Sunday, August 9, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Blood Trailing and Recovery After the Shot: A Complete Guide for Oregon Deer and Elk Hunters

Blood Trailing and Recovery After the Shot: A Complete Guide for Oregon Deer and Elk Hunters

What you do in the minutes after the shot determines whether you recover that animal. This complete guide covers reading blood sign, when to wait, systematic search techniques, and recovery in Oregon's varied terrain.

By HFR Staff  ·  August 8, 2026
Reloading the .458 Winchester Magnum: Heavy Elk and Bear Loads for Oregon's Big Game
Reloading

Reloading the .458 Winchester Magnum: Heavy Elk and Bear Loads for Oregon's Big Game

America's original dangerous game cartridge can be tailored perfectly for Oregon black bear and elk. Here's a complete handloading guide for the .458 Win Mag — from powder selection to field performance.

August 8, 2026
Oregon's Keating Unit Archery Mule Deer: Baker County Bucks on Public Land
Hunting

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.

August 8, 2026
Siuslaw River Fall Chinook Salmon: Oregon's Mid-Coast Sleeper Run
Fishing

Siuslaw River Fall Chinook Salmon: Oregon's Mid-Coast Sleeper Run

While crowds hit the Tillamook and Wilson, the Siuslaw quietly delivers consistent fall Chinook fishing. Here's everything you need to know about Oregon's most overlooked mid-coast salmon river.

August 8, 2026
Hunting Optics in the Pacific Northwest: Keeping Your Glass Clear, Fog-Free, and Reliable in Wet Conditions
Shooting

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.

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