News & notices
Mangement areas
Ruffed grouse management areas are a great destination for the hunter looking to experience grouse and woodcock hunting. Located throughout the primary grouse range, these areas are managed to promote suitable habitat conditions for these species.
Hunter walking trails
Check out our searchable directory of hunter walking trails. These trails provide comparatively easy access to grouse and woodcock areas, winding their way through Wildlife management areas and sometimes connecting with state forests and other public hunting lands.
You need blaze clothing
Grouse hunters must wear at least one visible article of clothing above the waist that is blaze orange or pink. This could be a hat, jacket or hunting vest. Remember to stay abreast when walking with other hunters in the woods so you remain visible and behind the line of fire.
Seasons
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Ruffed & spruce grouse | Sept. 18-Jan. 2, 2022 |
| Hungarian partridge | Sept. 18-Jan. 2, 2022 |
| Sharp-tailed grouse, northwest zone | Sept. 18-Nov. 30 |
| Sharp-tailed grouse, east-central zone | Planned closure * |
| Woodcock | Sept. 25-Nov. 8 |
| * Significant population declines and changing habitat in the east-central zone are prompting changes. | |
Shooting hours
½ hour before sunrise to sunset (Sunrise and sunset data)
Limits
Daily | |
| Species | Limit |
|---|---|
| Ruffed & spruce grouse | 5 combined |
| Hungarian partridge | 5 |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | 3 |
| Woodcock | 3 |
Possession | |
| Species | Limit |
| Ruffed & spruce grouse | 10 combined |
| Hungarian partridge | 10 |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | 6 |
| Woodcock | 9 |
Ranges & zones
Sharp-tailed zones
Work the swamp edges when hunting ruffed grouse and you're bound to find woodcock, which often share the same woods with their drumming cohorts.
Northwestern Minnesota is home to isolated populations of Hungarian partridge.Research
Spruce grouse genetics study needs your help
You can contribute to research on landscape connectivity for spruce grouse by sending three to five feathers from each bird you harvest.
To participate, please use one envelope for each bird and send feathers to:
Grouse research
1201 East Highway 2
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Please include your name, contact information, harvest date, and harvest location (GPS coordinates preferred for the analysis and will not be made public) for each bird.
For more information, email Charlotte Roy at [email protected].
Learn to hunt
Do you value strong connections to your outdoors and the food you eat? Are you looking for a new way to interact with the fields, woods and waters around you?
Please check out our grouse and woodcock hunting how-to guide to get started.
Management
Hunting is only one aspect of the DNR's effort to manage grouse and woodcock for the public trust. Visit our grouse management page to learn about the things we do to manage grouse for the benefit of all Minnesotans now and into the future.