Wednesday, June 24, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Olallie Lake Scenic Area: A Weekend Backpacking Loop on the Pacific Crest Trail

Olallie Lake Scenic Area: A Weekend Backpacking Loop on the Pacific Crest Trail

The Olallie Lake Scenic Area north of Mount Jefferson packs over 50 alpine lakes into a compact high-country plateau crossed by the Pacific Crest Trail. Here's how to plan a two-day loop through one of Oregon's most accessible and rewarding wilderness destinations.

By HFR Staff  ·  June 24, 2026
Reloading the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser: Old World Precision for Modern Hunters
Reloading

Reloading the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser: Old World Precision for Modern Hunters

The 6.5x55 Swedish has been killing big game cleanly since 1894. If you own one of these rifles, handloading unlocks its full potential — here's how to build loads that honor the cartridge's legendary reputation.

June 24, 2026
Fall Wild Turkey Hunting in Oregon's Willamette Valley: Tags, Tactics, and the October Season
Hunting

Fall Wild Turkey Hunting in Oregon's Willamette Valley: Tags, Tactics, and the October Season

Oregon's fall turkey season opens in October and the Willamette Valley is loaded with Rios and Eastern hybrids. Here's how to fill your tag when the birds have shifted from spring breeding behavior.

June 24, 2026
Paulina Lake Trophy Brown Trout: Summer Trolling in Newberry's Caldera
Fishing

Paulina Lake Trophy Brown Trout: Summer Trolling in Newberry's Caldera

Paulina Lake sits inside Newberry Volcano's ancient caldera at 6,330 feet and holds some of the largest brown trout in Oregon. Here's how to target them all summer long.

June 24, 2026
Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness: Backpacking Portland’s Most Accessible Old-Growth Escape
Backpacking

Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness: Backpacking Portland’s Most Accessible Old-Growth Escape

Just an hour from Portland, the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness offers old-growth Douglas fir, rewarding ridge hikes, and genuine solitude — if you know where to look. Here’s how to plan a weekend trip.

June 22, 2026
Chronograph Fundamentals for Handloaders: Why Velocity Data Transforms Your Reloading and Field Performance
Shooting

Chronograph Fundamentals for Handloaders: Why Velocity Data Transforms Your Reloading and Field Performance

A chronograph is the single most valuable piece of equipment a serious reloader can own. Here’s how to use one, what data to collect, and how to put the numbers to work at the range and in the field.

June 22, 2026
Reloading the .45 Colt: Classic Loads for Cowboy Action, Lever Guns, and Handgun Hunters
Reloading

Reloading the .45 Colt: Classic Loads for Cowboy Action, Lever Guns, and Handgun Hunters

The .45 Colt is one of the most versatile handgun cartridges ever made — and one of the most misunderstood by modern reloaders. Here’s how to load it right for every purpose.

June 22, 2026
Cow Elk Hunting in Oregon: Antlerless Tags, Public Land Access, and Filling the Freezer
Hunting

Cow Elk Hunting in Oregon: Antlerless Tags, Public Land Access, and Filling the Freezer

Oregon’s antlerless elk tags are one of the most underutilized opportunities in the state. Here’s how to apply, where to hunt, and why a cow elk is the best deal in big game hunting.

June 22, 2026
Wilson River Summer Steelhead: Tactics for Oregon's Best Accessible Wild Fish
Fishing

Wilson River Summer Steelhead: Tactics for Oregon's Best Accessible Wild Fish

The Wilson River in Tillamook County offers some of the most accessible wild summer steelhead fishing in Oregon. Here's how to fish it effectively from June through September.

June 22, 2026
AR-10 Rifles for Western Big Game: Platform Selection, Calibers, and Field Upgrades That Work
Shooting

AR-10 Rifles for Western Big Game: Platform Selection, Calibers, and Field Upgrades That Work

The AR-10 platform has earned a legitimate place in the western big game hunter's arsenal. Here's how to choose the right chambering, build weight, and upgrades to make it hunt as well as it shoots on the range.

June 21, 2026