Minnesota · License · 2026 Edition
Minnesota Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits
A year costs $22 for residents and $102 for nonresidents.
Minnesota sells separate licenses rather than one license with add-on tags: the small game license is the base for birds and small game, while deer, turkey and bear are each a license in their own right that you can buy without holding a small game license first. The Super Sports license is the one real bundle — $100 carries angling, small game, the trout/salmon, pheasant and state waterfowl stamps, and one deer license of your choice. Waterfowl needs three pieces together: a small game license, the state waterfowl stamp and the federal duck stamp, plus free HIP certification. A $1 agent fee is added at purchase. Minnesota replaced its 25-year-old licensing system in June 2026, so everything now runs through the new DNR Electronic Licensing System and its app.
01 — Base hunting license
| Type | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Small Game License | $22 | The base license for small game and birds. State and federal stamps are not included. |
| Resident Small Game License, senior 65 and older | $13.50 | |
| Resident Small Game License, youth 16-17 | $5 | |
| Resident Small Game License, 72-hour | $19 | Valid for 72 consecutive hours. |
| Resident Individual Sports License | $41 | Angling plus small game. Stamps are not included. |
| Resident Combination Sports License (married couple) | $57 | |
| Resident Individual Super Sports License | $100 | The one real bundle: angling, small game, the trout/salmon, pheasant and state waterfowl stamps, and one deer license — archery, firearm or muzzleloader. |
| Resident Combination Super Sports License (married couple) | $126 | |
| Apprentice Hunter/Trapper Validation | $3.50 | Bought alongside the actual license. Defers hunter education for two license years; same price for nonresidents. |
| Nonresident Small Game License | $102 | |
| Nonresident Small Game License, youth 16-17 | $5 | |
| Nonresident Small Game License, 72-hour | $75 | Valid for 72 consecutive hours. |
02 — Deer permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Deer License — firearm, archery or muzzleloader | $34 | Each weapon is its own license at the same price. A deer license stands alone — no small game license needed. |
| Resident Deer License, youth 13-17 | $5 | Firearm, archery or muzzleloader. |
| Deer License, youth 10-12 | Free | Free, and free for nonresident youth too. Ages 10-11 must stay within immediate reach of a parent or guardian. |
| Nonresident Deer License — firearm, archery or muzzleloader | $185 | Each weapon is its own license at the same price. |
| Nonresident Deer License, youth 13-17 | $5 | Firearm, archery or muzzleloader. |
| Resident Antlerless Deer Bonus Permit | $18 | Buys an extra antlerless deer beyond the license tag, where the area allows it. |
| Nonresident Antlerless Deer Bonus Permit | $91 | |
| Resident Deer Early Antlerless Season Permit | $8.50 | Requires an archery, firearm or muzzleloader license. Only in designated areas. |
| Nonresident Early Antlerless Deer Permit | $45 | Requires an archery, firearm or muzzleloader license. Only in designated areas. |
| Resident Deer Disease Management Permit | $1.50 | |
| Nonresident Deer Disease Management Permit | $1.50 | |
| Landowner Antlerless Deer Permit | Free |
03 — Turkey permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Turkey License — spring or fall | $26 | Spring and fall are separate licenses at the same price. Fall runs 30 days from the Saturday nearest October 1. |
| Nonresident Turkey License — spring or fall | $96 | Spring and fall are separate licenses at the same price. |
| Turkey License, youth 13-17 | $5 | Same price for residents and nonresidents, spring or fall. |
| Turkey License, youth 12 and under | Free | Free for residents and nonresidents alike. |
| Spring Turkey Lottery Application | $4 | Only for the lottery-drawn spring hunts. Same price for nonresidents. |
04 — Waterfowl & migratory bird permits
| Stamp | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State Waterfowl Stamp Validation | $7.50 | Same price for nonresidents. A small game license and the federal duck stamp are needed alongside it. |
| State Waterfowl Stamp Validation, pictorial | $8.25 | The collectible version; the extra $0.75 buys the physical stamp. |
| Federal Duck Stamp (2026-2027) | $25 | Same price for nonresidents. The electronic stamp is valid for the whole waterfowl season; pictorial stamps are mailed after it. |
| HIP Certification | Free | Free, and required of every migratory bird hunter. Runs March 1 to the last day of February. |
Waterfowl hunters 16 and older also need HIP registration and a Federal Duck Stamp. Minnesota duck season dates →
05 — Hunter education
Minnesota requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Required of anyone born after December 31, 1979 in order to buy a hunting license. An Apprentice Hunter Validation ($3.50) defers it for two license years, as long as the apprentice hunts alongside an adult licensed for the same season. Courses completed in other states are accepted.
Minnesota hunter safety course — options, costs and where to register →
06 — Where to buy
Licenses and permits are sold through MN DNR Electronic Licensing System, the state's official portal.
MN DNR Electronic Licensing System →
Where to hunt public land in Minnesota — WMAs by county & access rules →
Minnesota runs a fixed license year from March 1 through the last day of February, whatever date you buy on. HIP certification follows the same March-to-February year.
FAQ
Can I hunt on my own land in Minnesota without a license?
Minnesota's exemption is narrow: it covers small game only, and only on land that is your actual principal residence — owning land you don't live on doesn't qualify. Deer, bear, and turkey always need a license and tags, even at home.
How much is a hunting license in Minnesota?
A resident annual Minnesota hunting license costs $22, and the nonresident annual license costs $102. Species permits for deer, turkey and waterfowl are charged on top — see the tables above. Prices are set by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and were read from their own license document on Aug 6, 2026.
How much is a nonresident hunting license in Minnesota?
$102 for the annual nonresident license. Species permits come on top of the base license.
How much is a deer permit in Minnesota?
Resident Deer License — firearm, archery or muzzleloader — $34. Resident Deer License, youth 13-17 — $5. Deer License, youth 10-12 — Free. Nonresident Deer License — firearm, archery or muzzleloader — $185. Nonresident Deer License, youth 13-17 — $5. Resident Antlerless Deer Bonus Permit — $18. Nonresident Antlerless Deer Bonus Permit — $91. Resident Deer Early Antlerless Season Permit — $8.50. Nonresident Early Antlerless Deer Permit — $45. Resident Deer Disease Management Permit — $1.50. Nonresident Deer Disease Management Permit — $1.50. Landowner Antlerless Deer Permit — Free. A deer permit is charged on top of the base hunting license.
What do I need to get a hunting license in Minnesota?
Minnesota requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Licenses are sold through MN DNR Electronic Licensing System, the state's official portal. Minnesota runs a fixed license year from March 1 through the last day of February, whatever date you buy on. HIP certification follows the same March-to-February year.
Do I need a hunter safety course to buy a Minnesota hunting license?
Yes, for most first-time buyers. Required of anyone born after December 31, 1979 in order to buy a hunting license. An Apprentice Hunter Validation ($3.50) defers it for two license years, as long as the apprentice hunts alongside an adult licensed for the same season. Courses completed in other states are accepted.
Verified · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-06
Publisher's note. Prices read from the MN DNR license offerings document, retrieved 2026-08-06. Review due 2027-02-01. Fees are set by the state and change without notice — confirm current prices before purchase.