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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