Minnesota’s regular waterfowl season opens this Saturday
Minnesota’s regular waterfowl hunting season opens 30 minutes before sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Spring waterfowl counts were substantially higher than last year. The full report from the spring waterfowl survey is available on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources waterfowl management webpage. In the report, total breeding duck abundance (excluding diving ducks) was estimated at 677,868, which is 62% above the 2025 estimate and 11% above the long-term average going back to 1968. Higher counts this year were due to timely April rains that improved settling conditions for ducks.
Hunters can find important information about required waterfowl stamps, season dates, hunting regulations and information to help properly identify waterfowl on the Minnesota DNR waterfowl hunting webpage.
Reminder about licensing changes
For this waterfowl season, hunters will see changes in how they buy licenses as they use the new electronic licensing system launched in June. With the new system in place, the Minnesota DNR is urging hunters to buy their hunting licenses early this year.
Buying early helps hunters prevent any last-minute delays they encounter while getting a hunting license from interfering with their hunt. That way they can be confident they have everything ready so they can focus on the hunt and enjoy the season.
There are three ways to buy a license (mobile app, online, or in person from a license agent) and three ways to carry it (paper, PDF, or stored in the app). Customers can access the new system on the Minnesota DNR website or by searching “Minnesota DNR Licensing” in the Apple or Google app stores. In-person license agents can be found on a map on the Minnesota DNR website.
If buying in person, hunters should also check that the place where they want to buy a license is selling them this year. The Minnesota DNR has an online map of 2026 license agents.
Hunter walking trails provide access to public hunting in northern Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources maintains hunter walking trails as easy ways to travel by foot through wildlife management areas, state and federal forests, and other public hunting lands. Hunter walking trails wind through prime habitat for ruffed grouse, woodcock, wild turkey and deer. There are more than 900 miles of hunter walking trails in the northern portion of the state. Many of the trails are gated, allowing foot traffic only.
The Minnesota DNR has made significant updates to the PDF maps and the interactive map in the hunter walking trail tool and the interactive map on the DNR’s Recreation Compass. Trails added to the system since the last update are now included and existing trails were updated for accuracy.
Hunters with questions about the trails are encouraged to call area wildlife offices for more information about trails, as well as hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities and tips.