your optic correctly, and verify zero — before it costs you an elk.

August 12, 2026
Reloading the .33 Nosler: A Premium Elk Cartridge for Oregon's Open-Country Hunters
Reloading

Reloading the .33 Nosler: A Premium Elk Cartridge for Oregon's Open-Country Hunters

The .33 Nosler delivers near-.338 Lapua performance in a standard-length action. Here's what Oregon elk hunters need to know about handloading this modern magnum.

August 12, 2026
Shed Antler Hunting in Oregon: When, Where, and How to Find More Bone in the High Desert and Cascades
Hunting

Shed Antler Hunting in Oregon: When, Where, and How to Find More Bone in the High Desert and Cascades

Shed antler hunting is the best off-season scouting tool available to Oregon deer and elk hunters. Here's how to maximize your finds — and your intel.

August 12, 2026
Coquille River Fall Chinook Salmon: Timing, Access, and Bank Fishing Tactics for Oregon's Best South Coast Run
Fishing

Coquille River Fall Chinook Salmon: Timing, Access, and Bank Fishing Tactics for Oregon's Best South Coast Run

The Coquille River is one of Oregon's most underrated fall Chinook destinations. Learn when the fish arrive, where to stand, and how to catch them from the bank.

August 12, 2026
Twin Pillars Trail: Backpacking Oregon's Ochoco Highlands on a 2-Day Loop
Backpacking

Twin Pillars Trail: Backpacking Oregon's Ochoco Highlands on a 2-Day Loop

The Twin Pillars Trail in the Ochoco National Forest delivers basalt columns, open ponderosa ridges, and real solitude just 35 miles from Prineville. Here's how to do it right.

August 11, 2026
Range Bag Essentials for Pacific Northwest Hunters and Shooters
Shooting

Range Bag Essentials for Pacific Northwest Hunters and Shooters

What's in your range bag says a lot about how seriously you take your shooting. Here's what experienced Pacific Northwest hunters and competitors actually carry to every session.

August 11, 2026