Saturday, August 1, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Shotgun Patterning and Choke Selection for Oregon Duck and Goose Hunting: A Pre-Season Test Day Guide

Shotgun Patterning and Choke Selection for Oregon Duck and Goose Hunting: A Pre-Season Test Day Guide

Oregon's waterfowl season opens in October, but the work happens now. Here's how to run a complete patterning session and dial in the right choke and load combination before the birds arrive.

By HFR Staff  ·  August 1, 2026
Reloading the .450 Marlin: Big-Bore Lever-Gun Loads for Oregon Black Bear and Elk
Reloading

Reloading the .450 Marlin: Big-Bore Lever-Gun Loads for Oregon Black Bear and Elk

The .450 Marlin delivers near-.458 Winchester Magnum energy in a standard-length lever action. Here's everything Oregon handloaders need to know about components, load data, and getting the most from this hard-hitting cartridge.

August 1, 2026
Field Judging Mule Deer in Eastern Oregon: How to Score Bucks on the Hoof
Hunting

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.

August 1, 2026
Ochoco Reservoir Summer Fishing: Crappie, Bass, and Yellow Perch in Oregon's Central Highlands
Fishing

Ochoco Reservoir Summer Fishing: Crappie, Bass, and Yellow Perch in Oregon's Central Highlands

Ochoco Reservoir, just east of Prineville, holds some of central Oregon's best warm-water fishing. Here's how to target crappie, largemouth bass, and yellow perch through the summer season.

August 1, 2026
Field Ballistic Calculators for Western Hunters: Kestrel, Applied Ballistics, and Getting Your Data Right
Shooting

Field Ballistic Calculators for Western Hunters: Kestrel, Applied Ballistics, and Getting Your Data Right

Modern ballistic calculators have transformed long-range hunting. Here's how to choose the right tool, enter your data correctly, and actually trust your firing solution in the field.

July 31, 2026
Reloading the .22 Nosler: High-Performance AR-Platform Loads for Varmints and Deer
Reloading

Reloading the .22 Nosler: High-Performance AR-Platform Loads for Varmints and Deer

The .22 Nosler delivers genuine high-velocity performance from a standard AR-15 platform. Here's a complete reloading guide covering components, load data, and what to expect in the field.

July 31, 2026
Oregon's Grizzly Unit Archery Mule Deer: Blue Mountains Public Land Bucks
Hunting

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.

July 31, 2026
Elk River Fall Chinook: Oregon's Premier South Coast Salmon Destination
Fishing

Elk River Fall Chinook: Oregon's Premier South Coast Salmon Destination

The Elk River in Curry County punches far above its weight for fall Chinook salmon. Here's everything you need to know to fish it right from August through November.

July 31, 2026
Grassy Knob Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Remote South Coast Rainforest
Backpacking

Grassy Knob Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Remote South Coast Rainforest

Tucked in the Siskiyou National Forest above Port Orford, the Grassy Knob Wilderness is one of Oregon's smallest and least-visited designated wilderness areas — but it delivers old-growth Sitka spruce, dramatic coastal views, and genuine solitude.

July 30, 2026
Reloading the .300 Savage: A Classic Short-Action Deer Cartridge Worth Rediscovering
Reloading

Reloading the .300 Savage: A Classic Short-Action Deer Cartridge Worth Rediscovering

The .300 Savage may be 100 years old, but it's still a deadly deer cartridge — and a rewarding one to reload. Here's everything you need to know about components, load data, and getting the most from this underrated round.

July 30, 2026