Friday, September 25, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Category

Hunting

130 articles

Oregon Fall Rifle Mule Deer: Zone A and B Tactics for Public Land Bucks

Oregon Fall Rifle Mule Deer: Zone A and B Tactics for Public Land Bucks

Zone A sagebrush flats and Zone B Blue Mountain ridges hold good mule deer — but the general rifle season draws crowds. Here's how to beat the pressure and find mature bucks on Oregon public land.

By HFR Staff  · July 14, 2026
Oregon's Warm Springs Unit Archery Mule Deer: High Desert Bucks on Public Land

Oregon's Warm Springs Unit Archery Mule Deer: High Desert Bucks on Public Land

Oregon's Warm Springs Unit archery mule deer season offers over-the-counter tags, massive public land acreage, and shootable bucks in high-desert juniper and sage country. Here's how to scout and execute a successful stalk before the August opener.

By HFR Staff  · July 13, 2026
Glassing Cascade Blacktail Bucks in July: High-Country Velvet Scouting Before Oregon's August Opener

Glassing Cascade Blacktail Bucks in July: High-Country Velvet Scouting Before Oregon's August Opener

The Oregon archery deer opener is five weeks away. Here's how to locate Cascade blacktail bucks right now — when they're in full velvet, feeding hard, and far more visible than they'll ever be again.

By HFR Staff  · July 12, 2026
Oregon's Starkey Unit Archery Elk: DIY Tactics for the Umatilla National Forest

Oregon's Starkey Unit Archery Elk: DIY Tactics for the Umatilla National Forest

The Starkey Unit in northeast Oregon's Umatilla National Forest holds one of the state's most accessible populations of Rocky Mountain elk for archery hunters. Here's how to hunt it smart.

By HFR Staff  · July 11, 2026
Oregon Tag Drawing Strategy: How to Bank Points and Draw Premium Deer, Elk, and Pronghorn Tags

Oregon Tag Drawing Strategy: How to Bank Points and Draw Premium Deer, Elk, and Pronghorn Tags

Oregon's ODFW preference point system rewards patience and planning. Whether you're chasing a Steens pronghorn tag or an archery elk permit in the Wenaha, here's how to build a smart long-term draw strategy.

By HFR Staff  · July 10, 2026
Oregon Specklebelly Goose Hunting: Tactics for White-Fronted Geese on the Pacific Flyway

Oregon Specklebelly Goose Hunting: Tactics for White-Fronted Geese on the Pacific Flyway

Specklebellies are the most rewarding and challenging goose to consistently decoy on the Pacific Flyway. Oregon's Willamette Valley, Klamath Basin, and Columbia River bottoms all hold birds — here's how to hunt them right.

By HFR Staff  · July 9, 2026
Metolius Unit Archery Mule Deer: Ponderosa Bucks and the August Opener in Oregon's High Desert

Metolius Unit Archery Mule Deer: Ponderosa Bucks and the August Opener in Oregon's High Desert

Oregon's Metolius Unit is one of the most underrated OTC archery mule deer tags in the state. Here's how to find velvet bucks in the ponderosa pine country above the Metolius River before the crowds arrive.

By HFR Staff  · July 8, 2026
Hunting Oregon's Silvies Unit for Archery Bull Elk: A Public Land DIY Guide

Hunting Oregon's Silvies Unit for Archery Bull Elk: A Public Land DIY Guide

The Silvies Unit sits in the heart of central Oregon's high desert, offering archery elk hunters a realistic shot at mature bulls on public land. Here's what it takes to do it right on your own.

By HFR Staff  · July 7, 2026
Archery Pronghorn at Oregon's Hart Mountain Unit: Spot-and-Stalk Tactics for High Desert Goats

Archery Pronghorn at Oregon's Hart Mountain Unit: Spot-and-Stalk Tactics for High Desert Goats

Of all the Western archery hunts, few test a bowhunter like archery pronghorn. Oregon's Hart Mountain Unit offers one of the most challenging and rewarding archery pronghorn experiences in the Pacific Northwest. Water hole setups, stalk tactics, gear, and logistics for the open high desert.

By HFR Staff  · July 6, 2026
Oregon 2026 Draw Results Are In: Scouting and Prep Strategies to Make the Most of Your Tag

Oregon 2026 Draw Results Are In: Scouting and Prep Strategies to Make the Most of Your Tag

The 2026 Oregon big game draw results are out. Whether you drew your first-choice elk unit or a backup deer tag, the weeks between now and your opener are the most valuable scouting time of the year.

By HFR Staff  · July 5, 2026
Oregon Archery Elk Season Countdown: July Glassing, Unit Prep, and Opening Day Strategy

Oregon Archery Elk Season Countdown: July Glassing, Unit Prep, and Opening Day Strategy

With Oregon's archery elk opener just weeks away, July is your last window to glass velvet bulls, lock down your unit, and get your body and gear dialed before August hits.

By HFR Staff  · July 3, 2026
Late July Velvet Mule Deer Scouting in Eastern Oregon: Glass, Maps, and Moving Faster Than the Crowds

Late July Velvet Mule Deer Scouting in Eastern Oregon: Glass, Maps, and Moving Faster Than the Crowds

July in Eastern Oregon means velvet bucks are on predictable summer range, visible in the open, and patternable before anyone else is looking. Here is how to find a shooter before the draw results even hit your inbox.

By HFR Staff  · July 2, 2026