2024 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Opener in Sleepy Eye, MN
Welcome!
We are excited to announce that Ortonville applied for and was selected to host the 2025 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener on Oct 10-11, 2025!
What does this mean for our area? There will be over 200 people including media, DNR, government staff and elected officials visiting the Ortonville area! This will be a two day event that starts off with a media event at the Ortonville Trap Range Friday morning followed by media tours of LG Everist, Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, Pontoon rides on Big Stone Lake, Charles Hanson waterfall display and more! (All media events require an event badge and are not open to the public)
On Friday, the DNR will be putting on a youth education day as part of the event at the Ortonville School on Friday as well which will include multiple learning stations educating our youth on the outdoors.
Also Friday afternoon there will also be a land dedication ceremony for a recent land acquisition that is now public hunting land. There will be busses at the armory in Ortonville to transport attendees to and from the land site.
There will be a community celebration open to the public on Friday night October 10 from 5pm-9pm at the Ortonville Armory where there will be live bands and food trucks for the entire community to attend!
Saturday morning will start with a breakfast for registered hunting parties and of course the pheasant hunt from 9-11am followed by a lunch at Lakeside Park. (for registered guests)
This will be a great event for getting everyone excited about the outdoors, pheasant hunting and an opportunity to promote the Ortonville area and what it has to offer! In the past there has been many media outlets including major TV, newspaper and social media outlets!
This event is not red or blue, we are all blaze orange. Please do not let any political affiliations get in the way of our community coming together for this great promotion.
Are you a business owner? We would love to include your business in all of our promotions for the event! We have opportunities to promote you on our billboard, signage, website, advertisements, t-shirts and social media. You may also include promotional memorabilia at certain sponsor levels to be included in our promotional package that goes out to all 250 attendees. Sponsorship deadline to be included in all of our promotions is June 15, 2025
*CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES*
We are also looking for hunter hosts with hunting dogs that are willing to take a small group of hunters out on public land for the event itself. This is a great opportunity to connect with leaders and media, have fun and help us promote the area!
*CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR HUNTER HOST PROGRAM*
Please consider joining us in this great opportunity to promote the Ortonville and Big Stone Lake area!
Feel free to call if you have any questions!
Artie Arndt
(605) 880-8892
Event Coordinator – Big Stone Lake area Chamber of Commerce – Vice President/Tourism Committee
Check out these videos of the 2024 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener in Sleepy Eye, MN!