Fewer game bird hunters took to Minnesota’s fields and forests in 2013, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources annual small game survey.
In 2013, the number of pheasant hunters was 62,100, representing a decrease of 19 percent from 2012.
An estimated 77,900 people hunted ducks, a decrease of 5 percent from 2012.
Ruffed grouse hunter numbers were estimated at 81,100, a decrease of 11 percent from 2012.
Statewide estimates show small game hunters harvested about 169,100 pheasants, 782,800 ducks, and 288,400 ruffed grouse in 2013, with margins of error in the results of between five and six percent.
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Individual hunter success rates were comparable to 2012. Pheasant hunters harvested an average of 2.7 pheasants in 2013 compared to 3.3 pheasants in 2012. Duck hunters harvested an average of 10.2 ducks in 2013 compared to 9.1 in 2012. Ruffed grouse hunters harvested an average of 3.6 grouse in 2013 compared to 3.7 in 2012.
The DNR annually surveys small game hunters to make estimates of both hunter numbers and harvest trends. For the 2013 season, 7,000 small game license buyers were surveyed of which 3,589 surveys were returned and usable.
The complete report is on the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/publications/wildlife .
