Improved Pheasant Hunting Forecast for Minnesota, Dakotas

Minnesota wildlife officials forecast improved pheasant hunting this season following summer surveys that indicated an 18 percent increase in the population.

“The weather really cooperated this year in terms of producing favorable nesting conditions,” a release quoted DNR biologist Tim Lyons. 

Weather and habitat are the main drivers of pheasant population trends with weather causing annual fluctuations while habitat drives long-term population trends. The 2022 pheasant count also exceeded the 10-year average by a similar amount.

Public lands across the state are open for hunting through January 1, as are private lands enrolled in the state’s Walk-in-Access program. An online mapping tool can help hunters locate public hunting grounds and private land enrolled in the WIA program. For more information, go online at: mndnr.gov/ Hunting/Pheasant

 North Dakota’s summer survey indicated that pheasant and also gray partridge were up significantly. Most partridge are taken incidentally by hunters pursuing pheasants. But with partridge numbers up, there may be pockets where it pays to focus on them. Upland seasons in South Dakota also remain open until the end of the year.

A report from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks forecast a similar boost in pheasant numbers for the nation’s top pheasant hunting destination.

“What I’m hearing over and over again, especially north of I-90, is that the numbers are up,” a release quoted Matt Morlock, South Dakota’s state coordinator with Pheasants Forever. “Some friends of mine are saying 25 to 40 percent up on their land.”

South Dakota pheasant season is open through the end of January.

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