Saturday, May 30, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Crossbow Hunting in Oregon: Regulations, Equipment, and Tactics

Crossbow Hunting in Oregon: Regulations, Equipment, and Tactics

Oregon expanded crossbow hunting access significantly in recent years. Here's what you need to know about when and where you can hunt with a crossbow, what equipment makes sense, and how to adapt your deer and elk tactics.

By HFR Staff  ·  May 30, 2026
Reloading the .280 Ackley Improved: The Perfect Western Big Game Cartridge
Reloading

Reloading the .280 Ackley Improved: The Perfect Western Big Game Cartridge

The .280 Ackley Improved offers everything a western hunter needs — flat trajectory, manageable recoil, excellent terminal performance on elk and mule deer — and reloading for it is more straightforward than most shooters expect.

May 30, 2026
Mountain Quail Hunting in Oregon's Western Cascades
Hunting

Mountain Quail Hunting in Oregon's Western Cascades

Oregon's mountain quail are the biggest native quail in North America — and hunting them in the steep, brushy Cascade foothills is some of the most physically demanding upland bird work you'll find anywhere.

May 30, 2026
Fly Fishing the Metolius River: Oregon's Legendary Spring Creek
Fishing

Fly Fishing the Metolius River: Oregon's Legendary Spring Creek

The Metolius is one of Oregon's most unique and challenging fly fisheries — a crystal-clear spring creek loaded with wild redbands that see plenty of pressure. Here's how to approach it right.

May 30, 2026
Dry Fire Training at Home: Building Trigger Control and Marksmanship Without Burning Ammo
Shooting

Dry Fire Training at Home: Building Trigger Control and Marksmanship Without Burning Ammo

Dry fire is the single highest-ROI practice tool available to any shooter. Here's how to build a structured at-home dry fire program that will sharpen your marksmanship before the next hunt or match.

May 29, 2026
Lookout Mountain Loop: A Weekend Backpacking Trip in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest
Backpacking

Lookout Mountain Loop: A Weekend Backpacking Trip in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest

The Lookout Mountain Loop in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest offers one of the most rewarding and uncrowded weekend backpacking routes in Central Oregon. Here's a complete guide to the 19-mile circuit.

May 29, 2026
Reloading the 6.8 Western: Components, Load Data, and Long-Range Hunting Performance
Reloading

Reloading the 6.8 Western: Components, Load Data, and Long-Range Hunting Performance

The 6.8 Western is one of the most capable modern hunting cartridges for Western big game. Here's a practical guide to reloading it for long-range elk and mule deer performance.

May 29, 2026
Oregon's September Teal Season: Early Waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway
Hunting

Oregon's September Teal Season: Early Waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway

Oregon's early teal season opens in September, giving waterfowl hunters a jump on the Pacific Flyway before the main duck opener. Here's how to prepare for fast-moving blue-wings and green-wings.

May 29, 2026
Fly Fishing the Upper Williamson River: Redband Trout in Southern Oregon's Klamath Country
Fishing

Fly Fishing the Upper Williamson River: Redband Trout in Southern Oregon's Klamath Country

The upper Williamson River is one of southern Oregon's most underrated fly fishing destinations. Learn how to target wild redband trout in this spring-fed Klamath Basin gem.

May 29, 2026
Kalmiopsis Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Wildest and Most Remote Botanical Hotspot
Backpacking

Kalmiopsis Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Wildest and Most Remote Botanical Hotspot

Oregon's Kalmiopsis Wilderness in the Klamath Mountains is one of the most geologically and botanically unique places on Earth. It's also brutally rugged, poorly signed, and almost entirely empty of other hikers. Here's how to plan a trip.

May 28, 2026