Hunting Seasons

Hunting Season is always a special time of the year. Whether you are planning on waiting patiently in a deer stand to bag that trophy buck or sitting knee deep in the marsh hoping to bag a band. Being able to take advantage of all the hunting seasons is why The Waterfowl Hunter has put together the hunting dates for Minnesota.

These dates serve as a general guide for more specific hunting visit  Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 

Small Game: Rabbits, Squirrels

First DayLast Day
Sep. 17, 2016Feb. 28, 2017
Sep. 16, 2017Feb. 28, 2018

Raccoon, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Badger, Opossum (North) Hunting & Trapping

First DayLast Day
Oct. 15, 2016Mar. 15, 2017
Oct. 14, 2017Mar. 15, 2018

Raccoon, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Badger, Opossum (South) Hunting & Trapping

First DayLast Day
Oct. 22, 2016Mar. 15, 2017
Oct. 21, 2017Mar. 15, 2018

Furbearer Trapping

Beaver

ZoneFirst DayLast Day
SouthOct. 29, 2016May. 15, 2017
NorthOct. 29, 2016May. 15, 2017
SouthOct. 28, 2017Apr. 30, 2018
NorthOct. 28, 2017Apr. 30, 2018

Mink and Muskrat

ZoneFirst DayLast Day
NorthOct. 29, 2016Feb. 28, 2017
SouthOct. 29, 2016Feb. 28, 2017
NorthOct. 28, 2017Feb. 28, 2018
SouthOct. 29, 2017Feb. 28, 2018

Otter

ZoneFirst DayLast Day
SouthOct. 28, 2017Jan. 7, 2018
NorthOct. 28, 2017Jan. 7, 2018

Goose-Spring Light Goose conservation action

First DayLast Day
Mar. 1, 2017Apr. 30, 2017

Crow

SeasonFirst DayLast Day
2nd SeasonMar. 1, 2017Mar. 31, 2017
3rd SeasonSep. 1, 2017Oct. 31, 2017
4th SeasonDec. 14, 2017Dec. 31, 2017

Turkey

SeasonFirst DayLast Day
Spring Turkey “A” (lottery/surplus)Apr. 12, 2017Apr. 18, 2017
Spring Turkey “B” (lottery/surplus)Apr. 19, 2017Apr. 25, 2017
Spring Turkey “C” (hunter selected)Apr. 26, 2017May 2, 2017
Spring Turkey “D” (hunter selected)May 3, 2017May 9, 2017
Spring Turkey “E” (hunter selected)May 10, 2017May 16, 2017
Spring Turkey “F” (any unfilled license)May 17, 2017May 30, 2017
Fall TurkeySep. 30, 2017Oct. 29, 2017

Bear

SeasonFirst DayLast Day
Bear BaitingAug. 11, 2017
Bear SeasonSep. 1, 2017Oct. 15, 2017

Mourning Dove

First DayLast Day
Sep. 1, 2017Nov. 9, 2017

Snipe and Rail

First DayLast Day
Sep. 1, 2017Nov. 6, 2017

Canada Goose

SeasonFirst DayLast Day
EarlySep. 2, 2017Sep. 18, 2017

Sandhill Crane

ZoneFirst DayLast Day
NW (tentative)Sep. 15, 2017Oct. 21, 2017

Deer

SeasonFirst DayLast Day
ArcherySep. 16, 2017Dec. 31, 2017
Camp Ripley Archery Hunt – 1st seasonOct. 19, 2017Oct. 20, 2017
Special Youth Deer SeasonOct. 19, 2017Oct. 22, 2017
Camp Ripley Archery Hunt – 2nd seasonOct. 28, 2017Oct. 29, 2017
Firearm – 100ANov. 04, 2017Nov. 19, 2017
Firearm – 200A and 300ANov. 04, 2017Nov. 12, 2017
Firearm – 300BNov. 18, 2017Nov. 26, 2017
MuzzleloaderNov. 25, 2017Dec. 10, 2017

Sharptailed Grouse

First DayLast Day
Sep. 16, 2017Nov. 30, 2017

Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Hungarian Partridge

First DayLast Day
Sep. 16, 2017Jan. 1, 2018

Woodcock

First DayLast Day
Sep. 23, 2017Nov. 6, 2017

Prairie Chicken

First DayLast Day
Sep. 30, 2017Oct. 8, 2017

Pheasant

First DayLast Day
Oct. 14, 2017Jan. 1, 2018

Bobcat

Hunting and Trapping North of I-94 and US HWY 10 only

First DayLast Day
Nov. 25, 2017Jan. 7, 2018

Fisher and Pine Marten

North of I-94 and US HWY 10 only

First DayLast Day
Nov. 25, 2017Nov. 30, 2017