Friday, June 5, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Home Defense Shotgun: Patterning, Load Selection, and Technique for the 12-Gauge Defender

Home Defense Shotgun: Patterning, Load Selection, and Technique for the 12-Gauge Defender

The 12-gauge shotgun remains one of America's top home defense tools. Here's how to pattern your gun, choose the right load, and build the manual of arms into reliable muscle memory.

By HFR Staff  ·  June 5, 2026
Tree Saddle Hunting for Bowhunters: A Lightweight Alternative to Traditional Treestands
Archery

Tree Saddle Hunting for Bowhunters: A Lightweight Alternative to Traditional Treestands

Tree saddles are revolutionizing how bowhunters access the vertical world. Lightweight, versatile, and deadly quiet — here's everything you need to get started with saddle hunting before the season opens.

June 5, 2026
North Fork John Day Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Northeast Oregon's Remote Gold Country
Backpacking

North Fork John Day Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Northeast Oregon's Remote Gold Country

The North Fork John Day Wilderness in Oregon's Blue Mountains offers solitude, pristine trout streams, and gold rush history. Here's a complete 3-day backpacking route guide for this undervisited gem.

June 5, 2026
Reloading the .300 WSM: Short-Action Magnum Loads for Elk and Western Big Game
Reloading

Reloading the .300 WSM: Short-Action Magnum Loads for Elk and Western Big Game

The .300 Winchester Short Magnum packs magnum-level performance into a short-action platform. Here's how to reload it for elk, mule deer, and open-country hunting with component selection, load data, and field notes.

June 5, 2026
Oregon Nearshore Rockfish and Lingcod: A Boater's Guide to Summer Bottom Fishing the Pacific Coast
Fishing

Oregon Nearshore Rockfish and Lingcod: A Boater's Guide to Summer Bottom Fishing the Pacific Coast

Oregon's nearshore rockfish and lingcod season opens June 1st, offering some of the Pacific Coast's most productive bottom fishing. Here's everything you need to know about gear, location, and regulations for a successful summer trip.

June 5, 2026
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness: A Summer Backpacking Loop Through Southern Oregon's Forgotten High Country
Backpacking

Gearhart Mountain Wilderness: A Summer Backpacking Loop Through Southern Oregon's Forgotten High Country

Gearhart Mountain Wilderness in Southern Oregon's Fremont National Forest is one of the state's least-visited designated wilderness areas — and one of its most rewarding summer destinations.

June 4, 2026
Red Dot Sights on Hunting Rifles: Zeroing, Mounting, and Why Short-Range Hunters Are Making the Switch
Shooting

Red Dot Sights on Hunting Rifles: Zeroing, Mounting, and Why Short-Range Hunters Are Making the Switch

Rifle-mounted red dot sights are no longer just for tactical guns. Here's why more western hunters are ditching the traditional scope for close-range work — and how to set one up correctly.

June 4, 2026
Reloading the .375 H&H Magnum: Big-Bore Loads for Oregon Black Bear and Dangerous Game
Reloading

Reloading the .375 H&H Magnum: Big-Bore Loads for Oregon Black Bear and Dangerous Game

The .375 H&H Magnum is the world's most versatile big-bore cartridge. Here's how to handload it for Oregon black bear, elk, and long-range open country hunting.

June 4, 2026
Oregon Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep: Units, Draw Odds, and Scouting the Snake River Canyon
Hunting

Oregon Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep: Units, Draw Odds, and Scouting the Snake River Canyon

Bighorn sheep tags in Oregon are among the hardest to draw in the West — but the hunters who do draw them pursue one of the most spectacular animals on the continent. Here's what you need to know.

June 4, 2026
Summer Crappie at Lake Owyhee: Oregon's Remote Reservoir Fishing Guide
Fishing

Summer Crappie at Lake Owyhee: Oregon's Remote Reservoir Fishing Guide

Lake Owyhee is one of Oregon's most overlooked warmwater fisheries. Here's how to find and catch crappie all summer long in this sprawling high-desert reservoir.

June 4, 2026