Minnesota fall turkey and pheasant seasons begin soon

Minnesota upland bird hunters have two seasons to look forward to: fall turkey and pheasant.

Fall turkey hunting season, open Saturday, Oct. 3 through Sunday, Nov. 1, offers hunters a challenge and another way to experience the outdoors. Hunters are allowed to take one turkey of either sex during the fall season. Fall turkey hunters may use a crossbow, bow or shotgun afield. More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources turkey hunting webpage (mndnr.gov/hunting/turkey).

Pheasant season is Saturday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027. Pheasant hunting offers both hearty exercise and the reward of excellent table fare, with the chance to get out in the tall grass, often with dogs, and enjoy the outdoors, especially in southern, central and western Minnesota. More information, including this year’s pheasant hunting prospects map, is available on the Minnesota DNR pheasant hunting webpage (mndnr.gov/hunting/pheasant).

Buy hunting licenses early

All hunters this year should plan to buy their license early to avoid the potential for any last-minute delays while getting a license. The Minnesota DNR launched a new electronic license system in June. The new system is functioning well, but it is a bit different and users may find their first transaction takes a little more time as they acclimate. In addition, some individuals who had multiple records in the old system will require customer assistance from the DNR License Center to transfer their history and establish their account in the new system. For these reasons, hunters are encouraged to leave plenty of time for their license purchase.

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 (mndnr.gov/buyalicense) or by searching “Minnesota DNR Licensing” in the Apple or Google app stores.

If buying a license in person, hunters should check that the place where they want to buy it is selling them this year. Hunters can find in-person locations on the licensing agents map on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/licenses/agents-map.html).