[ST. PAUL, MN] – This weekend, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan celebrated the tenth annual Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener in Worthington, where Governor Walz harvested two roosters. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s hunting parties harvested 6 roosters in total. The weekend included a public lands celebration, community food truck gathering, hunters’ breakfast, and a post-hunt lunch and bird cleaning.

“As a lifelong hunter and Pheasants Forever member, I look forward to this weekend all year,” said Governor Walz. “Thank you to the community of Worthington and Nobles County for making the opening weekend of the pheasant hunting season a memorable one. I’m grateful for the Nobles County Pheasants Forever chapter for their outstanding conservation work that makes this sport possible, and the many community volunteers that helped make this celebration happen.”

“It was a beautiful morning for the pheasant opener, and I was grateful to hunt with a group of talented women,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “I always enjoy visiting Worthington, and this weekend was the perfect opportunity to highlight the many recreational and tourism opportunities it has to offer.”

“Hunting in Worthington and Nobles County is always memorable, and this year’s Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener made it even more so with the dedication of 295 additional acres to the Ransom Ridge Wildlife Management Area,” said Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “I’m grateful for the many community volunteers and partners who worked so hard to make this a terrific event, and also to the hunters who came out and hunted on the area’s incredible public land.”

Schedule of Events

On Friday afternoon, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan attended a public lands celebration that recognized Nobles County’s newest 295-acre parcel of public hunting grounds, which the Nobles County chapter of Pheasants Forever purchased and donated to the Ransom Ridge Wildlife Management Center. During the event, Worthington Future Farmers of America members seeded native grasses and wildflowers in the new land. On Friday evening, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan attended a community food truck event hosted in downtown Worthington’s outdoor pavilion to meet with community members and leaders.

On Saturday morning, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan attended a hunters’ breakfast before departing for the hunt. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan hunted privately owned lands that have been enrolled in conservation programs. Following the hunt, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan returned to Worthington for a post-hunt lunch and bird cleaning.

Governor Walz was hosted by Scott Hain and John Zuehlke, both Nobles County Pheasants Forever members, and Eran Sandquist, Minnesota’s state coordinator of Pheasants Forever. Also joining the hunt were Worthington Mayor Mike Kuhle, Senator Nick Frentz, and Nicholas Griffith of the Worthington High School trap team.

Lieutenant Governor Flanagan was hosted by Chad Nixon and Nate Holt, both Nobles County Pheasants Forever members, and Steve Gnoza, a member of the Metro Area Pheasants Forever chapter. Also joining the hunt were Explore Minnesota Director Lauren Bennett McGinty, Kessey Aljets, a former member of the Worthington High School trap team, and Ann Fugleberg, a local conservation landowner.