Saturday, July 11, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Cathedral Ridge to Elk Meadows: Mount Hood's Best Summer Overnight for Wildflowers and Views

Cathedral Ridge to Elk Meadows: Mount Hood's Best Summer Overnight for Wildflowers and Views

The Cathedral Ridge Trail to Elk Meadows delivers one of Oregon's most dramatic subalpine overnights with a fraction of the Timberline Trail crowds. Here's the complete guide.

By HFR Staff  ·  July 11, 2026
Buck Fever Management for Bowhunters: Mental Strategies That Close the Deal
Archery

Buck Fever Management for Bowhunters: Mental Strategies That Close the Deal

Buck fever has ended more archery seasons than bad shooting form ever will. Here's a practical mental framework for controlling adrenaline and executing clean shots on big game.

July 11, 2026
Reloading the .270 WSM: Short-Action Magnum Loads for Mule Deer and Elk
Reloading

Reloading the .270 WSM: Short-Action Magnum Loads for Mule Deer and Elk

The .270 WSM packs serious long-range performance into a short action. Here's everything you need to load it accurately for Western big game hunting.

July 11, 2026
Oregon's Starkey Unit Archery Elk: DIY Tactics for the Umatilla National Forest
Hunting

Oregon's Starkey Unit Archery Elk: DIY Tactics for the Umatilla National Forest

The Starkey Unit in northeast Oregon's Umatilla National Forest holds one of the state's most accessible populations of Rocky Mountain elk for archery hunters. Here's how to hunt it smart.

July 11, 2026
Cottage Grove Reservoir Summer Bass: Southern Willamette Valley's Best Largemouth Fishing
Fishing

Cottage Grove Reservoir Summer Bass: Southern Willamette Valley's Best Largemouth Fishing

Cottage Grove Reservoir delivers some of the best largemouth bass fishing in the southern Willamette Valley. Here's a complete summer guide to timing, tactics, and access.

July 11, 2026
Oregon Tag Drawing Strategy: How to Bank Points and Draw Premium Deer, Elk, and Pronghorn Tags
Hunting

Oregon Tag Drawing Strategy: How to Bank Points and Draw Premium Deer, Elk, and Pronghorn Tags

Oregon's ODFW preference point system rewards patience and planning. Whether you're chasing a Steens pronghorn tag or an archery elk permit in the Wenaha, here's how to build a smart long-term draw strategy.

July 10, 2026
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area: Backpacking and Camping the Coastal Sand Sea Between Florence and North Bend
Backpacking

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area: Backpacking and Camping the Coastal Sand Sea Between Florence and North Bend

The Oregon Dunes stretch 40 miles along the Pacific Coast — a shifting sand wilderness unlike anything else in the Pacific Northwest. Here's how to navigate, camp, and explore one of Oregon's most unusual backcountry destinations.

July 10, 2026
Cowboy Action Shooting in the Pacific Northwest: Getting Started with SASS Single Actions and Lever Guns
Shooting

Cowboy Action Shooting in the Pacific Northwest: Getting Started with SASS Single Actions and Lever Guns

Cowboy Action Shooting combines historical firearms, theatrical costumes, and timed competition on steel targets. Here's how Pacific Northwest shooters can get into one of the most welcoming and fun shooting sports around.

July 10, 2026
Reloading 20-Gauge Shotshells for Oregon Upland Bird Hunting: Components, Load Data, and Pattern Testing
Reloading

Reloading 20-Gauge Shotshells for Oregon Upland Bird Hunting: Components, Load Data, and Pattern Testing

The 20-gauge is the refined choice for Oregon upland hunters. Reloading your own shells cuts cost and lets you tune patterns for chukar, pheasant, and quail. Here's everything you need to get started.

July 10, 2026
Rogue River Half-Pounders: Summer Steelhead Tactics for Oregon's Most Explosive July Run
Fishing

Rogue River Half-Pounders: Summer Steelhead Tactics for Oregon's Most Explosive July Run

The Rogue River's half-pounder steelhead are unlike any fish in Oregon — juvenile sea-run fish returning in July with the energy of a freight train. Here's where to find them and how to catch them.

July 10, 2026