Deer season 2026 · last checked Sep 26, 2026
Minnesota deer season dates 2026
Official dates from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, by season and zone, plus the public land in Minnesota from our directory. Archery opens Sept. 19, 2026. Firearms: Nov. 7, 2026 (Firearm Season A).
Last checked Sep 26, 2026 against the official Minnesota Department of Natural Resources page. Dates vary by zone, unit and county, and agencies can change them. Confirm with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources before you hunt.
Quick answers
- When does archery deer season start in Minnesota?
- Sept. 19, 2026, per Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. See the table for zone differences and closing dates.
- When does gun (firearms) deer season start in Minnesota?
- Nov. 7, 2026 (Firearm Season A).
- Where are the official rules?
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: hunting information. Bag limits, licenses, tags and weapon rules are not repeated here.
Minnesota deer season dates, 2026
Deer
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Statewide | Sept. 19 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Youth | Statewide | Oct. 15–18, 2026 |
| Early antlerless | Select permit areas (see DNR) | Oct. 15–18, 2026 |
| Firearm Season A | 100-series permit areas | Nov. 7–22, 2026 |
| Firearm Season A | 200- and 300-series permit areas | Nov. 7–15, 2026 |
| Firearm Season B | 300-series permit areas | Nov. 21–29, 2026 |
| Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov. 28 – Dec. 13, 2026 |
- Minnesota sets deer rules by deer permit area. Check your permit area’s designation with the DNR before you hunt.
Official sources (checked Sep 26, 2026)
Public land in Minnesota that may allow deer hunting
Our directory lists 1,458 named public land units in Minnesota (about 7.6M ac, from USGS PAD-US 4.1): 1,337 state wildlife & game areas, 56 forests & grasslands, 63 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 1 BLM units, 1 other public land units. PAD-US shows who manages the land. It doesn’t cover hunting rules. Before you go, check the area’s own rules with the managing agency. WMAs, refuges and forests often have special dates, permits or closed zones.
State wildlife areas & game lands in Minnesota
All 1,337 →- State wildlife / game area
Roseau River State Wildlife Management Area
75,161 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Roseau County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Thief Lake State Wildlife Management Area
54,930 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Marshall County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Wapiti State Wildlife Management Area
31,745 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Beltrami County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Beaches Lake State Wildlife Management Area
30,611 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Kittson County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Carlos Avery State Wildlife Management Area
24,105 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Anoka County, Chisago County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Moose River State Wildlife Management Area
21,210 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Beltrami County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Elm Lake State Wildlife Management Area
15,753 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Marshall County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Huntersville State Forest
15,028 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wadena County, Hubbard County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Palmville State Wildlife Management Area
14,880 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Roseau County, Marshall County
Restricted access
National & state forests and grasslands in Minnesota
All 56 →- National Forest land
Superior National Forest
2,091,738 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Lake County, St. Louis County + 1 more
Open access - National Forest land
Chippewa National Forest
659,924 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Itasca County, Cass County + 1 more
Open access - State forest
Pine Island State Forest
632,001 acres
State: department of natural resources · Koochiching County
Open access - State forest
Koochiching State Forest
318,390 acres
State: department of natural resources · Koochiching County
Open access - State forest
Kabetogama State Forest
157,795 acres
State: department of natural resources · St. Louis County, Koochiching County
Open access - State forest
Lake of the Woods State Forest
138,732 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lake of the Woods County
Open access
National wildlife refuges & WPAs in Minnesota
All 63 →- National Wildlife Refuge
Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge
61,819 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Marshall County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge
43,520 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Becker County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
30,677 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Sherburne County
Restricted access - Waterfowl Production Area
Otter Tail County Waterfowl Production Area
24,297 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Otter Tail County
Restricted access
BLM land in Minnesota
- BLM public land
BLM Northeastern States District Office Public Lands
5,495 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Lake of the Woods County, St. Louis County + 6 more
Open access
Counties with the most listed public land
- Lincoln County (54)
- Murray County (51)
- St Louis County (46)
- Polk County (44)
- Otter Tail County (41)
- Lac Qui Parle County (39)
- Lyon County (38)
- Yellow Medicine County (37)
- Stearns County (33)
- Crow Wing County (33)
- Cass County (32)
- Becker County (31)
Not legal advice and not an official source. This independent site is not affiliated with any government agency. Season dates are copied from the agency pages linked above as of the “last checked” date and may have changed since. The agency’s current regulations are what count. Full disclaimer.
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