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Minnesota, Wisconsin fall hunting seasons set — time to plan ahead

This year’s firearms deer season will be very late in both states.

By | jmyers@duluthnews.com | Forum News Service
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

While many of us are just getting into the summer mode of fishing, camping, biking and paddling, some fall hunting seasons are just three months away, and it’s time to plan for this autumn’s activities.

A man in orange sits high up in a tree
Minnesota and Wisconsin hunting seasons are set for the fall of 2024, with later-than-usual firearms deer seasons in both states. (Clint Austin / Forum News Service)

This fall will be notable for very late firearms deer hunting seasons in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Minnesota season begins Nov. 9 and Wisconsin’s season doesn’t start until Nov. 23 and runs into December thanks to a very late Thanksgiving date.

Minnesota hunters who hunt in areas that will have antlerless permits available need to buy their license and apply for those by Sept. 5. Hunters across Northeastern Minnesota can expect another season of few or no antlerless permits in many areas after a string of deep-snow winters. But the non-event winter of 2023-24 was a first big step back to higher deer numbers.

Minnesota’s statewide firearms youth deer season runs Oct. 17-20, coinciding with the annual school break. Wisconsin’s firearms youth deer season is set for Oct. 5-6.

Note that Minnesota’s migratory waterfowl season dates listed here are likely but still tentative.

Minnesota 2024 hunting seasons

  • Aug. 1 — Deadline to purchase bear permit
  • Aug. 6 — Surplus bear licenses go on sale
  • Aug. 16 — Bear baiting begins
  • Sept. 1-Nov. 26 — Mourning dove
  • Sept. 1-Oct. 31 — Crow
  • Sept. 1-Oct. 13 — Bear
  • Sept. 1-5 — Ducks, teal only, statewide
  • Sept. 1-15 — Canada goose early season, statewide
  • Sept. 5 — Deadline to apply for antlerless deer permits and special hunts (where available)
  • Sept. 7-8 — Youth waterfowl, statewide
  • Sept. 14-Jan. 1 — Ruffed grouse
  • Sept. 14-Dec. 31 — Deer, archery and crossbow
  • Sept. 14-Nov. 30 — Sharptail grouse, northwest zone only (closed in east-central area)
  • Sept. 14-Feb. 28 — Squirrel and rabbit, including snowshoe hares
  • Sept. 21-Oct. 19 — Sandhill crane, northwest zone only
  • Sept. 21-Nov. 3 — Woodcock
  • Sept. 21-Nov. 19 — Ducks, north zone
  • Sept. 21-Dec. 21— Geese, north zone
  • Sept. 21-29 — Ducks, central zone
  • Sept. 21-29 — Ducks, south zone
  • Sept. 28-Oct. 27 — Turkey
  • Oct. 5-Nov. 24 — Ducks, central zone, second season
  • Oct. 5-Nov. 24 — Ducks, south zone, second season
  • Oct. 12-Jan. 1 — Pheasant, statewide
  • Oct. 17-Oct. 20 — Minnesota school break
  • Oct. 17-20 — Firearms deer, youth-only (ages 10-17) statewide
  • Oct. 19-March 15 — Fox and raccoon
  • Nov. 9-24 – Deer, firearms, 100-numbered areas
  • Nov. 9-17 — Deer, firearms, 200- and 300-numbered areas
  • Nov. 23-Dec. 1 — Deer, firearms, 300-numbered permit areas, second season
  • Nov. 30-Dec. 15 — Deer, muzzleloader, statewide

For more information, check a hunting and trapping regulations booklet available free wherever licenses are sold or go to dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/seasons.html and click on the species you are interested in.

Wisconsin 2024 hunting seasons

  • Sept. 1-Nov. 29 — Mourning dove

    A man and a dog dressed in hunting gear in the woods
    Grouse hunters will take to the woods Sept. 14, 2024, in Minnesota and Wisconsin. (John Myers / Forum News Service)

  • Sept. 1-9 — Early teal-only season
  • Sept. 1-15 — Early goose, statewide
  • Sept. 4-Oct. 8 — Bear (dates vary for baiting and use of dogs)
  • Sept. 16-Dec. 16 — Goose, north zone
  • Sept. 14-15 — Youth waterfowl hunt, statewide
  • Sept. 14-Jan. 5 — Deer, archery and crossbow
  • Sept. 14-Jan. 5 — Ruffed grouse, north zone (northern two-thirds of state)
  • Sept. 14-Nov. 22 — Turkey, statewide
  • Nov. 23-Jan. 5 — Extended turkey season, zones 1-5
  • Nov. 23-March 26 — Crow
  • Sept. 14-Feb. 28 — Rabbits, north zone (there is no season or limit restrictions on hares)
  • Sept. 14-Feb. 28 — Squirrel
  • Sept. 16 to Dec. 16 — Goose, northern zone
  • Sept. 21 to Nov. 4 — Woodcock
  • Sept. 21-Nov. 19 — Ducks, north zone
  • Oct. 5-6 — Firearms deer, youth only, statewide
  • Oct. 19-Jan. 5 — Pheasant statewide
  • Oct. 19-Feb. 15 — Fox and coyote
  • Nov. 23-Dec. 1 — Deer, firearms, statewide
  • Dec. 2-11 — Deer, muzzleloader, statewide
  • Dec. 10 — Deadline to apply for 2022 spring turkey, bear permits
  • Dec. 12-15 — Deer, antlerless only, statewide

For more information, check a state hunting and trapping regulations booklet available free wherever licenses are sold or go to dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/dates.html and click on the species you are interested in.

North Dakota

  • Sept. 28-Dec. 3 — Tentative nonresident ducks and geese
  • Oct. 12-Jan. 1 — Pheasant

South Dakota

  • Oct. 19-Jan. 31 — Nonresident pheasant

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