It was barely sunrise when the motorcade rolled into Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Not exactly the typical start for a quiet morning in the field. But for Governor Tim Walz, the 2024 pheasant opener wasn't just about the birds; it was about the optics of being a "gun guy" in the middle of a high-stakes vice-presidential run.
Most people saw the viral clips. You know the ones—the fumbled shells and the jokes about Dick Cheney. But if you actually talk to the guys who have walked the CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) grass with him for years, the story is a lot more layered than a thirty-second Twitter video. Tim Walz pheasant hunting is practically a state institution at this point, but in 2024, it became a lightning rod for everything from Second Amendment debates to gear snobbery.
Honestly, the whole thing was a bit of a circus. Usually, a pheasant hunt is two dudes and a dog. This time, there were twenty Secret Service agents, drones buzzing overhead, and enough press to fill a stadium.
The Beretta in the Room
Let’s talk about the gun. Walz showed up carrying a Beretta A400 Xcel. If you're into sporting clays, you know that’s a beautiful, soft-shooting Italian semi-auto. But for pheasant hunting? It’s a bit of an odd duck. It’s heavy. It’s built for the range, not for trekking five miles through thick switchgrass and plum thickets.
He caught a ton of flack for struggling to load it on camera. Critics called it "staged." Supporters called it "recoil management." Walz himself said he likes the weight because it saves his shoulder from the kick as he gets older. Fair enough. But in the world of bird hunting, where tradition is king, showing up to a wild bird hunt with a $2,000 clay gun is going to raise some eyebrows.
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What Actually Happened in Sleepy Eye?
The 2024 hunt took place on Matt Kucharski’s land. Matt isn’t just some random farmer; he’s a heavy hitter at Pheasants Forever. The group also included Marilyn Vetter, the CEO of Pheasants Forever.
- The Tally: Walz didn't fire a single shot. Not one.
- The Reason: He said the birds that flushed were either too far out or were hens.
- The Joke: When a rooster finally did get up near the press line, Walz pointed his barrel straight at the sky. He joked that every Vice President joke ever made was about to happen right then—a clear nod to the infamous Cheney accident.
It's easy to mock a guy who doesn't bag a bird, but anyone who has actually hunted wild pheasants in Minnesota knows that some days, the roosters just don't play ball. Especially when you have a dozen Secret Service agents on ATVs patrolling the perimeter for three days before you arrive. That kind of noise clears out wildlife faster than a thunderstorm.
More Than Just a Photo Op?
To understand why this matters, you have to look back at Walz’s history. He’s been doing the Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener since he took office. He grew up in rural Nebraska, hunting after school with friends. This isn't a new hobby he picked up to win votes in the Midwest; it’s something he’s been doing since he was a kid in Valentine.
But his relationship with the hunting community is... complicated.
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He used to have an "A" rating from the NRA. Then he didn't. He signed universal background checks and red flag laws into law in Minnesota. For the "Fudd" crowd—a term used for hunters who don't care about tactical gear or AR-15s—Walz is one of them. For the Second Amendment hardliners, he’s a "political chameleon."
The Logistics of a High-Security Hunt
Hunting with a sitting Governor or a VP candidate is a nightmare. Usually, you want to be quiet. You want to see the dog work. But in 2024, the "quiet" part was out the window.
- Sniper Overwatch: There were reports of snipers set up on haystacks.
- Drone Surveillance: Before the first dog was even loosed, the area was scanned for threats.
- The Line: Secret Service agents—some of whom are actually hunters themselves—had to try and keep a "skirmish line" of reporters and the Governor perfectly straight. If you've ever tried to keep twenty people in a straight line in a cornfield, you know it’s impossible.
Even with the chaos, Walz seemed at home on the tailgate. He spent the afternoon eating venison and talking about German Shorthaired Pointers. He’s a member of Pheasants Forever, and he talks about habitat and the Farm Bill with a level of detail that you don't usually get from a "city" politician.
The 2025 and 2026 Openers
The tradition isn't stopping. The 2025 Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener was recently held in Ortonville, right on the western border. The birds were actually up that year—DNR roadside surveys showed a 50% jump in the pheasant population across the state. Walz’s party actually bagged two roosters this time.
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For 2026, the event is headed to Northfield. It’s a way for the state to showcase its public lands and the "One Minnesota" message. Whether people like his politics or not, the event brings a huge boost to local economies in places like Owatonna, Sleepy Eye, and Marshall.
Why Should You Care?
If you're a hunter, the Tim Walz pheasant hunting saga is a fascinating look at how our culture views the "outdoorsman." Is it about the gear? Is it about the limit you bag? Or is it about the conservation of the land?
Walz leans heavily into the conservation side. He talks about the WMA (Wildlife Management Areas) and the importance of public access. In a state like Minnesota, where outdoor recreation is a multi-billion dollar industry, that carries weight.
What you can do next:
If you're planning your own hunt in Minnesota, check out the DNR's "Minnesota Walk-In Access" (WIA) program. It’s exactly the kind of public-land initiative Walz champions. It opens up private land to hunters across the southern part of the state, giving you a chance to find those roosters without needing a motorcade or a Secret Service detail. Just make sure your shotgun is plugged and you’ve got your stamps in order before you hit the grass.