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Prairie chicken
Minnesota Prairie Chicken Permit Areas
117 lottery licenses in 11 northwest permit areas for 2026.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Prairie chicken hunting by lottery
Minnesota issues 117 prairie chicken licenses for 2026 by resident lottery in 11 permit areas, 803A to 813A, in the northwest prairie. The season runs Sep 26 to Oct 4, 2026 with a season limit of 2 birds; no small game license is needed. Counties read from the DNR permit-area map image (flagged); landowners/tenants with 40+ acres of grassland get up to 20% of permits. Residents only; 117 licenses by lottery (applications closed Aug. 14). No small game license needed; unlicensed persons may not assist.
DNR prairie chicken page, checked October 28, 2026.
Licenses by permit area
| Permit area | 2026 licenses | Counties (map-read) |
|---|---|---|
| 803A | 6 | Red Lake · |
| 804A | 8 | |
| 805A | 8 | |
| 806A | 10 | Polk · |
| 807A | 20 | |
| 808A | 20 | |
| 809A | 15 | |
| 810A | 15 | Clay · |
| 811A | 5 | Wilkin · |
| 812A | 5 | Clay · Becker · Mahnomen · |
| 813A | 5 | Polk · Norman · |
Licenses from the DNR prairie chicken page; counties read from the DNR permit map image, checked October 28, 2026.
Deadlines and sharptails
| Lottery | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Prairie chicken | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Prairie chicken (2027) | Aug 20, 2027 |
Rest of the state closed except to licensed prairie chicken hunters within their selected zone.
booklet deadlines, checked October 28, 2026.
WMAs in prairie chicken country and license costs
158 WMAs listing small or upland game lie in the counties the permit map covers; these are the largest. A license is valid only in its own permit area, so check the DNR map before hunting a WMA near an area line.
| WMA | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Pembina | Red Lake · | 6,677 |
| Rothsay | 4,089 | |
| Hubbel Pond | 3,516 | |
| Polk | 2,764 | |
| Manston Marsh | 2,733 | |
| Vanose | 2,498 | |
| Chicog | 2,434 | |
| Waubun | 2,413 | |
| Mentor Prairie | 2,184 | |
| Orwell | 2,129 | |
| Bejou | 1,937 | |
| Neal | 1,852 |
| License | Price | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie chicken application | $4 | Residents only |
| Prairie chicken license | $23 | Lottery winners |
DNR WMA finder and the booklet fee tables, checked October 28, 2026.
Minnesota Prairie Chicken Permit Areas FAQ
Do landowners get permits?
Landowners or tenants with 40 or more acres of grassland get up to 20% of the permits.
Which area has the most licenses?
807A and 808A, with 20 each.
Do I need a small game license for prairie chickens?
No. The prairie chicken license replaces it for this season; the application is $4 and the license $23.
Can prairie chicken hunters take sharptails?
Rest of the state closed except to licensed prairie chicken hunters within their selected zone.
Who can apply for a Minnesota prairie chicken license?
Residents only, by lottery.
When is the 2026 season?
Sep 26 to Oct 4, 2026, with firearms or archery.
How many birds may a licensee take?
2 per season (season and possession limit).
When is the 2027 prairie chicken deadline?
Aug. 20, 2027.
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); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).