Wednesday, May 27, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Compound Bow Release Aids for Bowhunters: Index Trigger, Hinge, and Thumb Button Explained

Compound Bow Release Aids for Bowhunters: Index Trigger, Hinge, and Thumb Button Explained

Choosing the right release aid is one of the most impactful decisions a compound bowhunter can make. Here's a practical breakdown of the three main types — index trigger, hinge, and thumb button — and which one fits your hunting style.

By HFR Staff  ·  May 27, 2026
Hells Canyon Wilderness: A 4-Day Rim-to-River Backpacking Route on the Oregon Side
Backpacking

Hells Canyon Wilderness: A 4-Day Rim-to-River Backpacking Route on the Oregon Side

Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America, and its Oregon side offers some of the most dramatic and seldom-traveled backpacking in the Pacific Northwest. Here's a practical guide to the Hat Point to Dug Bar route.

May 27, 2026
Reloading the .357 Magnum: Versatile Loads for Revolver and Lever-Action Hunters
Reloading

Reloading the .357 Magnum: Versatile Loads for Revolver and Lever-Action Hunters

The .357 Magnum is one of the most versatile cartridges a handloader can work with — capable of everything from mild plinking loads to serious deer medicine from a lever-action rifle. Here's how to get the most out of it.

May 27, 2026
Columbia River Shad Fishing: Oregon's Hardest-Fighting Spring Run
Fishing

Columbia River Shad Fishing: Oregon's Hardest-Fighting Spring Run

The American shad run hits the Columbia every May and June, stacking up fish by the millions — and most Oregon anglers are still sleeping on it. Here's how to get in on one of the Northwest's most action-packed fisheries.

May 27, 2026
Largemouth Bass Fishing at Fern Ridge Reservoir: Oregon's Best Warmwater Opportunity Near Eugene
Fishing

Largemouth Bass Fishing at Fern Ridge Reservoir: Oregon's Best Warmwater Opportunity Near Eugene

Fern Ridge Reservoir west of Eugene is Oregon's most productive largemouth bass fishery. Here's how to fish it from early summer through fall—launch ramps, structure, lures, and tactics that actually work.

May 26, 2026
Reloading the 6.5 Grendel: Efficient AR-Platform Loads for Deer Hunting and Long-Range Varmints
Reloading

Reloading the 6.5 Grendel: Efficient AR-Platform Loads for Deer Hunting and Long-Range Varmints

The 6.5 Grendel punches well above its weight in an AR-15 package. Here's how to reload it for maximum performance—from deer hunting loads to flat-shooting varmint rounds.

May 26, 2026
Waldo Lake Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Oregon's Highest Natural Lake
Backpacking

Waldo Lake Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Oregon's Highest Natural Lake

Waldo Lake sits at 5,414 feet in the Oregon Cascades and is one of the clearest, purest lakes in the world. Here's how to plan a 3-day loop through the surrounding wilderness.

May 26, 2026
Hunting Dusky Grouse in Oregon's Cascades: Timber Birds, Elevation, and the September Opener
Hunting

Hunting Dusky Grouse in Oregon's Cascades: Timber Birds, Elevation, and the September Opener

Dusky grouse are underutilized, underappreciated, and surprisingly challenging. Here's where to find them in Oregon's Cascades, what gear to bring, and how to hunt them effectively.

May 26, 2026
Thermal and Night Vision Optics for Oregon Predator Hunters: A Practical Buyer's Guide
Shooting

Thermal and Night Vision Optics for Oregon Predator Hunters: A Practical Buyer's Guide

Thermal and digital night vision have transformed predator hunting. Here's what Oregon hunters need to know about legality, technology, and choosing the right setup without wasting money.

May 26, 2026
Oregon Offshore Albacore Tuna Fishing: Timing, Tackle, and Finding the Blue Water
Fishing

Oregon Offshore Albacore Tuna Fishing: Timing, Tackle, and Finding the Blue Water

Every summer, Pacific albacore tuna push north into Oregon waters aboard warm blue currents. Here's how to find them, rig for them, and bring a cooler full of the best-eating fish in the ocean back to the dock.

May 25, 2026