MONTEVIDEO, Minn. (AP) — Wildlife managers are predicting decent hunting for Minnesota's pheasant season, though the late harvest means the birds will have ample cover with Saturday's opener.

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Wet conditions across the state's pheasant range mean the corn and soybean harvests are running about a week behind their normal pace, which means late-season hunters may have better luck at finding and flushing ringnecks.

At least the birds will be out there. The state's pheasant index — an imperfect measure of population trends — is up an estimated 29 percent from last year thanks to another mild winter and good nesting conditions this spring. It's the second year of improvement after the harsh winter of 2013-14 cut the population.

The western city of Montevideo is hosting the Minnesota Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener.

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