Minnesota has a deep-rooted history of hunting that brings wide-ranging possibilities for nature lovers. Are you an experienced hunter or new to the game? The 2025 season has thrilling prospects lined up. This guide will aid you through rules and important dates, paving the way for a fruitful and secure outdoor journey.

Planning Your Minnesota Hunting Adventure:

Research and Licensing: Get to know the particular laws and the process to get a license for the game you want. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) web portal gives a heap of data, like when the season starts, bag limits, and the way to get a license.
Know Your Zone: Minnesota’s been cut up into various Deer Permit Areas (DPAs) each with unique rules. Knowing your DPA makes sure you follow local game regulations. The DNR website’s interactive maps assist in finding your hunting zone.

Important Dates and Limits for Minnesota’s Hunting Period

Minnesota Hunting Seasons 2025-2026

🦌 Whitetail Deer

Archery

Sept 13 – Dec 31 (Statewide)
Bow and arrow only

Youth Hunt

Oct 16 – 19 (Statewide)
Special licenses required

Firearm Seasons

Season A (100 Series): Nov 8 – 23
Season A (200/300 Series): Nov 8 – 16
Season B (300 Series): Nov 22 – 30
Muzzleloader: Nov 29 – Dec 14

Early Antlerless

Oct 16 – 19 (Select zones)

Minnesota Elk Hunting Seasons 2025

🦌 Zone 30 Either-Sex Hunt (Season A)

Active period: September 13–21
Total permits issued: 2
Legal hunting area: Zone 30 only
Harvest rules: Bulls or cows allowed

🦌 Zone 30 Antlerless Hunt (Season B)

Open dates: September 27 – October 5
Permits available: 2
Approved zones: 30 and surrounding areas
Restrictions: Cows only, no antlered elk

Important Notes for Elk Hunters

Lottery system: All licenses awarded through draw
Application window: May 10 – June 15, 2025
Lifetime limit: One elk per hunter
Legal methods: Archery or firearms
Tagging requirements: Immediate validation mandatory

🐻 Black Bear

App Deadline: May 2
License Purchase: By Aug 1
Surplus Licenses: Aug 6
Baiting Starts: Aug 15
Primary Season: Sept 1 – Oct 19
Limit: One per hunter

🦬 Elk (Lottery-Based)

App Period: May 10 – June 15
Season A (Either Sex): Sept 21 – 29
Season B (Antlerless): Sept 21 – 29
Season C (Either Sex): Sept 21 – 29
Lifetime Limit: One elk

🦃 Wild Turkey

Spring Seasons

Youth/Archery: Apr 16 – May 31
Period A: Apr 16 – 22
Period B: Apr 23 – 29
Period C: Apr 30 – May 6
Period D: May 7 – 13
Period E: May 14 – 20
Period F: May 21 – 31
Limit: One bearded bird

Fall Seasons

Details announced by Aug 1

🦫 Furbearers

Raccoon

North Zone: Oct 18 – Mar 15
South Zone: Oct 25 – Mar 15

Bobcat

North Zone: Dec 13 – Jan 18
Limit: Five (trapping included)

Badger & Opossum

Same as raccoon dates
No bag limits

Fox (Red/Gray)

Follows raccoon season dates

🐦 Upland Birds

Grouse

Ruffed/Spruce: Sept 13 – Jan 4
Limit: Five daily
Sharp-tailed: Sept 13 – Nov 30 (NW Zone)
Limit: Three daily

Pheasant

Statewide: Oct 11 – Jan 4
Limit: Two roosters (Three after Dec 1)

🐇 Small Game

Rabbit

Sept 13 – Feb 28
Limit: One daily

Squirrel

Sept 13 – Feb 28
Limit: Seven daily

Other Species

Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 29 (15 daily)
Woodcock: Sept 20 – Nov 3 (3 daily)
Crow: Sept 1 – Oct 31 (No limit)

🦆 Waterfowl

Early Teal

Sept 6 – 10
Limit: Six daily

Youth Weekend

Sept 13 – 14

Ducks

North Zone: Sept 21 – Nov 19
Central/South: Split seasons (Sept 21-29 & Oct 5 – Nov 24)

Geese

Early Season: Sept 1 – 15
Regular: Varies by zone (Sept 21 – Dec 26)

Scaup & Mergansers

Scaup: One daily early, two later
Mergansers: Five daily

🎯 Special Species

Sandhill Crane

Sept 13 – Oct 19
Shotgun only

Prairie Chicken

Lottery-based (Late Sept/Early Oct)
Limit: Two (lifetime)

Coyote

Year-round
No limits

All dates subject to regulation updates. Check local rules before hunting.

