Thursday, June 25, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Fly Fishing for Trophy Rainbows and Brown Trout in Oregon's High Cascades

Crane Prairie Reservoir: Fly Fishing for Trophy Rainbows and Brown Trout in Oregon's High Cascades

Crane Prairie Reservoir sits at 4,450 feet in the Oregon Cascades and produces some of the largest rainbow and brown trout in the state. Here's how to fish it right from late June through September.

By HFR Staff  ·  June 25, 2026
Wilson's Snipe Hunting in Oregon: The Overlooked September Wetlands Bird
Hunting

Wilson's Snipe Hunting in Oregon: The Overlooked September Wetlands Bird

Wilson's snipe is real, it's abundant, and Oregon has a generous season that opens in early September. Here's how to hunt this challenging migratory bird in Willamette Valley wetlands and agricultural sloughs.

June 25, 2026
Reloading the .22 Hornet: Oregon's Classic Small-Bore Varmint Cartridge
Reloading

Reloading the .22 Hornet: Oregon's Classic Small-Bore Varmint Cartridge

The .22 Hornet is one of the oldest centerfire varmint cartridges still in production, and it's an excellent choice for Oregon ground squirrel hunters and small-game shooters who reload. Here's what you need to know.

June 25, 2026
Steel Challenge: Getting Started in Speed Shooting in the Pacific Northwest
Shooting

Steel Challenge: Getting Started in Speed Shooting in the Pacific Northwest

Steel Challenge is one of the most beginner-friendly practical shooting sports in existence — no movement, simple rules, and every skill transfers directly to hunting and defensive shooting. Here's how to get started in the Pacific Northwest.

June 25, 2026
Olallie Lake Scenic Area: A Weekend Backpacking Loop on the Pacific Crest Trail
Backpacking

Olallie Lake Scenic Area: A Weekend Backpacking Loop on the Pacific Crest Trail

The Olallie Lake Scenic Area north of Mount Jefferson packs over 50 alpine lakes into a compact high-country plateau crossed by the Pacific Crest Trail. Here's how to plan a two-day loop through one of Oregon's most accessible and rewarding wilderness destinations.

June 24, 2026
Reloading the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser: Old World Precision for Modern Hunters
Reloading

Reloading the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser: Old World Precision for Modern Hunters

The 6.5x55 Swedish has been killing big game cleanly since 1894. If you own one of these rifles, handloading unlocks its full potential — here's how to build loads that honor the cartridge's legendary reputation.

June 24, 2026
Fall Wild Turkey Hunting in Oregon's Willamette Valley: Tags, Tactics, and the October Season
Hunting

Fall Wild Turkey Hunting in Oregon's Willamette Valley: Tags, Tactics, and the October Season

Oregon's fall turkey season opens in October and the Willamette Valley is loaded with Rios and Eastern hybrids. Here's how to fill your tag when the birds have shifted from spring breeding behavior.

June 24, 2026
Paulina Lake Trophy Brown Trout: Summer Trolling in Newberry's Caldera
Fishing

Paulina Lake Trophy Brown Trout: Summer Trolling in Newberry's Caldera

Paulina Lake sits inside Newberry Volcano's ancient caldera at 6,330 feet and holds some of the largest brown trout in Oregon. Here's how to target them all summer long.

June 24, 2026
Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness: Backpacking Portland’s Most Accessible Old-Growth Escape
Backpacking

Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness: Backpacking Portland’s Most Accessible Old-Growth Escape

Just an hour from Portland, the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness offers old-growth Douglas fir, rewarding ridge hikes, and genuine solitude — if you know where to look. Here’s how to plan a weekend trip.

June 22, 2026
Chronograph Fundamentals for Handloaders: Why Velocity Data Transforms Your Reloading and Field Performance
Shooting

Chronograph Fundamentals for Handloaders: Why Velocity Data Transforms Your Reloading and Field Performance

A chronograph is the single most valuable piece of equipment a serious reloader can own. Here’s how to use one, what data to collect, and how to put the numbers to work at the range and in the field.

June 22, 2026