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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.

Whitetail harvest of antlerless deer, mature bucks both jump in latest national deer report

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Hunting, National News, New York, News, News, News, News, News, News, News, News, News, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

The National Deer Association released its annual deer report on Jan. 15 that takes a close look at nearly everything pertaining to whitetails, including detailed harvest and hunter information, from across the country. 
Two things that stood out: whitetail hunters in the U.S. shot more than 3 million antlerless deer for just the third time in 11 years, and the percentage of 3 ½-year-old and older bucks in the antlered buck harvest was the highest ever recorded.

Whitetail harvest of antlerless deer, mature bucks both jump in latest national deer report Read More »

Commentary: Time to remove Minnesota’s ‘aggregate’ bag limit for deer

Leave a Comment / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, Opinion /

Many states might have a deer-hunting law or two that leave hunters scratching their heads. But, for the most part, regulations are created for good reasons.
I typically don’t have a problem with Minnesota’s deer-hunting regs, but I came upon one recently that makes little sense and contradicts the messaging hunters hear from DNR deer managers. It’s worth pointing out.

Commentary: Time to remove Minnesota’s ‘aggregate’ bag limit for deer Read More »

Latitude’s Method III or Lonestar saddle? My pick after a full season of hunting in them

Gear & Gadgets, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Hunting, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

I wasn’t necessarily close to giving up saddle hunting after my first year trying it in 2018, but I left that season hoping I was missing something in terms of how to hunt comfortably.
So much has changed for the better for saddle hunters today. Saddle hunting has become popular among mobile hunters, and many companies have entered the market. That has led to competition and creative ideas that push saddle-makers to produce better products.

Latitude’s Method III or Lonestar saddle? My pick after a full season of hunting in them Read More »

Want a more efficient whitetail rut in 2026? Start brainstorming now

Featured, Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Hunting, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

The month of November ushers in a mix of emotions for whitetail fanatics. Primarily, it’s excitement, sure. But at least for me, there’s also some added pressure.
It’s not external pressure. Nobody else really cares if I shoot a buck. It’s the fact that so much mental and physical energy is exerted throughout the year, leading up to that two-week period.

Want a more efficient whitetail rut in 2026? Start brainstorming now Read More »

Target staging areas in late October for better bowhunting; here’s what they look like

Featured, Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Hunting, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

There were fresh deer droppings and tracks all over a corner of the beanfield that had just been combined during the previous week.
The problem? The corner was 15 yards from a well-traveled road with homes all along it as it winds around one of the most popular lakes in this area of Minnesota. Deer were certainly feeding here under the cover of darkness. So, where were they entering the field and how could I catch them during daylight?

Target staging areas in late October for better bowhunting; here’s what they look like Read More »

Near-ideal conditions set up promising deer season in many parts of Minnesota

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting /

A year ago, wildlife officials with the Minnesota DNR were quick to caution that one mild winter might not move the needle in a big way when it comes to what deer hunters could expect to see during the state’s 2024 gun season.
Now, the question is what will a second straight year of similar weather conditions mean for the deer herd as hunters head to the woods for the firearms opener Nov. 8?

Near-ideal conditions set up promising deer season in many parts of Minnesota Read More »

Want to try winter camping? Here’s the must-have gear and knowledge to make it a great experience

Featured, Featured, Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, National Hunting, Nature Page & Night Sky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

Outdoor users in Minnesota may know Blane Klemek as the northwest region wildlife manager with the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

That job with an emphasis on wildlife and the outdoors certainly fits with how Klemek lives his life. He’s a passionate adventurer focused on fishing, hunting, and camping. For 25 years he has gone on winter camping trips, usually with about five other friends in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota.
“Sometimes it can be an absolute challenge with cold temperatures and snowfall,” Klemek said. “But with experienced people, many hands make light work.”

Want to try winter camping? Here’s the must-have gear and knowledge to make it a great experience Read More »

A quick chat with wild turkey expert Dr. Michael Chamberlain

Home Page News, National Hunting, Quick Chats /

Back in 2011, wildlife researchers began noticing a trend: declining wild turkey numbers in parts of the country. The initial concern focused on southern states and the southern Midwest.
“Originally that’s where the concerns kind of blossomed,” said Dr. Michael Chamberlain, a National Wild Turkey Federation distinguished professor at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “But I think the evidence is pretty clear that since then there’s a growing recognition that populations are declining in a number of other states, including some of the northeastern states and some of the Upper Midwest states.”

A quick chat with wild turkey expert Dr. Michael Chamberlain Read More »

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