Prospects good for 2026 pheasant opener

Prospects are looking good for pheasant hunting in southwest Minnesota, after a mild winter and conditions that were better for nesting, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says. The DNR’s annual roadside wildlife survey found that the pheasant index is up nearly 20% from last year. Based on the August roadside pheasant counts, the DNR’s pheasant hunting prospect map for this fall shows fair or good prospects across a wide portion of southwest and south central Minnesota. “The increase in the pheasant index across the state and within several regions is good news for pheasant…