Minnesota hunters kick off 2022 pheasant season

Minnesota hunters kicked off the 2022 pheasant season at 9 a.m. Saturday as temperatures hung in the 30s from a cold overnight before promises of a warmer afternoon.

Gov. Tim Walz joined Nobles County pheasant hunters for the Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener, which was preceded by community events on Friday. The governor’s office announced Saturday that the 2023 pheasant hunting opener will be held in Owatonna.

The 2022 pheasant season is set to run through the new year, and for the Vermillion Highlands counties of Dakota and Goodhue, the season will run Dec. 12 through Jan. 1 due to special designation.

Minnesota pheasant hunters should be aware of the following guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

• People ages 16-64 must purchase a small game license and pheasant stamp.
• Pheasant hunters must wear at least one visible article of clothing above the waist – including hats, jackets and vests – that is blaze orange or pink.
• Hunting is allowed from 9 a.m. to sunset.
• Pheasants harvested in the field then transported must have one leg or a fully feathered wing attached.
• A person may not shoot pheasants with a rifle or handgun other than a .22 caliber rimfire using short, long or long rifle ammunition.
• Shotguns used for pheasant hunting may hold more than three shells.
• Visit this DNR link to learn more about hunting ranges and daily/possession limits.

If you plan to join the action this fall and winter, stay prepared with the latest KSTP weather information. Find more hunting information here.