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Sharp-tailed Grouse: Minnesota hunting rules for 2026-27
Dates by unit or zone, limits, licenses and where to go for sharp-tailed grouse.
Photo: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain)
The sharptail calendar for 2026-27 covers Sep 19 to Nov 30, 2026; licenses, limits, legal light and land follow below.
Sharp-tailed Grouse: the short version
- Limits: 3 daily; 6 possession.
- Season shape: Northwest zone Sept. 19-Nov. 30; east-central zone closed.
- More: Rest of state closed except to licensed prairie chicken hunters in their zone.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
GearHeading out for small game season? Small game gear checklist →
Sharp-tailed Grouse dates, 2026-27
Each sharptail row with its area, limit and length in days.
| Season | Covers | Bag | Opening | Closing | Span | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest zone | Northwest zone | 3 daily; 6 possession | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | 73 | |
| East-central zone (closed) | East-central zone | Closed | Not open |
Notes on the sharptail rows
- Booklet notes a Aug. 5, 2026 correction to these dates (p. 133).
- Closed to all sharp-tailed grouse hunting.
From booklet p. 58, checked October 28, 2026.
Northwest zone and closed zones
| Zone | Status |
|---|---|
| Northwest | Open Sept |
| East-central | Closed to all sharp-tailed grouse hunting. |
| Rest of state | Rest of the state closed except to licensed prairie chicken hunters within their selected zone. |
19-Nov. 30, 2026. North of US 2 from East Grand Forks to Bemidji, US 71 to Northome, MN 1 east to US 53, US 53 north to Voyageurs National Park (excluded): Kittson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake and the northern parts of Polk, Clearwater, Beltrami and Koochiching (map read).
DNR grouse page, checked October 28, 2026.
Bag limits and license costs for sharp-tailed grouse
| Applies to | Limit |
|---|---|
| Sharp-tailed grouse | 3 daily, 6 possession (northwest zone). |
| Party hunting (small game) | Members of a party (2+ in unaided visual and vocal contact) may take game for each other up to the combined limits; each may transport only an individual limit. Not allowed for migratory birds. |
Fees for sharptail hunting
| License | Residency | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small game license | resident | Under 16 | Free (not required) |
| Small game license | resident | Youth 16-17 | $5 |
| Small game license | resident | Adult 18-64 | $22 |
| Small game license | resident | Senior 65+ | $13.50 |
| 72-hour small game license | resident | Adult 18+ | $19 |
| Walk-In Access validation | resident | All ages | $3 |
| Walk-In Access validation | nonresident | All ages | $3 |
| Small game license | nonresident | Under 16 | Not required |
| Small game license | nonresident | Youth 16-17 | $5 |
| Small game license | nonresident | Adult 18+ | $102 |
| 72-hour small game license | nonresident | Adult 18+ | $75 |
The license year for small game runs March 1 to the end of February; deer, bear and turkey licenses follow their seasons.
booklet p. 18, booklet p. 19, booklet p. 20, booklet p. 56, checked October 28, 2026.
State and federal land for sharp-tailed grouse
75 WMAs list sharp-tailed grouse, 716,407 acres in all; across every land type the count is 75 (75 WMAs).
| Place | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lake | WMA | Beltrami · | 322,246 |
| Roseau River | WMA | Roseau · | 75,163 |
| Thief Lake | WMA | Beltrami · | 54,650 |
| Wapiti | WMA | Beltrami · | 31,759 |
| Beaches Lake | WMA | Kittson · | 30,623 |
| Moose River | WMA | 21,273 | |
| Elm Lake | WMA | 15,740 | |
| Carp Swamp | WMA | 15,264 | |
| Palmville | WMA | Roseau · | 14,891 |
| Caribou | WMA | Kittson · | 14,138 |
| Graceton | WMA | 10,709 | |
| East Park | WMA | Marshall · | 10,427 |
Species tags come from the DNR WMA pages (and the 50 CFR hunt lists for federal land), not from guesswork. Firearms on WMAs stay cased and unloaded except while hunting.
