Sunday, May 31, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Crater Lake Rim Backpacking: Oregon's Most Scenic High-Route Overnight

Crater Lake Rim Backpacking: Oregon's Most Scenic High-Route Overnight

The 33-mile Crater Lake Rim provides one of Oregon's most dramatic and underrated backpacking experiences. Here's how to plan a 2-3 day rim route above North America's deepest lake.

By HFR Staff  ·  May 31, 2026
Hunting Rifle Cleaning and Maintenance: A Season-Ready Bore-to-Stock Guide
Shooting

Hunting Rifle Cleaning and Maintenance: A Season-Ready Bore-to-Stock Guide

A dirty or neglected rifle will fail you at the worst possible moment. Here's how to properly clean, inspect, and maintain your hunting rifle from bore to stock — before the season starts and after the last shot.

May 31, 2026
Reloading 12-Gauge Slugs: Custom Deer Loads for Oregon Cascade Hunters
Reloading

Reloading 12-Gauge Slugs: Custom Deer Loads for Oregon Cascade Hunters

Rolling your own 12-gauge slug loads delivers real accuracy and performance advantages over factory fodder. Here's a practical guide to components, presses, and load data that works in the wet Oregon Cascades.

May 31, 2026
Oregon Cougar Hunting: Tags, Hound Hunting, and Pursuing the Pacific Northwest's Ghost Cat
Hunting

Oregon Cougar Hunting: Tags, Hound Hunting, and Pursuing the Pacific Northwest's Ghost Cat

Mountain lion populations are thriving across Oregon. Here's what you need to know about tags, hound hunting regulations, and the DIY spot-and-stalk tactics for one of the West's most challenging and rewarding predator hunts.

May 31, 2026
Coho Salmon on Oregon's Coastal Rivers: Fall Run Tactics for Rain-Swollen Streams
Fishing

Coho Salmon on Oregon's Coastal Rivers: Fall Run Tactics for Rain-Swollen Streams

Oregon's fall coho run peaks October through November on coastal streams. Here's how to find and land chrome-bright silvers on rivers like the Nestucca, Siletz, and Alsea.

May 31, 2026
Crossbow Hunting in Oregon: Regulations, Equipment, and Tactics
Archery

Crossbow Hunting in Oregon: Regulations, Equipment, and Tactics

Oregon expanded crossbow hunting access significantly in recent years. Here's what you need to know about when and where you can hunt with a crossbow, what equipment makes sense, and how to adapt your deer and elk tactics.

May 30, 2026
Reloading the .280 Ackley Improved: The Perfect Western Big Game Cartridge
Reloading

Reloading the .280 Ackley Improved: The Perfect Western Big Game Cartridge

The .280 Ackley Improved offers everything a western hunter needs — flat trajectory, manageable recoil, excellent terminal performance on elk and mule deer — and reloading for it is more straightforward than most shooters expect.

May 30, 2026
Mountain Quail Hunting in Oregon's Western Cascades
Hunting

Mountain Quail Hunting in Oregon's Western Cascades

Oregon's mountain quail are the biggest native quail in North America — and hunting them in the steep, brushy Cascade foothills is some of the most physically demanding upland bird work you'll find anywhere.

May 30, 2026
Fly Fishing the Metolius River: Oregon's Legendary Spring Creek
Fishing

Fly Fishing the Metolius River: Oregon's Legendary Spring Creek

The Metolius is one of Oregon's most unique and challenging fly fisheries — a crystal-clear spring creek loaded with wild redbands that see plenty of pressure. Here's how to approach it right.

May 30, 2026
Dry Fire Training at Home: Building Trigger Control and Marksmanship Without Burning Ammo
Shooting

Dry Fire Training at Home: Building Trigger Control and Marksmanship Without Burning Ammo

Dry fire is the single highest-ROI practice tool available to any shooter. Here's how to build a structured at-home dry fire program that will sharpen your marksmanship before the next hunt or match.

May 29, 2026