Minnesota Hunting & Fishing
Season Calendar 2026

Minnesota firearms deer season runs Nov 7–Nov 22 statewide; legal methods include centerfire rifles, shotguns, handguns, and muzzleloaders. Hunters must possess a valid Minnesota hunting license and deer license. Blaze orange — at least 144 square inches on chest and back and a blaze orange hat — is required. The season limit is one antlered buck; antlerless harvest requires an antlerless permit by zone. November firearms season in Minnesota opens during the height of the breeding rut — agricultural transition zones between row crops and timber are the most productive areas. Public land hunting on national forests in northeastern and north-central Minnesota provides vast acreage with good deer densities.

Minnesota archery deer season runs Sep 19–Dec 31 statewide; any legal bow including compound, recurve, longbow, and crossbow is authorized. Hunters must possess a valid Minnesota hunting license and deer license. The season bag limit is one antlered buck plus additional antlerless deer with bonus antlerless permits purchased by permit zone. Minnesota's agricultural southeast — Fillmore, Houston, and Winona Counties in the bluff country — consistently produces exceptional trophy whitetails. The pre-rut and rut period (Oct 25–Nov 20) is the most productive window in Minnesota, with secondary rut activity extending into December in some zones.

Minnesota muzzleloader deer season runs Nov 28–Dec 13; only legal muzzleloading firearms are permitted including sidelock and inline designs. Hunters must possess a valid Minnesota hunting license and deer license, plus an antlerless permit for doe harvest. The post-rut December muzzleloader season catches bucks focused on high-calorie food sources before hard winter sets in. Blaze orange remains required. Minnesota muzzleloader hunters should focus on south-facing slopes and agricultural edges near bedding cover — deer concentrate in predictable feeding patterns once breeding activity concludes. Season bag limit is one antlered buck shared with firearms and archery seasons.

Minnesota spring turkey season runs Apr 22–May 31 across all permit zones statewide; permits are required and issued through a draw system with multiple application periods. Hunters must possess a valid Minnesota hunting license and turkey permit; legal methods include shotguns, archery, and crossbows. Electronic calls are prohibited. The daily bag limit is one gobbler with a season limit of one gobbler per permit. Minnesota holds an estimated 90,000 wild turkeys — the bluff country of the southeast and agricultural areas of the southwest hold the highest densities. Zone 1 and Zone 2 typically produce the most consistent gobbling activity from late April through mid-May.

Minnesota black bear season runs Sep 1–Oct 17 in Bear Management Areas 23 and 24 (northeast and north-central Minnesota) with additional zones opening statewide; permit availability varies by zone with some areas having over-the-counter licenses and others using quota systems. Hunters must possess a valid Minnesota hunting license and a bear license. Baiting is legal and widely practiced — bait site rules require compliance with set-back distances from dwellings and roads. The bag limit is one bear per license year; bears must be registered at a licensed check station within 48 hours. Minnesota's northeastern bear zone has an estimated population of 12,000 animals.