Applying to Become A Hunter Host

Please fill out the application below to be considered as a Hunter Host for the 2025 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener (GPHO) that will be held in Ortonville and the Big Stone County Area on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025

We appreciate you embracing the role of an ambassador of our great Minnesota pheasant hunting tradition, and for sharing your pheasant hunting skills. Please review the expectations and role of a Hunter Host before applying. 

• Hunter Hosts will demonstrate ethical hunting, patience and a positive attitude.
• Hunter Hosts will help your guests have the best hunting experience possible in the Ortonville/Big Stone County area.
• Each Hunter Host, will lead two to four GPHO guests on a hunt of which could include elected officials, event sponsors, community leaders and/or members of the media.
• The guests in each party will be determined by the GPHO Hunt Committee.
• Invited guests have a range of hunting skills; some are proficient hunters while others are novices. 
• Hunter Hosts are asked not to carry a gun during the hunt.
• We encourage hunting on public land, so that hunters may return to hunt that land again in the future.
• Hunting on private land is allowed if you have permissions to hunt on the land with your invited guests from the event.
• Raised pheasants are NOT placed on hunting properties.

 

Successful Applicants will be notified no later than August 15 and pair them with guests on or around September 25, 2025.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Benji Kohn, MN DNR at benjamin.kohn@state.mn.us or (651)259-5178.

Oct. 1, 6 p.m.              

 

 

• Attend a one-hour Hunter Host preview meeting at the Ortonville Community Center, 200 Monroe Ave, Ortonville, MN 56278. At this meeting you will receive more information about the event, your hunting groups and public hunting sites.
  
  

Oct. 1-10                 

• Visit the public hunting site(s) you are considering and determine the best hunting strategy for your group.
  
  

Oct. 11, 6:30 a.m.     

• Attend the Hunter’s Breakfast and meet with your group.
  
  

Oct. 11, 8:15 a.m.     

• Lead your group to your hunting site and provide a good hunting eperience. You can choose whether or not to carpool.
  
  

Oct. 11, 11:30 a.m.   

• Bring your group back from hunting to participate in the Hunter's Lunch at the Lakeside Park, 315 Madison Ave, Ortonville, MN 56278 Be sure to get a group photo in front of the Brag Board and take any harvested birds to the cleaning station.
  
  

Oct. 11, 12:30 p.m.    Official MN GPHO Event concludes.

• Adhere to all local, state and federal laws and regulations.

• Conduct myself in a manner to provide a safe hunt for my hunting party and myself. This includes making sure that all guests meet blaze orange requirements, and that unlicensed, non-hunting guests do not illegally participate.

• Consent to a basic background check.

• Attend all activities outlined previously in this document and involve guests as indicated.

• Allow my likeness and name to be used by the media in stories about hunting related to the Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener event.

• Not accept any fee for my services as a Hunter Host. By not accepting any fees, I do not assume responsibility or incur liability for any injury to person or property as provided in Minnesota Statutes 604A.20 to 604A.27.

• Provide my phone number and email address to participate in the GPHO. My phone number and email address will be used to contact me about the GPHO. I am not required to provide this information, but if I do not provide the information the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Explore Minnesota will not be able to consider me as a hunter host. DNR and Explore Minnesota staff with a business need will have access to your information. Additionally, my contact information will be shared with the persons I am hosting to facilitate communication. The DNR and Explore Minnesota will not share this data with anyone unless court ordered, or otherwise provided by law.

I understand that by signing this form, I agree to all the above requirements.