Minnesota hunting seasons 2026
14 hunting seasons are open in Minnesota today, including deer, squirrel, rabbit. Dates come from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and were read today.
Dates only. Bag limits, legal methods, licences and zone boundaries: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Read today.
Big game
- Deer Open open now, last season closes Dec 31, 2026
- Black bear Upcoming opens Sep 1, 2027 (General season)
Small game
Furbearers
14 hunting seasons are open in Minnesota on November 14: deer, squirrel, rabbit, badger, fox and opossum and more.
Opening in the next six weeks: deer firearm (season b) on Nov 21, 2026 (300 Series permit areas) and bobcat general season on Dec 12, 2026 (North Furbearer Zone).
Minnesota sets different dates by zone or unit for badger, black bear, bobcat, deer and fox and others; the tables list each zone's dates.
Dates come from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources's MN DNR hunting season dates, read today. Bag limits, legal methods, licences and zone boundaries are not reproduced here; the agency's regulations govern.
All Minnesota season dates
Deer Open
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Open open, closes in 47 days |
| Archery | Statewide | Sep 18, 2027 to Dec 31, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 308 days |
| Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 14 days |
| Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 27, 2027 to Dec 12, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 378 days |
| Early Antlerless | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Antlerless | Statewide | Oct 21, 2027 to Oct 24, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 341 days |
| Firearm (Season A) | 100 Series permit areas | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 22, 2026 | Open open, closes in 8 days |
| Firearm (Season A) | 100 Series permit areas | Nov 6, 2027 to Nov 21, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 357 days |
| Firearm (Season A) | 200 & 300 Series permit areas | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | Open open, closes tomorrow |
| Firearm (Season A) | 200 & 300 Series permit areas | Nov 6, 2027 to Nov 14, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 357 days |
| Firearm (Season B) | 300 Series permit areas | Nov 21, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 7 days |
| Firearm (Season B) | 300 Series permit areas | Nov 20, 2027 to Nov 28, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 371 days |
| Youth | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Youth | Statewide | Oct 21, 2027 to Oct 24, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 341 days |
Black bear Upcoming
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General season | Permit areas & no-quota area | Sep 1, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026 | Closed closed |
| General season | Permit areas & no-quota area | Sep 1, 2027 to Oct 17, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 291 days |
Squirrel Open
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | Open open, closes in 106 days |
| General season | Statewide | Sep 18, 2027 to Feb 29, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 308 days |
Rabbit Open
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | Open open, closes in 106 days |
| General season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | Open open, closes in 106 days |
| General season | Statewide | Sep 18, 2027 to Feb 29, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 308 days |
| General season | Statewide | Sep 18, 2027 to Feb 29, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 308 days |
Badger Open
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General season | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027 | Open open, closes in 121 days |
| General season | North furbearer zone | Oct 16, 2027 to Mar 15, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 336 days |
| General season | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027 | Open open, closes in 121 days |
| General season | South furbearer zone | Oct 23, 2027 to Mar 15, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 343 days |
Bobcat Upcoming
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General season | North Furbearer Zone | Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 17, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 28 days |
| General season | North Furbearer Zone | Dec 11, 2027 to Jan 16, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 392 days |
Fox Open
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General season | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027 | Open open, closes in 121 days |
| General season | North furbearer zone | Oct 16, 2027 to Mar 15, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 336 days |
| General season | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027 | Open open, closes in 121 days |
| General season | South furbearer zone | Oct 23, 2027 to Mar 15, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 343 days |
Opossum Open
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General season | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027 | Open open, closes in 121 days |
| General season | North furbearer zone | Oct 16, 2027 to Mar 15, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 336 days |
| General season | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027 | Open open, closes in 121 days |
| General season | South furbearer zone | Oct 23, 2027 to Mar 15, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 343 days |
Raccoon Open
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General season | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027 | Open open, closes in 121 days |
| General season | North furbearer zone | Oct 16, 2027 to Mar 15, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 336 days |
| General season | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027 | Open open, closes in 121 days |
| General season | South furbearer zone | Oct 23, 2027 to Mar 15, 2028 | Upcoming opens in 343 days |
Questions
Is deer season open in Minnesota right now?
Yes. 3 deer seasons are open in Minnesota on November 14, and the last of them closes Dec 31, 2026.
When does black bear season open in Minnesota?
The first black bear season of 2026 in Minnesota opens Sep 1, 2026 (General season, Permit areas & no-quota area).
Is squirrel season open in Minnesota right now?
Yes. 1 squirrel season is open in Minnesota on November 14, and the last of them closes Feb 28, 2027.
When does the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources publish next year's season dates?
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has posted the coming year's dates between February and May in recent years. This page updates the day the agency's page changes.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, MN DNR hunting season dates. Read today.