Minnesota's Pheasant Epicenter To Be In Marshall This Weekend
Seventh annual Minnesota Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener to kick off season
MARSHALL, Minn., Oct. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- At 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, Minnesota's grasslands will be filled with people, blaze orange, and eager dogs as they kick off the 2017 pheasant season.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will lead the ceremonial start of the pheasant season in Marshall, Minn., with the seventh annual Minnesota Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener, a tradition started by Dayton himself.
"I'm proud of Minnesota's great hunting traditions, and I've enjoyed pheasant hunting here for more than 60 years," Dayton said. "For the past six years, we've held Governor's Pheasant Hunting Openers, which have been popular. I thank our wonderful hosts in the Marshall area for all their hard work to make this year's opener an outstanding event. I invite all Minnesotans to join us for this special Minnesota tradition."
This weekend's celebration is the second time Marshall has hosted the Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener.
"We enjoyed hosting Governor Dayton back in 2012, and are thrilled to have him back in 2017," said Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cal Brink. "We've got a lot to offer pheasant hunters, and it's a great opportunity to showcase our community."
The Marshall community has a number of events planned, starting the morning of Friday, Oct. 13, with a high school clay target league invitational meet. In the afternoon, Dayton is scheduled to dedicate the area's newest public land with the James Meger Memorial Wildlife Management Area. That evening will be the community banquet.
The morning of Saturday, Oct. 14, Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith are scheduled to take the field.
Minnesota's long-standing tradition of hunting, according to a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service report, generates $725 million in expenditures by hunters each year. Upland bird hunting generates $121 million in retail sales alone. In 2016, nearly 60,000 people hunted pheasants.
Minnesota's pheasant season runs from 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, until Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.
Explore Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources assist local partners in planning the event each year. More information about the Minnesota Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener is available at exploreminnesota.com/mngpho.
SOURCE Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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