Minnesota hunting regulations

Minnesota Hunting Regulations

We have created an overview of the Minnesota hunting regulations with season dates, info about public land access and license fees. The state is a whitetail hunting paradise with some great action on turkey, bear, waterfowl and small game as well.

Minnesota Hunting License Costs

Resident:

  • Bear – $44
  • Deer Archery – $30
  • Deer bonus – $16
  • Deer firearm – $34
  • Deer muzzleloader – $30
  • Moose – $356
  • Prairie chicken – $23
  • Sandhill crane – $3
  • Small game, 72 hours – $19
  • Small game – $22
  • Sports individual – $41
  • Sports combination – $57
  • Pheasant – $8.25
  • Migratory waterfowl – $8.25
  • Turkey – $26

Non-resident:

  • Bear $230
  • Deer archery – $185
  • Deer bonus – $91
  • Deer firearm – $185
  • Deer muzzleloader – $185
  • Furbearer, raccoon, bobcat – $183
  • Deer, early antlerless – $45
  • Small game, 72 hour – $75
  • Small game – $102
  • Trapping – $84
  • Turkey – $96

Minnesota Hunting Season and Application Dates

Bear:

  • Lottery deadline – 5/4/2018
  • Start baiting – 8/17/2018
  • Bear season – 9/1/2018 – 10/14/2018

Deer:

  • Youth deer application deadline – 8/17/18
  • Antlerless and special hunt lottery deadline – 9/6/18
  • Archery – 9/15/2018 – 12/31/2018
  • Camp Ripley archery 1st season – 10/18/2018 – 10/19/2018
  • Youth special deer – 10/18/2018 – 10/21/2018
  • Camp Ripley archery 2nd season – 10/27/2018 – 10/28/2018
  • Deer firearm, 100A – 11/03/2018 – 11/18/2018
  • Deer firearm, 200A-300A – 11/03/2018 – 11/11/2018
  • Deer firearm, 300B – 11/17/2018 – 11/25/2018
  • Muzzleloader – 11/24/2018 – 12/09/2018

Elk:

  • Lottery deadline – 6/15/2018

Turkey:

  • A season – 4/18 – 4/24
  • B season – 4/25 – 5/01
  • C season – 5/02 – 5/08
  • D season – 5/09 – 5/15
  • E season – 5/16 – 5/22
  • F season – 05/23 – 5/31
  • Fall turkey season – 09/29 – 10/28

Grouse:

  • Ruffed, spruce and Hungarian partridge – 9/15 – 1/01
  • Sharp tail grouse northwest zone – 9/15 – 11/30
  • Sharp tail grouse east central zone – 10/13 – 11/30

Pheasant:

  • 10/13 – 1/01

Prairie chicken:

  • Lottery deadline – 8/17
  • Season – 9/29 – 10/07

Small Game:

  • Rabbits and Squirrels – 9/15 – 2/28
  • Sandhill crane NW zone – 9/15 – 10/21
  • North, Red fox, gray fox, raccoon, badger, opossum – 10/20 – 3/15
  • South, Red fox, gray fox, raccoon, badger, opossum – 10/20 – 3/15

Waterfowl:

  • Season opener – 9/22
  • Early Canada goose – 9/01 – 9/16
  • Spring light goose conservation action – 2/15 – 4/30

Check here for any additional seasons not found on our list – https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/seasons.html

Minnesota is a deer hunters state with plenty of national forest and public lands to explore. If you are really adventurous, get a canoe and head for the Boundary Waters and other remote float-in locations. Using a boat for access and cruising shorelines is a great way to escape the crowds and locate low pressured bucks. Otherwise, there are some great agricultural lands and a variety of ecosystems and terrain to chase deer.

Great moose and bear hunts are also an option if you draw in the hunt lotteries. Head east to the ag lands for upland birds like pheasant or tramp through the forests for grouse. The state is loaded with water, making it a solid choice for migratory birds. Minnesota has some great diversity and fun places to chase game.

 

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