Tuesday, August 11, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Category

Hunting

97 articles

Fire Season Elk Strategy: How August Burns Shape Oregon's Best September Archery Opportunities

Fire Season Elk Strategy: How August Burns Shape Oregon's Best September Archery Opportunities

Wildfire reshapes Oregon's elk country every summer. Hunters who learn to read burn areas and adapt their strategy can turn fire season chaos into next September's best archery opportunity.

By HFR Staff  · August 10, 2026
Oregon's Izee Unit Archery Elk: A DIY Guide to Hunting Public Land Bulls in the John Day Country

Oregon's Izee Unit Archery Elk: A DIY Guide to Hunting Public Land Bulls in the John Day Country

The Izee Unit's John Day country holds a healthy elk population, modest archery pressure, and genuine DIY public land opportunity. Here's how to hunt it right before the September rut.

By HFR Staff  · August 9, 2026
Oregon's Keating Unit Archery Mule Deer: Baker County Bucks on Public Land

Oregon's Keating Unit Archery Mule Deer: Baker County Bucks on Public Land

Baker County's Keating Unit is one of Oregon's most overlooked archery mule deer destinations — solid buck populations, good public land access, and far less pressure than the headline high-desert units.

By HFR Staff  · August 8, 2026
Oregon's Wapiti Unit Archery Elk: Public Land Bulls in the Umatilla National Forest

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.

By HFR Staff  · August 7, 2026
Field Caping a Deer or Elk for the Taxidermist: A Step-by-Step Oregon Hunter's Guide

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.

By HFR Staff  · August 6, 2026
Oregon's Murderers Creek Unit Archery Elk: DIY Public Land Bull Hunting in the John Day Country

Oregon's Murderers Creek Unit Archery Elk: DIY Public Land Bull Hunting in the John Day Country

The Murderers Creek Unit in Grant County is one of Oregon's most storied public land elk hunting destinations. Here's what it takes to tag a bull on your own, on foot, in this demanding Blue Mountains unit.

By HFR Staff  · August 5, 2026
Late-Season Elk Hunting in Oregon: November Rifle Tactics for Public Land Bulls After the Rut

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.

By HFR Staff  · August 4, 2026
Oregon's Prineville Unit Archery Mule Deer: Public Land Bucks in Central Oregon's Crooked River Country

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.

By HFR Staff  · August 3, 2026
Archery Deer at Water Holes: Summer Heat Tactics for Oregon's High Desert August Opener

Archery Deer at Water Holes: Summer Heat Tactics for Oregon's High Desert August Opener

When August heat pushes eastern Oregon temperatures past 100°F, mule deer key on water like few other resources. Here’s how to find the right holes, set up invisibly, and execute the shot when a mature buck finally steps in.

By HFR Staff  · August 2, 2026
Field Judging Mule Deer in Eastern Oregon: How to Score Bucks on the Hoof

Field Judging Mule Deer in Eastern Oregon: How to Score Bucks on the Hoof

Knowing how to quickly assess a mule deer buck in the field is one of the most important skills an eastern Oregon hunter can develop. Here's a practical, no-calculator system for judging bucks before you commit.

By HFR Staff  · August 1, 2026
Oregon's Grizzly Unit Archery Mule Deer: Blue Mountains Public Land Bucks

Oregon's Grizzly Unit Archery Mule Deer: Blue Mountains Public Land Bucks

The Grizzly Unit in Grant County offers serious DIY archery mule deer hunting on public land. Here's how to find velvet bucks now and convert your tag in August.

By HFR Staff  · July 31, 2026
Oregon's Desolation Unit Archery Mule Deer: Public Land Bucks in the John Day Canyon Country

Oregon's Desolation Unit Archery Mule Deer: Public Land Bucks in the John Day Canyon Country

The Desolation Unit sits in the heart of Oregon's John Day country — open canyon terrain, light hunting pressure, and genuine trophy mule deer. Here's how to scout and hunt it before the August archery opener.

By HFR Staff  · July 30, 2026