Thursday, June 4, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness: A Summer Backpacking Loop Through Southern Oregon's Forgotten High Country

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.

By HFR Staff  ·  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
Hunting Bow Stabilizers: How to Balance Your Setup for Better Accuracy in the Field
Archery

Hunting Bow Stabilizers: How to Balance Your Setup for Better Accuracy in the Field

Most bowhunters run a stabilizer because their bow came with one. Here’s how to actually set one up for your hunting style, understand the physics, and stop leaving accuracy on the table.

June 3, 2026
Bull of the Woods Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Loop Through Oregon’s Northern Cascades Old Growth
Backpacking

Bull of the Woods Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Loop Through Oregon’s Northern Cascades Old Growth

Just an hour from Portland, Bull of the Woods Wilderness offers dense old growth, alpine meadows, and solitude that most Oregon hikers have never found. Here’s the best weekend loop.

June 3, 2026
Reloading the .204 Ruger: Sub-MOA Varmint Loads for Oregon’s Ground Squirrel Season
Reloading

Reloading the .204 Ruger: Sub-MOA Varmint Loads for Oregon’s Ground Squirrel Season

The .204 Ruger is the flattest-shooting, hardest-hitting varmint cartridge most reloaders overlook. Here’s how to build accurate handloads for Oregon’s summer ground squirrel season.

June 3, 2026
Sharp-Tailed Grouse Hunting in Eastern Oregon: Finding the Rarest Upland Bird
Hunting

Sharp-Tailed Grouse Hunting in Eastern Oregon: Finding the Rarest Upland Bird

Oregon’s sharp-tailed grouse population is small, localized, and fiercely protected — but for hunters lucky enough to draw the tag, it’s one of the most unique upland experiences in the Pacific Northwest.

June 3, 2026
Upper Deschutes River Redband Trout: Summer Dry Fly Tactics Above Bend
Fishing

Upper Deschutes River Redband Trout: Summer Dry Fly Tactics Above Bend

The upper Deschutes above Bend holds one of Oregon’s finest populations of wild redband trout. Here’s how to fish it effectively with dry flies all summer long.

June 3, 2026