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WORTHINGTON — Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan celebrated the 10th annual Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener in Worthington, where Walz harvested two roosters. Together, their hunting parties harvested six roosters in total.
“As a lifelong hunter and Pheasants Forever member, I look forward to this weekend all year,” Walz said. “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,” added 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.”
On Friday, Walz and 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 Area. During the event, Worthington FFA members seeded native grasses and wildflowers on the new land.
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Walz and Flanagan hunted privately owned lands Saturday that are enrolled in conservation programs. Following the hunt, they returned to Worthington for a post-hunt lunch and bird cleaning.
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, Sen. Nick Frentz, and Worthington High School trap team member Nicholas Griffith.
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, former WHS trap team member Kessey Aljets, and local conservation landowner Ann Fugleberg.
