The number of small game hunters in Minnesota in 2023 increased slightly from 2022 and was 5% below the 10-year average. Overall, 230,283 small game licenses were sold for the 2023-24 hunting seasons, compared to the 10-year average of 242,688 small game licenses. But similar to the previous year, hunters who did pursue the top small game species (waterfowl, grouse, and pheasants) had similar or slightly better success rates compared to the 10-year averages, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ small game hunter mail survey.

The annual survey estimates the number of hunters, harvest and hunter success rates for two dozen species. The survey asks small game license buyers if they hunted, what species they hunted, how many days they spent hunting and the amount of harvest by species.

Highlights of the 2023 results for approximate harvest, hunter numbers and success include:

Ducks – 81,976 state duck stamps were sold, which was similar to 2022 sales and 7% below the 10-year average. There were 50,400 hunters, which was 24% below the 10-year average of 66,400 hunters. Overall harvest was 565,700 ducks, down 15% from the 10-year average of 662,200 ducks. Eighty-four percent of hunters were successful, bagging 13.1 ducks on average, which was greater than the 10-year average of 11.8 ducks.

Canada geese – There were 29,700 hunters in 2023, which was 32% below the 10-year average of 43,600 hunters. An estimated 146,800 geese were harvested, 36% below the 10-year average of 228,047 geese. Hunter success was 76% and successful hunters bagged 6.5 geese on average, similar to the 10-year averages.

Ruffed grouse – As estimated 66,800 hunters pursued grouse in 2023, which was 7% less than the 10-year average of 72,100 hunters. They harvested 339,600 grouse, a 34% increase compared to the 10-year average. Hunter success was 73%, which was slightly above the 10-year average of 70%. Successful hunters bagged 6.9 grouse each, which was almost two  birds more than the 10-year average.

Pheasants – 79,037 pheasant stamps were sold in 2023, which was 2% greater than 2022 sales and about 4% greater than the 10-year average of 76,344 stamps. An estimated 50,600 hunters went afield, which was 8% lower than the 10-year average of 55,100 hunters. Approximately 208,800 roosters were harvested, which was 6% more than the 10-year average of 197,000 roosters. Hunter success was 72%, which was greater than the 10-year average of 68%, and mean harvest was 5.7 roosters, which was slightly above the 10-year average of 5.3 roosters.

In recent years, duck and pheasant stamp sales have been quite a bit higher than the numbers of hunters pursuing these species, which could reflect those with a hunting tradition who curtailed their hunting but still continue to support conservation efforts by buying stamps.  

To help get more hunters afield, the Minnesota DNR has been working to recruit, retain and reactivate hunters in a variety of ways that aim to get more of these hunters afield. Examples include the Take a Friend Hunting campaign(mndnr.gov/gohunting/take-friend-hunting.html) with Pheasants Forever and sharing tips through weekly skills webinars (mndnr.gov/discover).

The complete small game hunter survey report is on the Minnesota DNR website(mndnr.gov/wildlife/research/wildlife-research-publications.html#reports).

Article courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources