Minnesota Hunting Season Dates
Recorded hunting windows for Minnesota, including historical and unverified entries.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
1 of 8 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
Minnesota Hunting Season Calendar
Find all hunting season dates for Minnesota including deer, elk, turkey, and waterfowl. Filter by species and hunting method.
Coming Up in Minnesota
Seasons opening in the next 60 days
Nov 7-22, 2026
Opens in 24 days
Recorded Season Windows
All Minnesota hunting seasons organized by species
Deer 4 seasons
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 13 - Dec 31, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Extended archery | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Nov 7-22, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | DPA101 — private-land legal buck regular firearms base dates | Opens in 24d | Actual2026–27 guide page95 lists100-series statewide firearms Nov7–22 and DPA101 in2-deer designation. Page98 permits a regular firearms license for a legal buck in2-deer areas. Only DPA101 private-land legal-buck base dates reviewed, not individual permission or approval to take2 deer. Page79 requires at least.220 caliber centerfire, single projectile, soft point or expanding bullet; page94 says former shotgun-zone repeal effective2026 but county ordinances can restrict firearms, with listed ordinances only as of May5. Check current county/local firearm rules, DPA boundaries, license/permits/exemptions, antler/bag/sex eligibility, blaze-orange/hours, tagging/registration, CWD, access and closures. Agency index/calendar403 remain gaps; no search-title or PDF timestamp verification. Other DPAs, antlerless, special/public/controlled, archery/muzzleloader/youth/CWD hunts excluded. | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Nov 8-23, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Firearms season | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 29 - Dec 14, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Muzzleloader season | |
Turkey 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Apr 15 - May 31, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Spring season - multiple periods | |
Bear 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Sep 1 - Oct 13, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Lottery hunt | |
Moose 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Sep 27 - Oct 12, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Very limited permits | |
Pheasant 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Oct 11, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Regular season | |
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Minnesota Hunting Regulations
License year, species, and agency information
- License Year
- Mar 1, 2025 - Feb 28, 2026
- Available Species
-
- Bear
- Deer
- Moose
- Pheasant
- Turkey
- Hunting Methods
-
- Archery
- Rifle/Firearm
- Muzzleloader
- Any Legal Method
- Shotgun
- Wildlife Agency
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
This information is for reference only. Always verify regulations with your state wildlife agency before hunting or fishing.
Important Note for Minnesota
Only DPA101 private-land legal-buck regular firearms base dates Nov7–22,2026 reviewed from actual2026–27 guide pages95/98. County firearm ordinances, boundaries, licenses/permits, antler/bag/sex, orange/hours, registration, CWD, access and closures require checks; no individual permission or2-deer authorization. Other DPAs/hunts and seven historical rows/license-year metadata remain unverified. Agency index/calendar403 are explicit source gaps.
Hunting Method Legend
Minnesota Hunting FAQ
Common questions about hunting seasons in Minnesota
What are the hunting season dates for Minnesota?
Recorded Minnesota entries cover Bear, Deer, Moose, Pheasant, Turkey. Dates include history and unverified records; the recorded license-year metadata is not current verification. Check row evidence and current agency regulations and your license.
When does deer season start in Minnesota?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2025-09-13 to 2025-12-31; 2026-11-07 to 2026-11-22; 2025-11-08 to 2025-11-23; 2025-11-29 to 2025-12-14. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
Does Minnesota require a draw for hunting?
Draw requirements depend on species, GMU or zone, hunt code and license type. Recorded date windows do not establish eligibility. Check the current Minnesota agency rules and your actual license.
Which recorded windows include the assessment date 2026-10-14 UTC in Minnesota?
The next recorded window is Deer starting Nov 7, 2026. Check its row evidence and current regulations; the record may be unverified.
What should I know about hunting in Minnesota?
Only DPA101 private-land legal-buck regular firearms base dates Nov7–22,2026 reviewed from actual2026–27 guide pages95/98. County firearm ordinances, boundaries, licenses/permits, antler/bag/sex, orange/hours, registration, CWD, access and closures require checks; no individual permission or2-deer authorization. Other DPAs/hunts and seven historical rows/license-year metadata remain unverified. Agency index/calendar403 are explicit source gaps.
Other States
Compare hunting seasons across states
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