Hunting in the summer months in Minnesota is tough to do because most hunting seasons run through the fall or winter. Any summer hunting in Minnesota is typically restricted to hunts beginning in August or early September.
Three Minnesota animals can be legally hunted during at least a portion of the summer. These animals range from big game to fowl. You need to purchase a current Minnesota hunting license and tag for whichever animal you choose to hunt.
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- Bears - Black bears can be found throughout the Minnesota forests. Bear season typically starts around the first of September and concludes in the third week of October. However, hunters can start setting up baiting stations for bears around mid-August. No more than three bait stations can be placed per licensed hunter. The bag limit for bears is one per hunter statewide. No white bears and no cubs may be taken by a hunter. A tooth must be submitted at bear registration stations for every bear harvested. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources asks that hunters do not shoot bears wearing radio collars, brightly colored streamers, or ear tags.
- Elk - Elk have severely reduced populations in Minnesota. As a result, hunting is restricted to a small number of bulls-only licenses in Kittison County, DNR said. Elk hunts typically cover two one-week seasons in mid-September and from the final week of September to the first week of October. Application deadlines for elk licenses are in mid-June. Several dozen elk can be found in Kittison County and in Manitoba, Canada.
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- Canadian Geese - Minnesota offers a chance to hunt geese early in August and September. The August Canada Goose Management Action encompasses the second and third weeks of August in the central-western Intensive Harvest Zone. Another hunt in the second and third week of September includes the rest of the state. Hunters are allowed to bag 10 geese per day in the Intensive Harvest Zone and five per day in other areas outside the zone. Non-toxic shot is required for hunting by the Minnesota DNR and hunting is permitted from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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