Wednesday, September 9, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Category

Archery

36 articles

Treestand Placement for Oregon Archery Elk: Reading Terrain, Trails, and Funnels in the Cascade Foothills

Treestand Placement for Oregon Archery Elk: Reading Terrain, Trails, and Funnels in the Cascade Foothills

Most Oregon elk hunters think about the ground. But a well-placed treestand in the right funnel during the rut gives you a scent and visibility advantage nothing else matches.

By HFR Staff  · August 26, 2026
Archery Mule Deer on Oregon's Biggs Unit: Columbia Basin Sagebrush Bucks

Archery Mule Deer on Oregon's Biggs Unit: Columbia Basin Sagebrush Bucks

The Biggs Unit offers some of the most underrated archery mule deer hunting in Oregon. Here's how to scout, stalk, and arrow a Columbia Basin buck before the crowds arrive.

By HFR Staff  · August 25, 2026
Paper Tuning Your Compound Bow: A Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Arrow Flight Before Oregon's Season

Paper Tuning Your Compound Bow: A Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Arrow Flight Before Oregon's Season

Paper tuning is the fastest, most reliable way to confirm your compound bow is launching arrows with a clean nock-high bullet hole. Here's how to do it right before Oregon's August archery opener.

By HFR Staff  · August 22, 2026
Arrow Speed vs. Arrow Weight for Bowhunters: The Trade-Off and Why Heavy Arrows Win in Timber Country

Arrow Speed vs. Arrow Weight for Bowhunters: The Trade-Off and Why Heavy Arrows Win in Timber Country

Every bowhunter faces this choice: shoot fast and light, or slow and heavy. The physics are settled. The right answer depends on where you hunt — and for most Pacific Northwest elk and deer hunters, heavy is right.

By HFR Staff  · August 21, 2026
Bow Quivers for Hunting: Hip, Back, and Bow-Mounted Options for Oregon Deer and Elk Hunters

Bow Quivers for Hunting: Hip, Back, and Bow-Mounted Options for Oregon Deer and Elk Hunters

Your bow quiver rarely gets discussed until it causes a problem at the worst moment. Before Oregon's archery opener, here's how to choose the right system — and how to actually practice with it.

By HFR Staff  · August 9, 2026
Blood Trailing and Recovery After the Shot: A Complete Guide for Oregon Deer and Elk Hunters

Blood Trailing and Recovery After the Shot: A Complete Guide for Oregon Deer and Elk Hunters

What you do in the minutes after the shot determines whether you recover that animal. This complete guide covers reading blood sign, when to wait, systematic search techniques, and recovery in Oregon's varied terrain.

By HFR Staff  · August 8, 2026
Field Judging Bull Elk Antlers Before Drawing Your Bow: A Western Bowhunter's Guide

Field Judging Bull Elk Antlers Before Drawing Your Bow: A Western Bowhunter's Guide

You have seconds to decide when a bull steps out. Learn how to use the elk's own body as a measuring stick, read main beam length, tine length, mass, and symmetry — and make the right call before the moment is gone.

By HFR Staff  · August 6, 2026
Low-Light Archery Hunting: Equipment, Setup, and Shot Execution for Oregon's Best 20 Minutes of the Day

Low-Light Archery Hunting: Equipment, Setup, and Shot Execution for Oregon's Best 20 Minutes of the Day

The last 20 minutes of daylight produce more big game encounters than any other window of the day. Here's how to set up your compound bow, choose the right accessories, and execute the shot when the light is barely there.

By HFR Staff  · July 29, 2026
Arrow Spine Selection for Bowhunters: How to Match Your Arrows to Your Setup and Hunting Style

Arrow Spine Selection for Bowhunters: How to Match Your Arrows to Your Setup and Hunting Style

Arrow spine is the single most important variable in tuning a hunting bow — more important than broadhead choice, release style, or even draw weight. Get it wrong and your arrows fly inconsistently regardless of how well you shoot. Get it right and the rest of tuning falls into place almost automatically.

By HFR Staff  · July 27, 2026
Archery Ambush Setup: Reading Sign and Terrain to Kill Deer and Elk on Oregon Public Land

Archery Ambush Setup: Reading Sign and Terrain to Kill Deer and Elk on Oregon Public Land

A good shot starts long before you draw your bow. Here's how to read terrain and animal sign to position your stand or ground blind where Oregon deer and elk will actually be.

By HFR Staff  · July 25, 2026
Flu-Flu Arrows and Small Game Bowhunting in Oregon: The Off-Season Skill Builder That Makes You a Better Hunter

Flu-Flu Arrows and Small Game Bowhunting in Oregon: The Off-Season Skill Builder That Makes You a Better Hunter

Flu-flu arrows and small game bowhunting are the best-kept secret in archery. Here's how Oregon bowhunters use cottontails, grouse, and stump shooting to sharpen their instincts before big game season.

By HFR Staff  · July 20, 2026
Bowhunting in Pacific Northwest Rain: Protecting Your Gear and Making Your Shot When Everything Is Wet

Bowhunting in Pacific Northwest Rain: Protecting Your Gear and Making Your Shot When Everything Is Wet

Oregon bowhunters deal with rain from opening day through the end of the season. Here's how to weatherproof your bow, protect your arrows and broadheads, maintain accuracy in wet conditions, and make the shot count when everything is dripping.

By HFR Staff  · July 19, 2026