Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

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Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Eric Morken

Eric Morken is a writer and web editor for Outdoor News who lives in west-central Minnesota with his wife and two daughters. Morken graduated with a journalism degree from Augustana College (now Augustana University) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 2007. He has worked in the journalism field ever since, and his outdoor work has been in print and digital publications across the country. When not writing about the outdoors, Morken is an active participant in them. He can be found doing some casual fishing in the summer and chasing turkeys in the spring, but his passion is centered around bowhunting whitetails. It’s a year-round commitment of scouting and hunting different regions of Minnesota and surrounding states on public and shared-private lands every chance he gets. Contact Morken at emorken@outdoornews.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricOutdoorNews or on Instagram @elmorken.

Three weather conditions bowhunters can use to get more aggressive

I recently wrote a bowhunting column where I encouraged hunters to simplify their approach and focus on a few basics about whitetails.

One of my suggestions was to get into the woods any chance you get regardless of conditions. That said, there are setups that require waiting for specific conditions to hunt them effectively. Here are a few weather factors that allow bowhunters to get more aggressive.

Three weather conditions bowhunters can use to get more aggressive Read More »

Video: Reviewing Iron Will single bevel broadheads after five years of using them

Eric Morken has used a number of different broadheads over 20 years of bowhunting, but he has stuck with Iron Will single bevels the last five seasons because of consistent results that have made it hard to switch.
After using their standard single bevel for a couple of years, he has used Iron Will’s wide single bevels with bleeder blades the last few years and seen great results with them on whitetail hunts in the Upper Midwest where his shots are all at less than 35 yards.

Video: Reviewing Iron Will single bevel broadheads after five years of using them Read More »

Dove hunters a small but passionate group in Minnesota

September means the start of another hunting season in Minnesota, and one season that kicks things off won’t draw a ton of fanfare.
Mourning doves don’t rise to the popularity of other small-game in the state like waterfowl, grouse and pheasants. But the Sept. 1 dove opener is a fun tradition for the 5,600 or so hunters who pursue these small, speedy birds.
“I’d be hard-pressed to imagine that you’re not hooked if you get a limit of doves once,” the DNR’s New London area wildlife supervisor, Cory Netland, said.

Dove hunters a small but passionate group in Minnesota Read More »

Another View: The habitat issue and its role in overcrowding public lands

Out-of-state hunting trips are one of my favorite parts of each fall season, but it’s getting harder to find nearby places to travel for Minnesota deer hunters.
I have bowhunted whitetails on public and private land in Missouri, South Dakota, and North Dakota. All three states have now implemented some sort of regulation change to limit opportunities for nonresidents on public land.

Another View: The habitat issue and its role in overcrowding public lands Read More »

Focus on a few fundamental truths for a better bowhunting season

I got a text from a friend who has been putting many hours in scouting for whitetails this year.
He was seeing good sign on a big piece of public land – scrapes, rubs, and great trail systems indicating many deer are using the property. At the end of the day, he found himself with plenty of information but no real plan on exactly how to hunt the sign he was finding. My buddy is in his early 20s and what he’s going through gave me flashbacks to what I went through at that age.

Focus on a few fundamental truths for a better bowhunting season Read More »

What’s the perfect archery release? Get the most out of your release aid

P.J. Reilly has likely shot as many release aids as almost anybody in the archery world.
Now in his 14th year with Lancaster Archery Supply, Reilly is a public face for the huge archery retailer based in Lancaster, Pa. He is an avid bowhunter and has written “best-of” gear reviews on releases based on his testing, along with hosting countless video reviews for Lancaster’s social media channels. Reilly figures he has shot more than 100 release aids. So what is the top quality that he is looking for out of a good release for bowhunters?

What’s the perfect archery release? Get the most out of your release aid Read More »

Push is on to create a ‘citizens conservation advisory council’ in Minnesota

Almost 40 states have some form of a citizens conservation advisory council with members who are advocates for their state’s natural resources.
The role of these citizen councils is to advise their state natural resources agency and politicians on policy that is important to game, fish and wildlife issues. Minnesota is one state without such a council or board, but the group that organized Minnesota’s first Duck Summit this past March to address concerns about duck hunting in the state is pushing to change that.

Push is on to create a ‘citizens conservation advisory council’ in Minnesota Read More »

Gear review: First impressions of the Carbon Synergy climbing sticks from Latitude Outdoors

Eric Morken recently got the new Carbon Synergy climbing sticks from Latitude Outdoors after hunting with a set of carbon sticks from a different company the last few years that did not meet his expectations.
In this video gear review, Morken shares his thoughts on how these Carbon Synergy sticks compare in all the important areas that make for a great climbing stick for mobile hunters.

Gear review: First impressions of the Carbon Synergy climbing sticks from Latitude Outdoors Read More »

DNR asks public to assist in monitoring Minnesota turkeys by reporting sightings this summer

With wild turkeys now firmly established in the state and hunting for them as popular as ever, the Minnesota DNR is placing more emphasis on monitoring turkey populations. Hunters have an opportunity to assist in the efforts.
The DNR is asking the public to report all of their pheasant and turkey sightings through an online survey open from July through August. It’s part of a nationwide effort initiated by the National Wild Turkey Federation as state agencies share important information on turkeys.

DNR asks public to assist in monitoring Minnesota turkeys by reporting sightings this summer Read More »

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