Minnesota duck season 2026-27: dates and free maps

Season dates

Youth waterfowl weekend: Saturday, September 12 to Sunday, September 13, 2026
Hunters 17 and younger with a nonhunting adult.
Source: Minnesota DNR
Central zone, first split: Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, October 4, 2026
Source: Minnesota DNR
North zone: Saturday, September 26 to Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Source: Minnesota DNR
South zone, first split: Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, October 4, 2026
Source: Minnesota DNR
Central zone, second split: Saturday, October 10 to Sunday, November 29, 2026
The printed regulations booklet had these dates wrong; the DNR corrected them online.
Source: Minnesota DNR
South zone, second split: Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, December 6, 2026
Source: Minnesota DNR

Checked on the agency's site November 6, 2026. Licenses, units, bag limits and shooting hours differ, and dates can vary by unit: the regulations are what count, so read them before you go.

Federal migratory bird rules apply on top of state rules: check what your state requires for the federal duck stamp and HIP registration, and your state's shooting hours and bag limits.

Marshes, river bottoms and refuge boundaries are hard to read in the dark, and public and closed areas sit side by side. Download the maps for your marsh ahead of time and Cartahaven shows your GPS position on them offline, so you can find your spot before shooting light and stay out of closed zones.

Minnesota deer permit areas Open the map app

Free public land maps in Minnesota

Minnesota USGS topo maps (1,762)
Minnesota historical topo maps (246)
Minnesota Forest Service FSTopo maps (239)
Minnesota wildlife refuge maps (35)
Minnesota national forest maps (2)
Minnesota national park maps (2)

All free maps in Minnesota

Before you go

Cartahaven is not affiliated with or endorsed by Minnesota DNR. Season dates come from the agency pages linked above.