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.
Minnesota Hunting Seasons
| Season | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Bear – General
Permit and No-Quota Areas. Bear baiting start date: 08/11/2023 |
Sep 1, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
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Coyote
Open all year. No limit.
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Jan 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Deer – Archery
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Sep 16, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Deer – Youth
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Oct 19, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
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Deer – Early Antlerless
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Oct 19, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
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Deer – Firearm 100A
100 Series permit areas, 604, 679, and 684 |
Nov 4, 2023 | Nov 19, 2023 |
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Deer – Firearm 200A & 300A
Firearm Option Statewide (A) 200 Series and 661 Firearm Option Statewide (A) 300 Series and all 600 series except 604, 679 and 684 |
Nov 4, 2023 | Nov 12, 2023 |
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Deer – Metro Deer Management Zone
Metro Deer Management Zone (701) Statewide (A), Late Season (B) firearms license or muzzleloader licenses are valid |
Nov 4, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Deer – Firearm 300B
Firearm Option Late Southeast (B) 300 Series and all 600 series except 604, 661, 679 and 684 |
Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Deer – Muzzleloader
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Nov 25, 2023 | Dec 10, 2023 |
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Duck – Teal
Blue-winged, Green-winged, and Cinnamon Teal. Statewide.
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Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 6, 2023 |
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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 |
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Duck – North
North Zone.
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Sep 23, 2023 | Nov 21, 2023 |
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Duck – Central & South – Early
Central Zone, South Zone.
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Sep 23, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 |
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Duck – Central & South – Late
Central and South Zones
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Oct 7, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Elk – Season A
By draw only. Either Sex. Zone 20.
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Sep 9, 2023 | Sep 17, 2023 |
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Elk – Season D
By draw only. Antlerless Zone 20. |
Sep 9, 2023 | Sep 17, 2023 |
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Elk – Season G
By draw only. Either-sex. Zone 20. |
Sep 9, 2023 | Sep 17, 2023 |
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Elk – Season B
By draw only. Either Sex. Zone 20.
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Sep 23, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 |
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Elk – Season E
By draw only. Antlerless. Zone 20.
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Sep 23, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 |
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Elk – Season H
By draw only. Either-sex. Zone 20. |
Sep 23, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 |
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Elk – Season C
By draw only. Either Sex. Zone 20.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
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Elk – Season F
By draw only. Antlerless. Zone 20.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
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Goose – Early September
Statewide.
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Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 17, 2023 |
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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 |
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Goose – North
North Zone. Canada, White-fronted, Brant, Snow, Blue, Ross Geese
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Sep 23, 2023 | Dec 22, 2023 |
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Goose – Central & South – Early
Central Zone, South Zone. Canada, White-fronted, Brant, Snow, Blue, Ross Geese.
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Sep 23, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 |
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Goose – Central & South – Late
Central Zone, South Zone. Canada, White-fronted, Brant, Snow, Blue, Ross Geese.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Dec 27, 2023 |
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Grouse – Sharp-Tailed
Northwest Zone
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Sep 16, 2023 | Nov 30, 2023 |
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Grouse – Ruffed and Spruce
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Sep 16, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
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Grouse – Prairie Chicken
Licenses allocated by lottery only. Residents only.
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Sep 23, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 |
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Mourning Dove
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Sep 1, 2023 | Nov 29, 2023 |
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Pheasant – General
Bag Limit: 2 roosters (3 roosters Dec. 1 – Jan. 1) |
Oct 14, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
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Rabbit – Cottontail & Snowshoe Hare
Bag limit: 10 combined
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Sep 16, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
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Rabbit – Jack rabbit
Bag limit: 1
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Sep 16, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
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Sandhill Crane
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Sep 16, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
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Turkey – Spring Archery
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Apr 12, 2023 | May 31, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall
Statewide |
Sep 30, 2023 | Oct 29, 2023 |
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Turkey – Spring A
Season A
|
Apr 17, 2024 | Apr 23, 2024 |
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Turkey – Spring B
Season B
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Apr 24, 2024 | Apr 30, 2024 |
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Turkey – Spring C
Season C
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May 1, 2024 | May 7, 2024 |
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Turkey – Spring D
Season D
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May 8, 2024 | May 14, 2024 |
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Turkey – Spring E
Season E
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May 15, 2024 | May 21, 2024 |
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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
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
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 13,000,000 acres in Minnesota to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.
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
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
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
Ruffed Grouse Management Areas
Minnesota Ruffed Grouse Management Areas
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