fbpx
Author

Patrick Durkin

Patrick Durkin
President at Wisconsin Outdoor Communicators Association
Patrick Durkin is a lifelong bowhunter and full-time freelance outdoor writer/editor who lives in Waupaca, Wisconsin. He has covered hunting, fishing and outdoor issues since 1983. His work appears regularly in national hunting publications, and his weekly outdoors column has appeared regularly in over 20 Wisconsin newspapers since 1984.
Latest Articles
father daughter deer hunt
Father, Daughter Arrow Big Bucks From Shared Stand

The father/daughter Hansen team from Wisconsin share a deer blind and pull off the hunt of a lifetime. Here's their story.

durkin packing meat
Packing Out Elk Conjures Up a Sad Ghost

A lot of things will go through your mind when you're packing out elk. Memories - good or bad - will flood the mind on the long hike off the mountain.

durkin with bull
Idaho Bull Elk Helps Feed the Family

A tough week in elk camp ends with a Idaho bull elk on the ground and meat to feed the family waiting back home.

CowbirdsDeerFlies1BH
Cowbirds Ride Whitetails to Feast on Deer Flies

Cowbirds are hated by some, but deer tend to benefit from them to help fight deer flies.

1,Turkey,Deer-StealthCamPhoto
Turkeys Still Sparking Conspiracy Theories

Are turkeys to blame in the decline of other species? Here's a look at the facts surrounding wild turkey populations and their impact on the system.

rinella-sippin
Marriage Tips for Hunters from Rinella and Newberg

Hunting can be tough on a marriage. Here's a look at some marriage tips for hunters from Steven Rinella and Randy Newberg.

WinterImpactsDeerGrouse2018
Winter Impact on Deer

What impact does winter weather play on northern deer herds? Here's a look at the numbers on winter impact on deer in the north.

ShedAntlerDogs,RookieWhitetail-feature
How to Turn Your Dog Into a Shed Dog

Have you considered using your current dog as a shed dog? Will it work? Here's a look at how to turn your dog into a shed dog.

john-dingell
Goodbye to Bowhunting Friend, Congressman Dingell

Pat Durkin pays tribute to bowhunting friend, Congressman Dingell, who recently passed away following years of service to his country.

Skeptics remain vocal even as chronic wasting disease spreads and worsens in white-tailed deer around the country.
Is CWD Worse Than EHD in Whitetail Deer?

Is CWD worse than EHD in whitetail deer? This was one of many questions that surfaced at a recent panel discussion on the CWD topic in Louisville, KY.

LateBowhunt,FleeingDeer-StealthCam
Doe Hunt Ends 48-Year Late-Season Bowhunting Drought

A last minute, late-season doe hunt ends a 48-year drought for the author as he wraps up the 2018-2019 bowhunting season in Wisconsin.

dave-with-bull
Dreadlocks Dave Gets His Bull Elk

Even when chasing bull elk in the middle of nowhere, you realize just how small a world we live in. Just ask Durkin and Dreadlocks Dave.

idaho-landscape
Some Share Public Lands Better than Others

When hunting public land, you just never who, or what, you might encounter along the way.

GreatGray-MartenOnBranch,WisDNR,photo
Fellow Predators Outshine this Bowhunter

One bowhunter is humbled by the skill of other predators he encounters in the wild places their share for the hunt.

tinks-scrape-bomb-covert
Making Mock Scrapes That Work

Here's a look at the good, bad and ugly when it comes to making mock scrapes on the properties you deer hunt this season.

LWCF-Reauthorize---moose-in-pond
Conservation Fund Needs Bowhuntersโ€™ Support

Conservation efforts need support from bowhunters like never before. Here's what is happening this month and the impact it could have.

deer-camp-firewood
Deer Camp Shack Needs a Large Team to Deliver its Heat

It takes a team to pull off all the chores necessary to make deer camp a success and run smoothly throughout the year and season after season.

horseback hunting
Should Other Outdoor Groups Pay as Much as Hunters for Conservation?

What would it look like if other outdoor groups paid as much as hunters for conservation?

Hunting Camp Ghosts Still Haunt Me 20 Years Later

Do you believe in ghosts? The stories of hunting camp ghosts in Alabama have stayed with author, Pat Durkin, for the last two decades.

fawn rescue
What Should You Do When You Find a Fawn?

It's hard not to want to help when we come across a deer fawn in the wild. But what should you do when you find a fawn?