DNR WMA finder and WMA rules, checked October 28, 2026.
Sharp-tailed Grouse rules in the field
Sharp-tailed grouse may be hunted from a half hour before sunrise to sunset, the small game window in the booklet.
The blaze requirement for sharp-tailed grouse is one visible orange or pink item above the waist when deer gun seasons are closed.
The sharptail season includes every Sunday.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
Sharp-tailed Grouse: sunrise, sunset and legal time
Sunrise in Clay County comes later than in St. Louis County, so the sharptail window shifts across the state; times are computed for each county centre.
| Day | Event | County | First sun | Last sun | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Opening day | Clay | 7:07 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Opening day | Ramsey | 6:54 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Opening day | St. Louis | 6:51 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Season close | Clay | 7:49 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Season close | Ramsey | 7:29 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Season close | St. Louis | 7:35 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. |
Rule from the booklet shooting hours page; sun times computed for the county centre (NOAA method, Central Time) and checked against U.S. Naval Observatory tables; checked October 28, 2026.
Sharp-tailed Grouse legal methods
Sharp-tailed Grouse and the general hunting laws
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Inspections and seizure | Must allow inspection of firearms, licenses, game, vehicles and boats; unlawful game and equipment may be seized. |
| Trespass and agricultural land | Permission needed on posted or agricultural land; may not return for a year after being told to leave; no discharging a firearm within 500 ft of an occupied building or livestock on another's land without written permission. |
| Firearm transport | Unloaded and fully cased or in a closed trunk (Personal Protection Act handguns excepted); uncased unloaded long guns allowed while hunting or traveling to/from hunting, except in Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, cities of 2,500+, school grounds and refuges. |
| Hunter harassment | No preventing or disrupting lawful hunting or trapping, including disturbing animals to do so. |
booklet p. 30, booklet p. 38, Minnesota Statutes 97B.001, checked October 28, 2026.
Sharp-tailed Grouse questions
Which WMAs list sharp-tailed grouse?
The DNR lists sharp-tailed grouse on 75 wildlife management areas, led by Red Lake WMA, Roseau River WMA, Thief Lake WMA.
Which counties have sharp-tailed grouse season?
The east-central zone is closed and the rest of the state is closed except to licensed prairie chicken hunters in their zone.
Do party limits apply to sharp-tailed grouse?
Yes for sharp-tailed grouse: members of a party (2+ in unaided visual and vocal contact) may take game for each other up to the combined limits; each may transport only an individual limit. Each hunter may carry only one limit of sharp-tailed grouse.
Do I need a validation for Walk-In Access?
Walk-In Access is open to sharptail hunters: 23,000 acres at 230+ private sites open Sept. 1-May 31 with a $3 validation; no vehicles, trapping, dog training, target shooting or camping.
Does Minnesota limit Sunday hunting for sharp-tailed grouse?
Minnesota sets no day-of-week limits, so Sunday sharptail hunting is allowed.
What are the 2026-27 dates for sharp-tailed grouse?
Sep 19 to Nov 30, 2026 across 1 dated row. Northwest zone Sept. 19-Nov. 30; east-central zone closed.
What is the bag limit for sharp-tailed grouse?
For 2026-27: 3 daily; 6 possession.
What license do I need for sharp-tailed grouse?
Prices for 2026-27: Small game license (resident, Under 16): Free (not required); Small game license (resident, Youth 16-17): $5; Small game license (resident, Adult 18-64): $22; Small game license (resident, Senior 65+): $13.50; 72-hour small game license (resident, Adult 18+): $19.
What are shooting hours for sharp-tailed grouse?
Sharp-tailed grouse may be hunted from a half hour before sunrise to sunset, the small game window in the booklet.
Is blaze orange or pink required for sharp-tailed grouse?
The blaze requirement for sharp-tailed grouse is one visible orange or pink item above the waist when deer gun seasons are closed.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).