Minnesota sits on the northern fringe of the pheasant range. But ringnecks do just fine in the North Star state. So do ringneck hunters. When upland bird hunters dream of traveling for a pheasant hunt, South Dakota usually tops the list of most-desired states, with North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, and previously Iowa, close behind. Few mention Minnesota as a serious go-to ringneck hunting destination. That’s ruffed grouse country, right? True enough … for the state’s north-central and northeastern reaches. But across much of the rest of Minnesota—essentially the state’s western and southern half—a different gamebird reigns.
Let’s look at Minnesota’s pheasants, explore the ample hunting opportunities, and hone in on the state’s best ringneck areas.
Minnesota’s Pheasant Country
While a rough Minnesota winter can kill pheasants, good habitat makes the difference for survival. Pheasants Forever (PF) started in Minnesota in 1982, and the state has benefited from many habitat projects. Those investments continue to pay pheasant dividends.
Minnesota boasts 75 PF chapters and 25,000 members statewide. That represents the largest PF membership in any state—by nearly 5,000 members. Altogether, PF has spent nearly $70 million to complete 26,785 habitat projects in Minnesota since the organization was founded in St. Paul.
Those habitat accomplishments include 467 land acquisitions totaling more than 43,000 acres. Each of those acres is now open to public hunting. In total, PF projects have improved nearly 250,000 acres for wildlife in Minnesota.
Excellent Access
One of the biggest attractions of a Minnesota hunt is the sheer volume of acreage available for public-land pheasant hunting. Check it out:
Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)
Minnesota’s WMA system is the envy of other states. With 1,440 properties totaling more than 1.29 million acres, you have plenty of room to roam. Excellent concentrations of WMAs exist across the pheasant range. Visit the Minnesota DNR website to use an interactive tool and locate WMAs to hunt.
Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs)
They’re not just for ducks! More than 1,000 federal WPAs, marked by green and white signs and totaling 175,000-plus acres, dot Minnesota pheasant country. Some of this acreage is water, but much is grassland and cattail sloughs—perfect for pheasants. You must use non-toxic shot on WPAs.
To find WPAs, use the DNR’s Recreation Compass, or check out the PRIM Maps (Public Recreation Information Maps).
Walk-In Access (WIA) Program
This young program had almost 21,000 acres of private land enrolled in 2014, all of it with high-quality wildlife habitat in pheasant country and open to public hunting. The acreage should grow in 2015. Parcels are marked with yellow and black hexagonal signs. Find WIA opportunities here.
Ask-and-Hunt Freelancing Tips
A courteous hunter asking a landowner for hunting permission has a good chance of getting a “yes” if it isn’t opening weekend (when many farmers have guests and family hunting) or the first weekend of deer season (Nov. 7 and 8 this year).
Best Ringneck Regions
Only half of Minnesota may be pheasant range, but that’s still a lot of country to cover. Focus on one of the state’s best pheasant-producing areas, or venture to some sleeper spots that aren’t always on ringneck chasers’ radar screens.
Southwest
The southwestern quadrant of Lincoln, Lyon, Pipestone, Murray, Rock and Nobles counties is Minnesota’s pheasant ground-zero. Excellent and extensive public land hunting opportunities abound. The friendly town of Marshall makes a perfect base of operations.
| Photo by Steven Earley |
West Central
The Upper Minnesota River Valley (Lac qui Parle, Chippewa, Big Stone and Swift counties) can be as good as the southwest.
South Central
Jackson and Martin counties along the Iowa border produce decent numbers of birds.
Central Farmland
The country immediately north of the Twin Cities, where farmland and big woods meet, can produce reliable pheasant hunting. There is plenty of cover in the form of wetlands and shrublands, butting up to active agriculture. Look to Mille Lacs, Kanabec and Isanti counties.
Sleeper Pockets
East-central Minnesota (specifically Chisago and Pine counties) has good pheasant habitat and bird numbers. The lower Minnesota River Valley and surrounding farmlands, especially around Mankato, offer plenty of good habitat and hunting. The northwest fringe of the state’s pheasant country—Otter Tail, Grant and Douglas counties—can produce great numbers of birds after a mild winter, which 2014-15 was.
This year, Minnesota’s pheasant season runs from Oct. 10 through Jan. 3, 2016. Shooting hours start daily at 9 a.m. and end at sunset.
You might not shoot a Minnesota limit of two roosters in an hour. But if you work hard, you’ll probably come up with a brace of birds over the course of a hunting day. And that’s just about what any serious pheasant hunter would ask for.
Mankato to Host 2015 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Opener
In a state where walleyes and whitetails are kings, and both have their own annual “Governor’s Opener” events, it is significant that the ringnecked pheasant is the only other game to have the same honor. This year the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener will be held in Mankato on Oct. 9 and 10.
Mankato, a bustling and outdoors-loving college town of 40,000 set in the pastoral Minnesota River Valley about 90 miles southwest of the Twin Cities, is surrounded by more than 9,000 acres of public hunting opportunities (much of it good pheasant habitat) within 20 miles of town.
There will be a celebratory banquet Friday evening, followed by plenty of pheasant hunting and a land dedication ceremony on Saturday. While the hunting event isn’t open to the public, anyone is welcome to hunt in the Mankato area and beyond on opening day.
Check the DNR website for grouse, pheasant and waterfowl hunting areas, as well as season information and a handy checklist of things you’ll need on the hunt. Hunters can also sign up for updates by e-mail during the hunting season.