My in laws have family up in MN and my father in law is thinking of heading up there to hunt pheasant. We would be lodging in the western half of the state. Any tips or advice for a DIY hunt? Looking at 3-4 days. Cheap as possible.

Warm layered clothing (exterior layer should be hunter orange and wind blocker).

It's great to have family to stay with on hunting trips to reduce expenses, but it's even better if the family has good hunting farmland in southwestern MN. If they don't have hunting property; see if they are willing to chase down some farmers willing to let you hunt. Some land will be posted, some not, always make an extended effort to get written permission to hunt on all land. This will save you a lot of time and hassle if a sheriff or game warden happens along. This also helps to schedule your hunting days, and sometimes maintain a solitary access to the hunting property.

burrrr!

There is pretty good hunting in the Southwestern part of the state you need to order the DNR's, PRIM maps for that part of the state, Marshall and Worthington. The Prim map shows public land both state and federal. The MN Dept of Tourism publishes a hunting guide for that part of the state. It shouldn't get to cold think central Texas about 6 weeks later then when your here (that only works up to the middle of Nov)