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Minnesota Hunting

Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in Minnesota, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and hunting zones. Plus much more! Start your research right here.

Overview

Known For

Minnesota is one of the country’s premier ruffed grouse hunting destinations; plus its whitetail deer hunting opportunities are legendary. And given its large number of lakes, waterfowl hunting is paramount here.

Terrain

As a state with exceptional upland bird hunting, Minnesota has what upland birds want: large aspen forests and brushy swamp edges. The state’s general terrain is marked by gentle rolling hills formed as glaciers moved slowly over the landscape, which today also makes for rich agricultural farmlands. Of course, Minnesota wouldn’t be the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” without as many bodies of water.

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Minnesota Hunting Seasons

Filter By:
Season
Start Date
End Date
Bear
Sep 1, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Bear – General

Permit and No-Quota Areas.

Bear baiting start date: 08/11/2023

Sep 1, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Deer
Oct 19, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Deer – Youth
Oct 19, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Deer
Oct 19, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Deer – Early Antlerless


Oct 19, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Duck
Sep 2, 2023 – Sep 6, 2023
Duck – Teal
Blue-winged, Green-winged, and Cinnamon Teal. Statewide.
Sep 2, 2023
Sep 6, 2023
Duck
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Duck – Youth Waterfowl

waterfowl hunters age 17 and younger, when accompanied by a non-hunting adult (age 18 and older) may take ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, and moorhens

Sep 9, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Duck
Sep 23, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Duck – Central & South – Early
Central Zone, South Zone.
Sep 23, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Elk
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Elk – Season A
By draw only. Either Sex. Zone 20.
Sep 9, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Elk
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Elk – Season D

By draw only. Antlerless Zone 20.

Sep 9, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Elk
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Elk – Season G

By draw only. Either-sex. Zone 20.

Sep 9, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Elk
Sep 23, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Elk – Season B
By draw only. Either Sex. Zone 20.
Sep 23, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Elk
Sep 23, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Elk – Season E
By draw only. Antlerless. Zone 20.
Sep 23, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Elk
Sep 23, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Elk – Season H

By draw only. Either-sex. Zone 20.

Sep 23, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Elk
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Elk – Season C
By draw only. Either Sex. Zone 20.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Elk
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Elk – Season F
By draw only. Antlerless. Zone 20.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Goose
Sep 2, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Goose – Early September
Statewide.
Sep 2, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Goose
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Goose – Youth Waterfowl

Waterfowl hunters age 17 and younger, when accompanied by a non-hunting adult (age 18 and older) may take ducks, geese, mergansers, coots and moorhens

Sep 9, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Goose
Sep 23, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Goose – Central & South – Early
Central Zone, South Zone. Canada, White-fronted, Brant, Snow, Blue, Ross Geese.
Sep 23, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Grouse
Sep 23, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Grouse – Prairie Chicken
Licenses allocated by lottery only. Residents only.
Sep 23, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Rabbit
Sep 16, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit – Cottontail & Snowshoe Hare
Bag limit: 10 combined
Sep 16, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit
Sep 16, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit – Jack rabbit
Bag limit: 1
Sep 16, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Sandhill Crane Game Type
Sep 16, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Sandhill Crane
Sep 16, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 12, 2023 – May 31, 2023
Turkey – Spring Archery
Apr 12, 2023
May 31, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Turkey – Fall

Statewide

Sep 30, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 17, 2024 – Apr 23, 2024
Turkey – Spring A
Season A
Apr 17, 2024
Apr 23, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 24, 2024 – Apr 30, 2024
Turkey – Spring B
Season B
Apr 24, 2024
Apr 30, 2024
Turkey Game Type
May 1, 2024 – May 7, 2024
Turkey – Spring C
Season C
May 1, 2024
May 7, 2024
Turkey Game Type
May 8, 2024 – May 14, 2024
Turkey – Spring D
Season D
May 8, 2024
May 14, 2024
Turkey Game Type
May 15, 2024 – May 21, 2024
Turkey – Spring E
Season E
May 15, 2024
May 21, 2024
Turkey Game Type
May 22, 2024 – May 31, 2024
Turkey – Spring F
Season F
May 22, 2024
May 31, 2024

Minnesota Licenses, Permits and Regulations

Minnesota hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website. Click below to view the website.

Hunting GPS Maps

Every Minnesota hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Minnesota hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunting zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Minnesota.

Hunting Zones

Minnesota’s hunting zones are generally designated as Zones 100, 200, 300, etc. And within those series of zones are individually numbered zone areas (for instance, Zone 230). While bow hunting, early antlerless, muzzleloader, and youth seasons stay the same across Minnesota, the firearms seasons vary depending on the hunting zone. Click below to view Minnesota’s hunting zones in more detail through an interactive map.

Hunting Layers

MN Private Lands Preview

MN Private Lands

Over 2,200,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Minnesota. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.

MN Gov Lands Preview

MN Gov Lands

onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 13,000,000 acres in Minnesota. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.

SUBLAYERS (6) Expand Sublayers
MN Hunt Areas Preview

MN Hunt Areas

Minnesota Bear, Deer, Furbearer, Bobcat/Fisher/Marten and Turkey Permit Areas. Includes hunting Farmland/Forest Zones. Please hunt responsibly and obey all signage.

Includes 6 Sublayers

  • Bear Permit Area
  • Deer Permit Area
  • Bobcat/Fisher/Marten Trapping Zones
  • Furbearer Trapping Zones
  • Turkey Permit Area
  • Farmland/Forest Snaring Zones
MN Possible Access Preview

MN Possible Access

onX has mapped 700,000 acres of possible access lands in Minnesota including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.

MN Walk-In Access Preview

MN Walk-In Access

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Walk-In Access. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Please hunt responsibly and have a safe legal hunt.

Forest Disturbance Preview

Forest Disturbance

Ruffed Grouse Management Areas Preview

Ruffed Grouse Management Areas

Minnesota Ruffed Grouse Management Areas

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