Pheasant hunting opens this weekend
The Minnesota pheasant hunting season opens at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 15. Hunters should check regulations before they head out into the field. Pheasant hunters ages 16-64 must purchase a small game license and pheasant stamp. Also, all pheasant hunters must wear at least one visible article of clothing above the waist that is blaze orange or pink. Bag and possession limits, pheasant transportation requirements, a hunting prospects map and more information are available on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources pheasant hunting page.
Anyone curious about learning how to hunt pheasants can watch a recorded DNR webinar about pheasant hunting strategies, techniques and how to get started, on the DNR website.
Statewide youth deer season returns Oct. 20-23
Minnesota’s youth deer season will take place statewide Thursday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 23. The season coincides with statewide teacher workshops, so many Minnesota students don’t have school during the youth season.
To participate, youth must be 10-17 years old and have a deer license. Participant numbers are not limited and there is no special permit, so parents should purchase or obtain a regular deer hunting license for the youth who will be hunting.
An adult parent, guardian, or mentor must accompany youth ages 10-13. All hunters and mentors, regardless of whether they are participating in youth deer season, must follow blaze orange or blaze pink clothing requirements. Adults may not hunt unless they are in an area open during the early antlerless season and have the corresponding license. Complete youth season details are available on the DNR youth deer hunting page.
Early antlerless-only deer season is Oct. 20-23
Hunters can participate in an early antlerless-only deer season from Thursday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 23. The season increases opportunities for hunters in areas where deer populations are above population goals or where there is an increased risk of Chronic Wasting Disease. Permit areas open during the hunt are 209, 213, 214, 215, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 227, 229, 236, 240, 277, 341, 342, 343, 604, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 661 and 701.
The DNR offers this opportunity to hunters in an effort to manage local deer herds. This year, the bag limit has been reduced from five to three antlerless deer and hunters are no longer required to obtain an early antlerless permit to participate in the early antlerless season.
To participate, hunters must hunt in one of the 28 open deer permit areas and use a deer license that matches the weapon used during the season (for example, using a firearm for a firearms season license or archery equipment for an archery license). Hunters have the option of using their regular season parent license or they can use early antlerless permits, bonus permits, or disease management permits (only in 600-series permit areas) to fill the limit. Deer hunting regulations are available in the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations.
DNR webinars cover pheasant research, CWD testing and related information
The DNR invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to tune in to upcoming webinars that will discuss research on pheasants, as well as CWD testing requirements and other CWD related information.
The first webinar is at noon Wednesday, Oct. 12. Tim Lyons, DNR upland game research scientist, will share results from recent research on pheasant biology, management practices and bird behavior. Learn what the findings say about pheasant populations and pheasant hunting in Minnesota.
The second webinar is at noon Wednesday, Oct. 19. Logan Neu, with the DNR wildlife health program, will highlight changes to Minnesota deer hunting permit areas and new hunting opportunities, CWD testing requirements and options, and other important information related to deer hunting in areas with confirmed or suspected cases of CWD.
The webinars are part of the DNR’s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series. The webinars are free but registration is required. More information is available on the outdoor skills and stewardship page of the DNR website.