AUSTIN, Minn — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says hunting was excellent in not-so-perfect conditions Saturday during the Governor's Pheasant Opener in Austin Saturday.
Despite standing crops due to wet conditions and a delayed harvest, 170 registered hunters harvested 44 roosters, one of them by Governor Tim Walz himself.
Besides the hunt itself, those who attended enjoyed a dog parade, dock dog demonstrations, live music by nationally-known artists and the dedication of land that is destined to be Mower County’s newest parcel of public hunting grounds.
DNR officials also announced that
Next year’s Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener will take place in Fairmont. The capital of Martin County, Fairmont is dubbed “Bacon Capital USA” and has a population of 10,666.
The Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener was established in 2011 to highlight Minnesota’s hunting heritage and the economic impact the sport makes across the sate. Every year, hunting in Minnesota is enjoyed by more than half a million people who spend $725 million annually on hunting-related expenditures across the state.
