Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener comes to Ortonville

ORTONVILLE, Minn. (KVRR) — Gov. Tim Walz celebrating the 13th annual Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener in Ortonville and Big Stone County.

That’s about two hours southeast of Fargo.

His hunting party harvested two roosters Saturday morning.

Walz applauded the vital conservation work being done by organizations in Big Stone County and across Minnesota’s pheasant range.

“Thank you to the people of Ortonville and Big Stone County for this memorable celebration of community and our pheasant hunting traditions,” said Governor Walz. “As a lifelong pheasant hunter, I applaud the vital conservation work being done by organizations in Big Stone County and across our state’s pheasant range. It is the incredible conservation work and the outpouring of support from community volunteers that makes this sport and this event possible.”

According to the DNR’s August roadside survey, the state’s pheasant population has jumped around 50% from last year, 21% above the 10-year average.