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Minnesota regulations 2026–27

Copied from the Minnesota DNR 2026 Fishing Regulations and the DNR hunting season calendar. Hunting dates are cross-checked against the 2026 Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations. Every table links to the official source. If anything here disagrees with the Minnesota DNR, the Minnesota DNR is right.

Checked against Minnesota DNR Oct 17, 2026Fishing rules Mar 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
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Inland seasons & possession limits (statewide)

Inland waters only. Special regulations (about 1,000 lakes and rivers), border waters, Lake Superior and northern pike zone limits differ — check the DNR booklet. Whitefish, sturgeon, paddlefish and winter lake trout rows are left out until verified by hand.

Minnesota statewide fishing limits
SpeciesDaily bagMin lengthMax length
Walleye and sauger (and their hybrid)
  • Open season: May 9, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027
6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession)——
Muskellunge
  • Open season: June 6 - Nov. 30
1 (minimum size 54")54"—
Tiger (hybrid) muskellunge (see page 85 for identification guide)
  • Open season: June 6 - Nov. 30
1 (minimum size 40")40"—
Largemouth bass - Statewide (Southern and North-central Zones)
  • Open season: March 1 - May 22
Catch-and-release only——
Largemouth bass - Statewide (Southern and North-central Zones)
  • Open season: May 23, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027
6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open)——
Smallmouth bass - Statewide (Southern and North-central Zones)
  • Open season: March 1 - May 22
Catch-and-release only——
Smallmouth bass - Statewide (Southern and North-central Zones)
  • Open season: May 23 - Sept. 13
6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass——
Smallmouth bass - Statewide (Southern and North-central Zones)
  • Open season: Sept. 14, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027
Catch-and-release only——
Largemouth and smallmouth bass - Northeast Zone (Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County are part of the Northeast Zone for bass. See Zone Map on page 31.)
  • Open season: March 1 - May 8
Catch-and-release only——
Largemouth and smallmouth bass - Northeast Zone (Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County are part of the Northeast Zone for bass. See Zone Map on page 31.)
  • Open season: May 9, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027
6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass——
Crappie (white or black and their hybrids)
  • Open season: Continuous
10 combined total——
Sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green, orangespotted, northern, warmouth, and their hybrids)
  • Open season: Continuous
20 combined total——
Rock bass
  • Open season: Continuous
30——
White bass and yellow bass
  • Open season: Continuous
30 combined total——
Channel Catfish
  • Open season: Continuous
5 (only 1 over 24")——
Flathead Catfish
  • Open season: April 1 - Nov. 30
2 (only 1 over 24")——
Perch
  • Open season: Continuous
20 daily, 40 in possession——
Cisco (tullibee)
  • Open season: Continuous
15 (over 7") EXCEPTION: For sport netting on Leech Lake Indian Reservation limit 50.——
Burbot (eelpout)
  • Open season: Continuous
4——
Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeye, redhorse, and suckers
  • Open season: Continuous
No limit——
American eel
  • Open season: Continuous
Catch-and-release only——
Bullhead
  • Open season: Continuous
100——
Gar
  • Open season: Continuous
10——
Smelt
  • Open season: Continuous
No limit——
Lake trout (SUMMER)Statewide
  • Open season: May 9 - Sept. 30
2——

Minnesota DNR 2026 Fishing Regulations (PDF) 2026 (Mar 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027) · official source ↗ · checked Oct 17, 2026

Hunting & trapping season dates 2026–27

Deer7 seasons
SeasonZone / areaDates
ArcheryStatewide09/19/26 - 12/31/26
YouthStatewide10/15/26 - 10/18/26
Early AntlerlessSee DNR10/15/26 - 10/18/26
Firearm (Season A)200 & 300 Series permit areas11/7/26 - 11/15/26
Firearm (Season A)100 Series permit areas11/7/26 - 11/22/26
Firearm (Season B)300 Series permit areas11/21/26 - 11/29/26
MuzzleloaderStatewide11/28/26 - 12/13/26

Permit-area, zone and license rules apply — check the DNR regulations.

Badger2 seasons
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonNorth furbearer zone10/17/26 - 03/15/27
SeasonSouth furbearer zone10/24/26 - 03/15/27

Permit-area, zone and license rules apply — check the DNR regulations.

Bobcat1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonNorth Furbearer Zone12/12/26 - 01/17/27

Permit-area, zone and license rules apply — check the DNR regulations.

Fox, Gray & Red2 seasons
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonNorth furbearer zone10/17/26 - 03/15/27
SeasonSouth furbearer zone10/24/26 - 03/15/27

Permit-area, zone and license rules apply — check the DNR regulations.

Opossum2 seasons
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonNorth furbearer zone10/17/26 - 03/15/27
SeasonSouth furbearer zone10/24/26 - 03/15/27

Permit-area, zone and license rules apply — check the DNR regulations.

Rabbit, Jack1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonStatewide09/19/26 - 02/28/27

Permit-area, zone and license rules apply — check the DNR regulations.

Rabbit, Cottontail & Snowshoe Hare1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonStatewide09/19/26 - 02/28/27

Permit-area, zone and license rules apply — check the DNR regulations.

Raccoon2 seasons
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonNorth furbearer zone10/17/26 - 03/15/27
SeasonSouth furbearer zone10/24/26 - 03/15/27

Permit-area, zone and license rules apply — check the DNR regulations.

Squirrel, Gray & Fox1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonStatewide09/19/26 - 02/28/27

Permit-area, zone and license rules apply — check the DNR regulations.

Minnesota DNR hunting seasons 2026–27 · official source ↗ · checked Oct 17, 2026

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