Tuesday, August 4, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Reloading the 6.8 SPC: Custom AR Hunting Loads for Oregon's Most Underrated Intermediate Cartridge

Reloading the 6.8 SPC: Custom AR Hunting Loads for Oregon's Most Underrated Intermediate Cartridge

The 6.8 SPC is a legitimate deer and blacktail cartridge in an AR-15 platform. With careful handloading, it delivers accuracy and terminal performance that factory ammo barely hints at.

By HFR Staff  ·  August 4, 2026
Getting Started with IDPA Defensive Pistol Competition in Oregon: Clubs, Gear, and Your First Match
Shooting

Getting Started with IDPA Defensive Pistol Competition in Oregon: Clubs, Gear, and Your First Match

IDPA is the fastest-growing defensive pistol sport in the country — and Oregon has a thriving club scene. Here's what you need to know to show up ready for your first match.

August 4, 2026
Late-Season Elk Hunting in Oregon: November Rifle Tactics for Public Land Bulls After the Rut
Hunting

Late-Season Elk Hunting in Oregon: November Rifle Tactics for Public Land Bulls After the Rut

Once the bugling stops and the orange army goes home, November elk hunting on Oregon public land gets hard — and rewarding. Here's how to find bulls after the rut.

August 4, 2026
Klamath River Salmon and Steelhead: Oregon's Historic Dam Removal and What It Means for Anglers
Fishing

Klamath River Salmon and Steelhead: Oregon's Historic Dam Removal and What It Means for Anglers

The largest dam removal in U.S. history has reopened hundreds of miles of the Klamath River to salmon and steelhead. Here's what Oregon anglers need to know heading into the 2026 fall season.

August 4, 2026
Electronic Hearing Protection for Hunters: Best Ear Pro for the Oregon Field, Blind, and Range
Shooting

Electronic Hearing Protection for Hunters: Best Ear Pro for the Oregon Field, Blind, and Range

Most Oregon hunters protect their hearing on the range but neglect it in the field. Electronic hearing protection solves that — and actually makes you a more aware, effective hunter. Here is what to choose and why it matters.

August 3, 2026
Table Rock Wilderness: A Summer Backpacking Loop Through Oregon's Molalla River Country
Backpacking

Table Rock Wilderness: A Summer Backpacking Loop Through Oregon's Molalla River Country

Just 45 minutes from the Portland metro, the Table Rock Wilderness offers old-growth solitude and dramatic basalt plateau views — and almost nobody knows it exists. Here's how to explore it in a weekend.

August 3, 2026
Reloading the 5.56 NATO for the AR-15: Mil-Spec, Varmint, and Match-Grade Loads for Pacific Northwest Shooters
Reloading

Reloading the 5.56 NATO for the AR-15: Mil-Spec, Varmint, and Match-Grade Loads for Pacific Northwest Shooters

The 5.56 NATO is the most-fired centerfire cartridge in America — and one of the most rewarding to handload. Here's how to build everything from bulk varmint ammo to sub-MOA match loads for your AR-15.

August 3, 2026
Oregon's Prineville Unit Archery Mule Deer: Public Land Bucks in Central Oregon's Crooked River Country
Hunting

Oregon's Prineville Unit Archery Mule Deer: Public Land Bucks in Central Oregon's Crooked River Country

The Prineville Unit does not get the press of eastern Oregon's trophy units, but it holds good numbers of mule deer on accessible BLM and Ochoco National Forest land — and the archery pressure is surprisingly light.

August 3, 2026
Sandy River Fall Chinook: Early Run Bank Fishing Before the September Rush
Fishing

Sandy River Fall Chinook: Early Run Bank Fishing Before the September Rush

The Sandy River's fall Chinook run kicks off in August, well before most Oregon anglers realize it. Here's how to get ahead of the crowd and put a chrome fish on the bank before summer ends.

August 3, 2026
Mount McLoughlin: Summiting Southern Oregon’s Highest Volcano and Camping the PCT
Backpacking

Mount McLoughlin: Summiting Southern Oregon’s Highest Volcano and Camping the PCT

At 9,495 feet, Mount McLoughlin is the highest peak in the Southern Cascades and one of Oregon’s most rewarding climbs. Here’s the full guide to the summit trail, nearby PCT camps, and what to expect on Oregon’s forgotten giant.

August 2, 2026