Statewide Pheasant Numbers Up Nearly 50% From 2024

Great news for anyone interested in pheasants — pheasant numbers in the 2025 Minnesota August Roadside Survey were up nearly 50% from 2024 and 21% above the 10-year average.

Our milder winter likely helped the overwinter survival of hens, and the drier and warmer spring created better conditions for nesting and brood-rearing relative to last year. Weather and habitat are the main influences on Minnesota’s pheasant population trends. Weather causes annual fluctuations in pheasant numbers, while habitat drives long-term population trends.

This year’s statewide pheasant index was 75 birds per 100 miles of roads driven, compared to 51 in 2024. Pheasant numbers increased in every region. Compared to 2024, pheasant numbers increased the most in the southeast region (189%), followed by the southwest (86%), east central (82%), south central (40%), central (33%), and west central (19%) regions.

Pheasant numbers are also above their 10-year averages in every region within the pheasant range. The regions with the highest indices include the southwest (152 birds per 100 miles), south central (82 birds per 100 miles), and west central (76 birds per 100 miles), followed by the central region (59 birds per 100 miles).

The Minnesota pheasant hunting season opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. The full august roadside survey report, a pheasant hunting prospects map and details about pheasant hunting are available on the DNR pheasant hunting page.

(photo credit: courtesy of Roger Wing)