Hunting Licenses On Sale Saturday, And Some Rules Have Changed

(KNSI) – Hunters and trappers in Minnesota can expect trophy-size changes as permits for the fall seasons go on sale Saturday, August 1st.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources published the 2026 regulations booklet, which includes changes to chronic wasting disease surveillance and carcass movement rules, an end to the state’s shotgun zone, the inclusion of waterfowl regulations in the main hunting and trapping rules book, and a modernized electronic licensing system.

Rotational CWD surveillance

In response to increased CWD management needs, the DNR is moving to a four-year statewide rotational surveillance plan. The state has been divided into four zones, with one zone required to have all deer taken during the opening weekend of firearms season tested for CWD.

Hunters in the current surveillance quadrant will have multiple ways to test deer, including visiting a staffed or self-service sampling station, obtaining a free mail-in sampling kit before opening weekend, or visiting one of the taxidermists participating in the partner sampling program.

Mandatory sampling begins in 2026 in deer permit areas 215, 218 and 219, which take in much of Stearns, Morrison and Wright counties. The DNR groups those areas in its southwest surveillance quadrant. The remaining quadrants follow with the northwest in 2027, northeast in 2028 and southeast in 2029.

“We made this shift to get a clearer, more complete picture of where CWD is in Minnesota. Recent detections of CWD in new areas and endemic status in the southeast core make a broader approach necessary for both disease management and efficient use of resources,” said Patrick Hagen, DNR wildlife disease response coordinator. “While our past approach to sampling near areas of known disease has successfully monitored CWD spread in risk areas, nearly two-thirds of the state hasn’t had a targeted surveillance effort in more than 20 years.”

Carcass disposal rule changes

This year, hunters will be allowed to move harvested deer within or outside a CWD management zone, provided they dispose of carcasses with their trash hauler, at a local landfill or with a meat processor. Hunters who harvest a deer on private property may also leave the carcass where the deer was taken, with the landowner’s permission. In the past, hunters had to quarter their deer to take meat out of the zone or wait for a not-detected test result to move the whole animal. The quartering requirement remains in effect for deer harvested outside Minnesota and brought into the state.

As a result of the new carcass disposal rule, the DNR is eliminating its dumpster program starting in fall 2026.

Shotgun zone changes

Under a 2025 state law, Minnesota deer hunters will be able to use a rifle in most of the state with the elimination of the shotgun zone. Counties may adopt an ordinance restricting weapon type and remain shotgun-only for deer hunting. In April, Stearns County officials elected to allow rifles. The county had previously fallen in the shotgun-only zone.

To date, 13 counties have passed ordinances that are in effect for this season and allow shotguns only in part or all of the county: Brown, Clay (shotgun-only ordinance in part of county), Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Nobles, Pope, Rock, Watonwan and Wilkin (no changes from previous years; part of county remains shotgun-only).

In all other Minnesota counties, all legal shotguns, handguns and rifles may be used to take deer during firearms seasons.

Waterfowl regulations information merged

Waterfowl hunters will now find waterfowl regulations in the hunting and trapping regulations booklet. The DNR folded the separate waterfowl book into the main booklet to give hunters and trappers a single, comprehensive source.

New electronic licensing system

Buying a hunting or trapping tag will be different this year. A new electronic licensing system launched in June, giving hunters three ways to buy a license and three ways to carry one.

Tags can be bought through the mobile app, online, or in person from a license agent. Hunters can carry their license as a paper copy, in PDF form, or stored in the DNR’s app.

Hunters can find the regulations booklet by clicking here or picking up print copies wherever DNR licenses are sold.

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