Saturday, August 8, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Hunting Optics in the Pacific Northwest: Keeping Your Glass Clear, Fog-Free, and Reliable in Wet Conditions

Hunting Optics in the Pacific Northwest: Keeping Your Glass Clear, Fog-Free, and Reliable in Wet Conditions

Oregon and Washington hunters face some of the harshest optical conditions in North America. Rain, fog, temperature swings, and condensation can render a $2,000 scope useless at the moment of truth. Here's how to buy right and field-prep your glass for PNW conditions.

By HFR Staff  ·  August 7, 2026
Reloading the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum: High-Octane Loads for Open-Country Elk and Mule Deer
Reloading

Reloading the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum: High-Octane Loads for Open-Country Elk and Mule Deer

The .300 RUM sits at the top of the commercial .30-caliber performance pyramid, driving 180-grain bullets past 3,200 fps. If you own one of these cannons, handloading is the only way to feed it economically and unlock its full potential.

August 7, 2026
Oregon's Wapiti Unit Archery Elk: Public Land Bulls in the Umatilla National Forest
Hunting

Oregon's Wapiti Unit Archery Elk: Public Land Bulls in the Umatilla National Forest

The Wapiti Unit in northeast Oregon is one of the state's most productive archery elk units, yet it flies under the radar compared to its famous neighbors. Here's a complete DIY guide to putting a public land bull on the ground.

August 7, 2026
Fall Chum Salmon on Oregon's Kilchis and Miami Rivers: Tactics for the November Coastal Run
Fishing

Fall Chum Salmon on Oregon's Kilchis and Miami Rivers: Tactics for the November Coastal Run

Chum salmon are the most overlooked species on the Oregon coast, but anglers who figure out the Kilchis and Miami rivers in November find chrome fish up to 15 pounds with almost no competition. Here's how to cash in.

August 7, 2026
Field Judging Bull Elk Antlers Before Drawing Your Bow: A Western Bowhunter's Guide
Archery

Field Judging Bull Elk Antlers Before Drawing Your Bow: A Western Bowhunter's Guide

You have seconds to decide when a bull steps out. Learn how to use the elk's own body as a measuring stick, read main beam length, tine length, mass, and symmetry — and make the right call before the moment is gone.

August 6, 2026
Reloading the 6mm BR Norma: Sub-Half-MOA Precision for Benchrest and Varmint Hunting
Reloading

Reloading the 6mm BR Norma: Sub-Half-MOA Precision for Benchrest and Varmint Hunting

The 6mm BR Norma is one of the most accurate cartridges ever developed. Here's a complete handloading guide covering brass prep, bullet selection, powder choices, and the seating depth work that separates a half-MOA load from a quarter-MOA one.

August 6, 2026
Field Caping a Deer or Elk for the Taxidermist: A Step-by-Step Oregon Hunter's Guide
Hunting

Field Caping a Deer or Elk for the Taxidermist: A Step-by-Step Oregon Hunter's Guide

A poor cape job can ruin months of hard work before you ever reach the taxidermist. Learn exactly where to cut, how to skin the head, and how to salt and preserve your deer or elk cape in Oregon's varied hunting conditions.

August 6, 2026
Chetco River Fall Chinook: Oregon's Trophy South Coast Salmon Destination
Fishing

Chetco River Fall Chinook: Oregon's Trophy South Coast Salmon Destination

The Chetco River at Brookings consistently produces some of the largest wild king salmon on the Oregon coast. Here's everything you need to know about timing, tactics, access, and regulations for this late-season trophy fishery.

August 6, 2026
Lower Deschutes River Trail: Backpacking Oregon's Best Wild and Scenic Canyon
Backpacking

Lower Deschutes River Trail: Backpacking Oregon's Best Wild and Scenic Canyon

The Lower Deschutes River trail runs 25+ miles through basalt canyon country from Maupin to the Columbia. It's one of Oregon's premier desert backpacking routes — and almost nobody thinks to hike it.

August 5, 2026
Choosing Your First Reloading Press: Single-Stage, Turret, and Progressive Presses Explained
Reloading

Choosing Your First Reloading Press: Single-Stage, Turret, and Progressive Presses Explained

The reloading press you start with shapes your entire handloading experience. Here's how to choose between single-stage, turret, and progressive presses based on what you actually shoot.

August 5, 2026