Minnesota Bird Hunting
Seasons Span September 13 – January 4, 2026
State Drought Monitor – Upland hunting conditions are often highly dependent upon moisture for both habitat production and bird survival.
Season Dates
- Ruffed Grouse: September 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026
- Spruce Grouse: September 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026
- Sharp-tailed Grouse: September 13, 2025 – November 30, 2025 (Northwest Zone only; East-Central Zone closed)
- Ring-necked Pheasant: October 11, 2025 – January 4, 2026 (9 a.m. to sunset)
- Hungarian Partridge: September 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026
- Prairie Chicken: September 27, 2025 – October 5, 2025 (lottery only, limited to quota areas)
- American Woodcock: September 20, 2025 – November 3, 2025
Required Licenses and Costs
- Small Game License (valid March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026):
- Resident: $22.00
- Non-resident: $102.00
- Resident Youth (16-17): $5.00
- Non-resident Youth (16-17): $5.00
- Resident Senior (65+): $13.50
- 72-Hour Small Game License (includes pheasant stamp):
- Resident: $19.00
- Non-resident: $75.00
- Military/Disabled Veteran: Free for eligible residents
- Pheasant Stamp (required for pheasant hunting, in addition to small game license): $7.50 (resident and non-resident)
- Prairie Chicken License (lottery-based, residents only):
- Application Fee: $4.00
- License Fee: $23.00 (if drawn)
- Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (required for woodcock, dove, snipe, and rail): $7.50 (resident and non-resident)
- Federal Duck Stamp (required for woodcock, dove, snipe, and rail): $27.50
- HIP Certification: Free (required for migratory birds like woodcock, dove, snipe, and rail)
- Apprentice Hunter Validation: $3.50 (for those without a Firearm Safety Certificate)
- Hunter Safety Requirements: Hunters born after December 31, 1979, must have a Firearm Safety Certificate or apprentice hunter validation.
Licenses can be purchased online, by phone (888-665-4236), at DNR license agents, or via the forthcoming mobile app.
Daily Bag Limits and Possession Limits
- Ruffed Grouse: 5 daily (combined with spruce grouse), 10 possession
- Spruce Grouse: 5 daily (combined with ruffed grouse), 10 possession
- Sharp-tailed Grouse: 3 daily, 6 possession (Northwest Zone only)
- Ring-necked Pheasant: 2 daily (3 daily from December 1, 2025), 6 possession (9 possession from December 1, 2025), roosters only
- Hungarian Partridge: 5 daily, 10 possession
- Prairie Chicken: 2 per season (lottery only, no daily limit specified)
- American Woodcock: 3 daily, 9 possession
Additional Notes
- Prairie Chicken Hunting: Limited to 125 permits via lottery, with applications typically due in August. Only available in designated quota areas.
- Sharp-tailed Grouse: Hunting is restricted to the Northwest Zone due to population declines in the East-Central Zone.
- Public Hunting Land: Minnesota offers 11 million acres of public hunting land, including state forests and wildlife management areas, ideal for upland bird hunting.
- Regulation Updates: Always verify with the Minnesota DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) for the most current regulations, as dates and rules may change. Information is typically finalized by August 1, 2025.
- Ethical Considerations: For spruce grouse, hunters are encouraged to exercise restraint due to their limited survival instincts and low population in the lower 48 states.
For the most up-to-date information, check the Minnesota DNR’s hunting regulations booklet or website.
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Zenbivy Light Bed – 10°
I have a difficult time sleeping in traditional sleeping bags and mummy bags are out of the question. Most mornings after a bagged night I would wake with shoulders so stiff they could barely function from holding an unnatural position all night long. When I saw that Zenbivy had redesigned the traditional “bag” from the…
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Lost……again
“I am lost” “Going to shoot. Let me know if you can hear it.” “Hear it?” “I was 50 yards from the truck.” It’s my hunting buddy’s first foray into the realm of the Ruffed Grouse. We’ve hunted a few days now, but this is the first overcast day in an area previously unexplored. It…
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HydraPak 3L Bladder / HydraPak Seeker Water Bottle
Running bird dogs in country where there is minimal surface water, the only way to extend the hunt is to carry enough water. HydraPak’s 3L Bladder upfitted to my vest lets us keep hunting when the land is parched. The insulated drink tube helps keep the water flowing on chilly mornings. I remove the high-flow…
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Pachmayr Snap Caps
Snap caps are cheap insurance for a stored shotgun. These little buggers allow you to safely dry fire the weapon and relieve hammer spring tension. They make a great stocking stuffer and are an afterthought that many bird hunters don’t already own. Get a set or six in multiple gauges. ($11 set of two) Click here.
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QuikClot Gauze
I’m always making small adjustments to the items I consider Every Day Carry (EDC) in my bird vest based on the conditions and situations we run into in the field. Of course there are always shells, there’s always water, generally a snack though it may be from a previous hunting season. Most of the EDC…
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Hot Drunk Dates and Broken Hearts
Decided to take a lot of my favorite things from the camp pantry and do a quick, simple recipe in classic country song style. Here’s to eating beak to feet. Game birds hearts should never go to waste. Great, lean protein for camp appetizers.
