Redwood Falls Selected to Host 2027 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener
Redwood County Pheasants Forever is proud to help welcome the 2027 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener to Redwood Falls!
As a community rooted in Minnesota's rich pheasant hunting tradition, we're excited for the opportunity to showcase the habitat, hunting opportunities, and conservation efforts that make Redwood County a special place to go afield.
The Redwood Area Chamber & Tourism will lead the planning and hosting of this statewide event, scheduled for October 8-9, 2027. Our Redwood County Pheasants Forever chapter looks forward to supporting the Chamber and its partners by helping connect visiting hunters with local hunting opportunities and sharing our passion for wildlife habitat and conservation.
This is a tremendous opportunity to celebrate our community, support local businesses, and highlight the importance of preserving Minnesota's upland hunting heritage for future generations.
Official Press Release
The following press release was issued by the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan on October 12, 2026. It is reproduced in its entirety below for informational purposes. All statements and quotations are attributed to their original sources.
Governor Walz Names Redwood Falls as 2027 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener Host Community
[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced that Redwood Falls will host the 2027 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener.
“With its numerous parks, businesses, and scenic natural resources, the Redwood Falls area is an exceptional setting for the 2027 Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener,” Governor Tim Walz said. “I’m thrilled this vibrant Minnesota River community will be showcased as we carry on our state’s time-honored pheasant hunting tradition.”
The Redwood Falls Chamber of Commerce applied on behalf of the community to host the 2027 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. Redwood Falls was then selected through a process that considered available hunting land, travel and tourism opportunities, and community support.
“We are incredibly honored and excited to have been selected to host the 2027 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener in Redwood Falls,” said Anne Johnson, Executive Director of Redwood Area Chamber & Tourism. “This is so much more than an opportunity to showcase our exceptional pheasant hunting and outdoor recreation. It’s a chance to put a statewide spotlight on our beautiful Minnesota River Valley, our outstanding businesses and organizations, and the people who make this such a wonderful place to visit, work, raise a family, and build a life. We are grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to welcome Minnesota to Redwood Falls in 2027.”
Nestled along the Minnesota River Valley in Redwood County, Redwood Falls sits in the heart of the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway and shares a rich history with the Lower Sioux Indian Community, whose people call this area Cansayapi (chahn-shah-yah-pee) and whose ancestors have lived here for thousands of years. Today, Redwood Falls is an innovative and entrepreneurial community with a diverse economic base rooted in agricultural production and research, manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism, forming a strong commercial and service sector.
The community is best known for Ramsey Park, Minnesota’s largest municipal park, spanning 256 acres and affectionately known as the “Little Yellowstone of Minnesota.” With miles of paved trails, two large playgrounds, outdoor pickleball courts, a campground, and a unique zoo featuring Highlander cattle, Ramsey Park is just one example of the exceptional outdoor experiences found throughout the Redwood Falls area.
The 2027 event, scheduled for October 8-9, will be the 15th annual Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Explore Minnesota will assist local partners in planning the event.
Initiated by Governor Mark Dayton in 2011, the event has been hosted by 10 different communities, including Montevideo (2011 and 2016), Marshall (2012 and 2017), Madelia (2013), Worthington (2014 and 2022), Mankato (2015), Luverne (2018), Austin (2019), Owatonna (2023), Sleepy Eye (2024), Ortonville (2025) and Northfield (2026).