Minnesota hunting
Public hunting land in Minnesota
Caliber maps 1,421 public hunting areas in Minnesota, with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
Minnesota · 1,421 areas
Superior National Forest
National forest · 2,093,604 acres
Chippewa National Forest
National forest · 659,658 acres
Red Lake State Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife area · 324,688 acres
Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 123,638 acres
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 85,959 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 1,421 by distance from you.
- 1,402
- State wildlife areas
- 4
- National forests
- 1
- BLM land
- 14
- National wildlife refuges
Minnesota hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Phone
- 888-646-6367
- Resident license
- $22.00 — Resident Small Game License (ages 18-64, 2026 license year)
- Nonresident license
- $102.00 — Nonresident Small Game License (age 18+, 2026 license year); big game licenses extra
- Hunter education
- Anyone born after Dec 31, 1979 (over age 12) needs firearms safety/hunter education certification to buy a firearms hunting license.
- Good to know
- Prices exclude a $1.00 agent fee and state/federal stamps (e.g., pheasant, waterfowl). Licenses run Mar 1 to end of Feb.
Fees and rules as published by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in Minnesota
The 12 biggest of 1,421 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior National Forest | National forest | 2,093,604 | Open |
| Chippewa National Forest | National forest | 659,658 | Open |
| Red Lake State Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 324,688 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 123,638 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 85,959 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Roseau River State Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 75,144 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Kabetogama Purchase Unit | National forest | 68,258 | Open |
| Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 61,340 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Thief Lake State Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 54,940 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 46,338 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife And Fish Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 39,587 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Mille Lacs State Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 38,759 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
State wildlife areas · 1,402
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National forests · 4
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws, except near developed sites and where posted. Some areas close for fire or wildlife.
BLM land · 1
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws. BLM land is often scattered between private parcels, so legal access can be the hard part.
National wildlife refuges · 14
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
Minnesota hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in Minnesota?
Caliber lists 1,421 public hunting areas in Minnesota: 1,402 state wildlife areas, 4 national forests, 1 blm land, 14 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in Minnesota?
As published by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $22.00 — Resident Small Game License (ages 18-64, 2026 license year); nonresident, $102.00 — Nonresident Small Game License (age 18+, 2026 license year); big game licenses extra. Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Minnesota?
Anyone born after Dec 31, 1979 (over age 12) needs firearms safety/hunter education certification to buy a firearms hunting license. Check Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in Minnesota?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find Minnesota hunting land near you
All 1,421 Minnesota areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the managing agency before you hunt.
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Guides & directories
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- Public hunting land in Minnesota
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