Minnesota Hunting Regulations Summary:

Deer

You can use crossbows in the full archery deer season with an archery license.
Wearing blaze orange is a must for all ground blinds on public land.
You’re allowed to leave portable deer stands overnight in particular northwest wildlife management zones, as per rules.
If you hunt an escaped farmed deer or elk with tags, report to DNR within a day.

Special Deer Hunts:

The deadlines for hunting applications are different for each hunt, usually needing several months head start.
If there are more applications than permits, a drawing occurs, leaning towards a preference system.
Opportunities differ based on location and each has specific permit needs, dates, and bag allowances for different hunts:
- Youth hunts,
- Adult archery hunts (either-sex or antlerless),
- Adult firearm hunts (either-sex or antlerless), and
- Adult muzzleloader hunts.

Waterfowl

Migratory birds like ducks, geese, and others fall under the ‘migratory game’ category.
It’s a must to use non-toxic shots when hunting specific birds such as certain waterfowls and sandhill cranes.
From day one, a bag limit is in effect. Public lands have rules about decoy positioning (timing and unattended limitations).
Take note of travel restrictions around carrying these migratory game birds.
Hunters, remember to gather and keep any birds you got!

Turkey

You can take a turkey, male or female, in the fall season.
In fall, turkey licenses permit crossbows, upright bows, and allowed guns.
Regulated size shotguns and red dot scopes are okay.
Crossbows need to have a certain weight to pull back; upright bows need the same.
While taking a turkey, no dogs are allowed. Certain electronic gadgets are banned (excluding red dot scopes and rangefinders).

Licenses & Permits

License/Permits	Resident Fee	Non-Resident Fee
Apprentice Hunter Validation	$3.50	$3.50
Bear License	$44.00	$230.00
Deer Archery	$34.00	$185.00
Deer Firearm	$34.00	$185.00
Deer Muzzleloader	$34.00	$185.00
Deer Bonus Season (Firearm/Archery/Muzzleloader)	$18.00	$91.00
Youth Deer License (10-12)	Free	Free
Youth Deer License (13-17)	$5.00	$5.00
Turkey (Fall)	$26.00	$96.00
Turkey (Spring)	$26.00	$96.00
Small Game	$22.00	$102.00
Trapping	$23.00	$84.00 (Non-resident/landowner only)
Sandhill Crane Permit	$3.00	$3.00
Federal Duck Stamp	$27.50	$27.50pen_spark

Note: Always check the Minnesota DNR website for current hunting regulations and licensing information

Top Minnesota Hunting Locations by Species

Minnesota’s a gold mine of hunting spots, full of thriving wildlife and lush spaces. But some areas draw hunters back, time and again. They’re teeming with certain animals and their perfect environments. Let’s take a peek at those pursuing hot spots and their famous dwelling creatures:

White-tailed Deer:

Northwest Minnesota: This area is known for its high-quality white-tailed deer. The large public lands, like Chippewa National Forest and Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA), have plenty of spaces for pursuing.
North Central Minnesota: It has forests, lakes, and farms. These all make good homes for deer. Some well-liked WMAs are Pine Root River and Big Sandy Lake.

Wild Turkey:

Southeast Minnesota: In southeastern Minnesota, the sweeping hills and farmlands are perfect homes for wild turkeys. Places such as Whitewater State Park and Big Woods State Park are great for turkeys.
Bluff Country: This area with its rough land and variety of ecosystems in southern Minnesota makes for excellent turkey spots. Always remember to check the rules for the county where you’re planning to hunt.

Waterfowl:

Western Prairie Wetlands: This area is famous for its plentiful waterfowl. It’s a magnet for hunters eager for ducks, geese, and swans. Places like Lac qui Parle WMA and Roseau River WMA are top spots for public hunting.
Rice Lake Chain of Lakes: Right in north-central Minnesota, this linked group of lakes is top-notch territory for different waterfowl. Plus, just a hop away, Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge is a safe pit stop for migrating birds.

Ruffed Grouse:

Northeastern Forests: In northeastern Minnesota, you’ll find vast woods like Superior National Forest. Perfectly suited for ruffed grouse. It’s where hunters come, hoping to nab these hard-to-find birds in thickly forested areas.
Aspen Parklands: Another hot spot for ruffed grouses. A Public hunting zones like Cloquet WMA and Fond du Lac WMA give easy reach to such locations.

Pheasants:

Western Corn and Soybean Fields: The farming regions, especially around Marshall and Montevideo, are excellent places for pheasants. There are public hunting spots available on areas like Lac qui Parle and Morris WMAs.

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Eric Hale

Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com

Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.

Minnesota Hunter’s Guide: 2025 -2026 Updated Seasons and Rules