Minnesota DNR Has Important Invitation For Upland Bird Hunters

Minnesota has a significant number of upland bird hunters who head out every year. In 2024, Minnesota had an estimated 75,000 pheasant hunters and 60,000 grouse hunters alone, with a significant overlap between the two groups.

As hunters prepare for the upcoming season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to be especially observant, monitor their activity, and share some key information with the DNR.

Hunters willing to do this will play a crucial role in helping to expand current monitoring efforts and help the DNR get a more complete picture of bird populations within the state.

Minnesota DNR Asks Bird Hunters To Report Important Details

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources formally invited upland bird hunters to voluntarily log details about their hunts for grouse, woodcock, pheasants, prairie chickens, and partridge.

“We’re working with bird hunters to improve our understanding of what they see in the field,” said Nate Huck, migratory gamebird consultant. “Their information will complement our existing monitoring efforts." Huck went on to say that the DNR appreciates hunters who take the time to share their observations.

Bird hunters can use an upland bird hunting diary once hunting season begins to share their observations. The diary is available in electronic form using a web browser or app versions on the DNR website.

Hunters can also print off a paper version of the diary and enter their hunts online at a later point.

Hunters are asked to report information specific to each hunt, including:

• Date
• Location of the hunt, including the county
• Whether the hunt took place on a wildlife management area, a hunter-walking trail, or a Walk-In Access program area
• Species pursued
• If the hunter was using a dog
• Total hours hunted
• Number of birds flushed
• Number of birds harvested
• Ages of any pheasants harvested

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The DNR says this citizen science effort complements its once-a-year small game harvest survey to monitor upland game bird harvest. The harvest survey is available on the DNR website. It's important to note that while annual survey information is useful for estimating the total hunter effort and harvest of upland game birds, it does not provide specific, localized, or season-long insights.