Minnesota Hunting Seasons & Licensing: What You Need To Know

Minnesota hunting seasons offer the chance to bag deer, wolf, bobcat and a variety of small game.

While Minnesota has permitted moose hunting in the past, a significant drop in population for unknown reasons has encouraged the Department of Natural resources to suspend moose seasons.

Resident and non-resident hunting licenses are available for all game, and vary in price due to season, animal and special standings. Licenses can be purchased from a Department of Natural Resources agent, the department’s office in St. Paul, over the phone or online. License lotteries are also available for deer, bear, turkey and wolf harvests.

Registering taken game during Minnesota’s hunting seasons can easily be completed online.

Hunting In Minnesota

If you're looking for a great state to hunt in, look no further than Minnesota. With its diverse landscape and abundance of game, Minnesota offers something for every hunter.

Whether you're after whitetail deer, moose, bear, or small game, you'll find plenty of opportunities to fill your freezer in Minnesota. The state's forests, lakes, and wetlands provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, making it one of the best states in the country for hunting.

So if you're looking for a challenging hunt or just a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors, Minnesota is the state for you. So pack your gear and head on up to the Land of 10,000 Lakes for a hunting adventure you'll never forget.

Minnesota Deer Seasons

Archery	Sept. 18-Dec. 31
Firearms	Nov. 6-28**
Muzzleloader	Nov. 27-Dec. 12
Metro Deer Management Zone	Nov. 6-28
Youth Hunt	Oct. 21-24
Early Antlerless	Oct. 21-24

**Minnesota breaks its deer hunting seasons into four “series” based on location. To find out more about purchasing series deer hunting permits or specific series start and end dates, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.

Minnesota Bear Seasons

General Season

Sept. 1-Oct. 17

Minnesota bear hunting permits are distributed by lottery only. Applications are generally due in May, with winners notified the same month. Bear baiting begins in mid-August, several weeks before the hunting season begins.

Minnesota Wild Turkey Seasons

Fall General Season

Oct. 2-31

Minnesota Bobcat Seasons

General Season (Hunting and Trapping)

Dec. 18-Jan. 23

Minnesota Small Game Seasons

Rabbit (cottontail, snowshoe, and jackrabbit)	Sept. 18-Feb. 28
Prairie Chicken	Sept. 25-Oct. 3
Raccoon, badger, opossum, red fox, gray fox	North zone: Oct. 14-March 15 South zone: Oct. 21-March 15
Squirrel (gray and fox)	Sept. 18-Feb. 28
Weasel	Open season

How To Get A Hunting License In Minnesota?

Depending on your age, you may be required to have the Hunter Education Certificate in order to legally buy a license or permit to hunt.

Complete the Minnesota hunter education certification requirements.
Choose the correct license type.
Buy the license through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website or a Minnesota–approved vendor.

Where to Buy a Minnesota Hunting License

Visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.
Visit an approved license vendor.

Bag limits, special seasons and hunting regulations for Minnesota hunting seasons do vary based on animal and region. For more information on obtaining licenses, permits and regulations, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.