Wednesday, May 20, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
First Focal Plane vs. Second Focal Plane Scopes: What Western Hunters Actually Need to Know

First Focal Plane vs. Second Focal Plane Scopes: What Western Hunters Actually Need to Know

The FFP vs. SFP debate has taken over the rifle scope market. Here's a clear-eyed breakdown of which reticle plane actually matters for hunting in Oregon and the West — and when it doesn't.

By HFR Staff  ·  May 20, 2026
Reloading the .45-70 Government: Big Bore Loads for Deer, Bear, and Everything In Between
Reloading

Reloading the .45-70 Government: Big Bore Loads for Deer, Bear, and Everything In Between

The .45-70 Government is one of America's oldest cartridges and one of its most versatile. Here's how to handload it for modern lever-action rifles and single-shots from light deer loads to heavy bear medicine.

May 20, 2026
Dove Hunting in Oregon: A Complete Guide to the September Season
Hunting

Dove Hunting in Oregon: A Complete Guide to the September Season

Oregon's dove season opens in September across the state's agricultural valleys and high desert rangelands. Here's everything you need to know to have a successful shoot.

May 20, 2026
Walleye Fishing at Brownlee Reservoir: Oregon's Best-Kept Secret
Fishing

Walleye Fishing at Brownlee Reservoir: Oregon's Best-Kept Secret

Brownlee Reservoir sits right on the Oregon-Idaho border and holds some of the best walleye fishing in the Pacific Northwest. Here's how to target them across all seasons.

May 20, 2026
Running a Suppressor: What Oregon Hunters Need to Know About Cans in the Field
Shooting

Running a Suppressor: What Oregon Hunters Need to Know About Cans in the Field

Suppressors are legal for hunting in Oregon and increasingly common in the field. Here's a practical breakdown of NFA paperwork, real-world sound reduction, host rifle selection, and why a can might be the best upgrade you make this season.

May 19, 2026
Reloading the .44 Magnum for Hunting: Hard-Hitting Loads for Handgun and Lever-Gun Hunters
Reloading

Reloading the .44 Magnum for Hunting: Hard-Hitting Loads for Handgun and Lever-Gun Hunters

The .44 Magnum is a hunter's cartridge that rewards handloaders. Here's how to build accurate, hard-hitting loads for deer, bear, and hog — whether you're shooting a revolver or a lever-action carbine.

May 19, 2026
Canada Goose Hunting on the Columbia River: Field Blinds, Decoy Spreads, and the Oregon Resident Flock
Hunting

Canada Goose Hunting on the Columbia River: Field Blinds, Decoy Spreads, and the Oregon Resident Flock

Oregon's resident Canada geese offer one of the longest, most accessible hunting seasons in the Pacific Northwest. Here's how to set up a killing field blind, build a convincing spread, and call birds all season long.

May 19, 2026
Summer Steelhead on the Lower Deschutes River: Wade Fishing Tactics for Oregon's Premier Run
Fishing

Summer Steelhead on the Lower Deschutes River: Wade Fishing Tactics for Oregon's Premier Run

The Lower Deschutes River is one of the West's top summer steelhead fisheries. Here's how to read water, pick flies, and land chrome-bright fish from the bank or in the wade.

May 19, 2026
Columbia River White Sturgeon: Bank Access, Bait Rigs, and Season Rules for Oregon Anglers
Fishing

Columbia River White Sturgeon: Bank Access, Bait Rigs, and Season Rules for Oregon Anglers

Oregon's Columbia River holds some of the largest white sturgeon in the world. Here's everything you need to know about legal retention windows, proven bait setups, and the best bank fishing spots from Bonneville to The Dalles.

May 18, 2026
Upland Bird Hunting in Eastern Oregon: Pheasant, Chukar, and Hungarian Partridge on Public Land
Hunting

Upland Bird Hunting in Eastern Oregon: Pheasant, Chukar, and Hungarian Partridge on Public Land

Eastern Oregon holds some of the best pheasant, chukar, and Hun hunting in the Pacific Northwest — if you know where to go and how to work the terrain. Here's a practical guide to all three species.

May 18, 2026