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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Buck Open Season Small Game Knife
As bird hunters and outdoorsmen, there is no such thing as having too many knives. Buck’s Open Season Small Game knife with drop point 4-1/4” blade is a great form for disassembling game birds afield. It has nice balance in hand and a stylish profile with either Dymalux red wood, olive micarta, or thermoplastic black…
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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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On the Eve
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Mud River Luggage
Aside from this luggage looking upland-ey (i.e. cool,) it’s extremely well made and durable. I’ve flown with the Rolling Duffel ($219) on hunting trips around the US and Africa, and it’s held up beautifully. It has every feature a duffel bag needs, heavy-duty nylon zipper, leather accents, wheels, extending handle, end zippered pockets, and a…
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L.L.Bean Small Stacked Leather Hunting Knife
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2015 Women’s Outdoor & Shooting Industry Dinner
It was just 3 years ago when Britney Starr, founder of the Women’s Outdoor & Shooting Industry Dinner, attended her first SHOT Show. While there she ran into friends representing different hunting and shooting sports from all over the country. She immediately recognized the need for a coordinated event in which the growing number of…
