SLEEPY EYE – All eyes in the pheasant hunting community will be on Sleepy Eye this October and the community is looking for hunting guides to help showcase the community.

The community was selected to host the 2024 Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener (GPHO), Sat. Oct. 12.

The GPHD is part of a weekend of festivities that will showcase many hunting, recreational, and travel opportunities. The actual pheasant hunt is expected to bring hundreds to Sleepy Eye including Gov. Tim Walz.

In preparation for the hunt, Sleepy Eye is looking for hunter hosts to help guide those participating in the hunt.

“We are looking for local hunting ambassadors to help our invited guests experience pheasant hunting in the Sleepy Eye area. It is a chance to showcase our area as a place for outdoor recreation, hunting, rural living, and tourism,” said Christina Andres, Executive Director, Sleepy Eye Chamber of Commerce & CVB.

Each hunter host will lead two to four guests on the pheasant hunt. Invited guests may include elected officials, event sponsors, community leaders and members of the news media.

Andres said 10 hunting hosts have applied. Between 40 and 50 hosts will be needed. The goal is to use local hosts who are familiar with the area who can share information about the land and promote the community.

“It is a huge spotlight on our community,” Andres said. “We want to show off the community, share why we live here with the rest of Minnesota.”

Those who apply and are accepted as hunter hosts will take part in an informational meeting a week before the opener on Oct. 3, to plan the hunt. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is assisting with planning the hunt.

MN DNR South Region Director Scott Roemhildt said hunting will be in 25 mile radius around Sleepy Eye. Roemhildt said within those 25 miles there are 14,784 acres of public hunting land. The hunting will take place primarily on public land.

Roemhildt said the reason the hunt will be on private land is to encourage people to come back. If they enjoy the hunt they can share the experience and return to the same public access sites. The event is also a chance to highlight public land in the area. He believed the pheasant opener would be wonderful exposure for Sleepy Eye, as it had been for other communities hosting the hunt.

Roemhildt said the pheasant opener began in 2011 under Gov. Mark Dayton. There was already a fishing opener, but Dayton liked pheasant hunting and kick started the GPHO The hunt continued under Walz who is also a fan of pheasant hunting.

“Gov. Waltz is an avid pheasant hunter,” Roemhildt said. “He’s been excited about every hunt. His enthusiasm for the hunt is contagious.”

When it was announced Sleepy Eye would host the 2024 Pheasant Hunt Opener, Walz said: “I am thrilled that the community of Sleepy Eye will host next year’s Minnesota GPHO. After a strong kick off to this year’s pheasant hunting season, I’m already looking forward to our time in Sleepy Eye and for the community to carry on the tradition of a fantastic opener next year, highlighting strong communities and exceptional public lands.”

Roemhildt said he too was excited about this year’s hunt because it was near the regional office.

“I’ve been involved in every GPHO since it started in 2011. This is the closest the hunt has been to our regional office in New Ulm,” he said.

Though the hunt opener is five months away, Roemhildt anticipated great hunting conditions. He said the Brown County area was wonderful for pheasant hunting. The DNR releases a pheasant prospect map for the best places to find pheasant. Brown County has been one the best places in the state for the last three years.

Weather conditions have been favorable.

“With the mild winters it was easy on the pheasant,” Roemhildt said. “Their eggs hatch in June. If there are no heavy rains then, hunting should be great for the opener.”

Applications for hunter hosts recently became available. The application can be found at the Sleepy Eye Chamber website www.sleepyeyechamber.com/GPHO2024.

Successful hunter host applicants will be notified no later than August 1. Hunter hosts will attend an informational meeting Oct. 3 to help prepare them for the GPHO hunting events on Saturday, Oct. 12. Additional questions can be addressed to Roemhildt at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at scott.roemhildt@state.mn.us or by calling 507-233-1200.