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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.

Video shows evidence of reproducing cougar population in Minnesota for first time in more than 100 years

Featured, Home Page News, Minnesota, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News /

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced today that for the first time in more than 100 years, evidence of cougars reproducing in Minnesota was documented in video captured by the University of Minnesota’s Voyageurs Wolf Project.
The footage, which was captured on March 25 and first seen by researchers when the cameras were collected this past Sunday, April 26, shows a female cougar with three large kittens.

Video shows evidence of reproducing cougar population in Minnesota for first time in more than 100 years Read More »

Minnesota’s early turkey kill drops from 2025 as hunters deal with poor weekend weather

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

Minnesota’s spring turkey hunters did not catch a break with the weather during the early portion of the season, and harvest numbers so far seem to be reflecting that.
Snow in early April made things feel a bit like winter in some parts of the state ahead of the April 15 opener for the first seven-day firearms season. Hunters who could hunt weekdays during the A season had good conditions in some areas, but the weekend was cold and windy.

Minnesota’s early turkey kill drops from 2025 as hunters deal with poor weekend weather Read More »

Results from FFS study part of talkers at MN-Fish Summit in Alexandria

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing, National News, News /

Minnesota’s fishing advocacy organization, MN-FISH, hosted more than 230 people for its 2026 Angler’s Summit last Friday, April 17, with almost eight hours of programming.
It was an opportunity to celebrate fishing in the state, air concerns, learn about fisheries-related research, and discuss the role that anglers play in preserving the state’s fisheries.

Results from FFS study part of talkers at MN-Fish Summit in Alexandria Read More »

Minnesota’s 2025 hunting year one of safest ever

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

Last year was one of the safest years for Minnesota hunters in state history in terms of the number of hunting-related incidents reported across all seasons.
There was just one injury reported in 2025. That’s down from 14 incidents in 2024, which included a fatality from Clay County during the firearms deer season.

Minnesota’s 2025 hunting year one of safest ever Read More »

Another View: A two-bird bag limit for Minnesota spring turkeys? A bit of caution advised

10 Comments / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, Opinion /

The story of the wild turkey in Minnesota and at a national level is an amazing tale, but is also an often frustrating story to watch unfold.
That was my initial thought after talking with DNR Upland Gamebird Consultant Roy Churchwell about Minnesota possibly increasing its bag limit to two birds during the spring season, at least for areas where the best bird numbers exist.

Another View: A two-bird bag limit for Minnesota spring turkeys? A bit of caution advised Read More »

Another good turkey season on tap in Minnesota? Prospects look favorable

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

Years ago, when Ralph Warzecha wanted to hunt turkeys he traveled east to states like Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New York.
There were no turkeys around his home near Eagle Bend in central Minnesota and he never thought there would be. He’s glad he was wrong about that.
“They’re here and it’s awesome,” Warzecha said.

Another good turkey season on tap in Minnesota? Prospects look favorable Read More »

Northern Minnesota whitetails await green-up after relatively ‘normal’ winter

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News /

This winter might be called “normal” across northern Minnesota when it comes to its impact on whitetails.
The most-recent Winter Severity Index map shows that the large majority of northern Minnesota counties have fallen into a moderate WSI category this year. The exception is in the far northeast in Lake and Cook counties, where pockets in both areas reached “severe” winter readings.

Northern Minnesota whitetails await green-up after relatively ‘normal’ winter Read More »

Innovative wild turkey research starting in Minnesota

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

Conducting the research in a CWD Management Zone in Minnesota poses challenges for the researchers as bait cannot be placed without having control measures around the bait to exclude deer. The box traps are used where birds can get in through a gate in the cage but then can’t exit.

Innovative wild turkey research starting in Minnesota Read More »

Small conservation group honored for doing big work in western Minnesota

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Fishing, National Hunting, Nature Page & Night Sky, News /

Since 1986, the Minnesota Chapter of The Wildlife Society has handed out an annual conservation award that recognizes organizations and individuals that show outstanding commitment to the state’s natural resources.
This year’s Conservation Award went to a small group in western Minnesota that does big work for wildlife.

Small conservation group honored for doing big work in western Minnesota Read More »

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