Minnesota Pheasant Numbers Soar Nearly 50% as Hunters Gear Up for 2025 Opener

(KNSI) – Minnesota’s pheasant hunters have plenty to be excited about as the 2025 season opens Saturday morning, with bird populations up nearly 50% from last year. The good news extends across all regions of Minnesota’s pheasant range.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the surge in pheasant numbers comes after a mild winter and favorable spring conditions that helped the bird’s population rebound across the state. Survey-wide pheasant numbers show 75.2 birds per 100 miles compared to 51.2 birds per 100 miles in 2024.

According to DNR surveys, hunters looking for the best opportunities should focus on the Southwest, South Central, and West Central regions.

First released in Minnesota in 1916, the ring-necked pheasant has become one of the state’s most popular upland game birds. The birds thrive in grassland habitats, typically found in rural areas near fields and grain crops like corn.

The Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener is being held in Ortonville this year.

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