Governor Dayton set to open pheasant hunting season in Luverne, Minn. this weekend

LUVERNE, Minn., Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With an optimistic outlook, Minnesota's pheasant hunters will take aim in Luverne this weekend as the city hosts the Minnesota Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener.

Minnesota hunters are hoping for good fortune in the field after the 2018 roadside survey found a 19 percent increase in the pheasant index.

Governor Mark Dayton is scheduled to lead event festivities, which highlight the greater Luverne area. It is the eighth year Governor Dayton plans to attend as governor, who inaugurated the event in 2011.

"I thank the people of Luverne for graciously hosting the 2018 Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener," said Governor Dayton. "The Pheasant Opener has become a special Minnesota tradition, made possible by our tremendous host communities. I look forward to another fantastic opener in Luverne this year."

On Friday afternoon, a dedication of the Rooster Ridge Wildlife Management Area (WMA) will take place at 4 p.m. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources worked with Pheasants Forever to make the new WMA a reality.  

On Friday evening, the public is invited to join Governor Dayton and other dignitaries at the Grand Prairie Events center for a community banquet. The event will run from 5-8:30 p.m., with social hour, dinner and a program featuring the governor and local community leaders. Tickets are $40 and available by calling the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce at 507-283-4061.

On Saturday, hunters will take to the field for the pheasant hunt, followed by an afternoon dog parade, trick-shooting show with the Gould Brothers, and a "Pheasant Phiesta."

With a population of 4,658, Luverne is located in Minnesota's southwestern-most county, Rock County. The city promotes hunting, travel opportunities and outdoor recreation.

Hunters spend $725 million each year in Minnesota in hunting-related expenditures like equipment, food and lodging, averaging $1,412 per hunter. Outdoor recreation, which includes hunting, is an important piece of Minnesota's $15.0 billion tourism industry.

Minnesota's pheasant season runs from 9 a.m. Saturday, October 13, 2018, through Tuesday, January 1, 2019.

More information on the Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener can be found at exploreminnesota.com/mngpho.

SOURCE Minnesota Department of Natural Resources