Minnesota › Species › Canada Goose
Ducks and geese
Minnesota Canada Goose hunting, 2026-27
The goose rules for Minnesota, row by row.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Minnesota sets 7 dated rows for Canada geese in 2026-27, running Sep 5, 2026 to Jan 6, 2027. Dates, limits, licenses, WMAs and the field rules are on this page.
How the booklet sums up Canada geese
- Keep: 5 daily combined with white-fronted geese and brant.
- Dates in brief: Early season Sept. 5-20 statewide (hunting over water allowed); regular North Sept. 26-Dec. 25, Central split to Dec. 30, South split to Jan. 6.
- Worth knowing: No special September permit needed.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
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Canada Goose season dates for 2026-27
Read the goose rows by area: deer permit areas, bear areas, waterfowl zones or furbearer zones where they apply.
| Season | Where | Bag | Opens | Closes | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth days: Ducks | Statewide | Same as regular duck and goose limits | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | 2 | |
| Early geese | Statewide | 5 combined daily | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 16 | |
| Regular geese | North Zone | Limit table | Sep 26, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | 91 | |
| Regular geese | Central Zone | Limit table | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 9 | |
| Regular geese | Central Zone | Limit table | Oct 10, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | 82 | |
| Regular geese | South Zone | Limit table | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 9 | |
| Regular geese | South Zone | Limit table | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | 82 | |
| Falconry: ducks, coots, mergansers, gallinul | North Zone | Limit table | Sep 26, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 | 117 | |
| Falconry: ducks, coots, mergansers, gallinul | Central Zone | Limit table | Sep 26, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 | 117 | |
| Falconry: ducks, coots, mergansers, gallinul | South Zone | Limit table | Sep 26, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 | 117 |
Canada Goose season notes
- Age 17 and younger with a non-hunting adult; no license or state stamp; federal duck stamp at 16+; firearms safety certificate at 13-17.
- No special permit needed; hunting over water legal statewide during the September season.
- Shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Regular geese, limit: 5 Canada, white-fronted and brant combined; 20 light geese; possession 3x daily
- Regular geese, limit: 5 Canada, white-fronted and brant combined; 20 light geese; possession 3x daily
- Regular geese, limit: 5 Canada, white-fronted and brant combined; 20 light geese; possession 3x daily
- Regular geese, limit: 5 Canada, white-fronted and brant combined; 20 light geese; possession 3x daily
- Regular geese, limit: 5 Canada, white-fronted and brant combined; 20 light geese; possession 3x daily
- Segments: Sept. 26-Nov. 24; Dec. 12-Jan. 20.
- Falconry: ducks, coots, mergansers, gallinul, limit: 3 migratory game birds combined daily; 9 possession
From booklet p. 49, booklet p. 50, booklet p. 51, checked October 28, 2026.
Canada Goose: North, Central and South
| Zone | Line |
|---|---|
| North | North of the line formed by State Highway 210 from the North Dakota border east to State Highway 23, then State Highway 23/39 to the Wisconsin border near Duluth (map read). |
| Central | Between the 210/23/39 line and the South Zone line. |
| South | South of the line formed by State Highway 212 from the South Dakota border east to I-494, then I-494/I-94 east to the Wisconsin border (map read). |
Where refuges allow geese
| County | Refuge | Open for |
|---|---|---|
| Bemidji Game Refuge (except Lake Bemidji, Lake Irving, Missi | Early goose Sept. 5-20 | |
| Clay County Game Refuge | Early goose Sept. 5-20 | |
| Claremont Game Refuge | Goose hunting | |
| Evansville Game Refuge | Waterfowl hunting; early goose Sept. 5-20 | |
| Moscow Game Refuge | Goose hunting | |
| Elizabeth Lake and German Lake Game Refuges | Early goose season and youth in a designated hunti | |
| Mud-Bardwell Game Refuge | Goose hunting Oct. 10-Jan. 6 | |
| Fox Lake Game Refuge | Goose hunting Sept. 5-20 and Dec. 7-Jan. 6; none w | |
| Ocheda Lake Game Refuge | Youth waterfowl weekend; early goose Sept. 5-20; D | |
| Rochester Game Refuge | Early goose Sept. 5-20 | |
| Rickert Waterfowl Refuge (except Myron Buelow Waterfowl Sanc | Early goose Sept. 5-20 | |
| Harstad Slough Waterfowl Refuge | Early goose Sept. 5-20 | |
| Saint James Game Refuge | Early goose Sept. 5-20; 26-27 |
DNR waterfowl page, booklet zone map, checked October 28, 2026.
What you may take and what it costs
| Group | Limit |
|---|---|
| Geese | Canada, white-fronted and brant 5 combined daily (early and regular); light geese 20 daily; possession 3x daily. |
Buying a goose license
| License | Residency | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small game license | resident | Adult 18-64 | $22 |
| State waterfowl stamp validation | resident | Age 18-64 | $7.50 |
| Small game license | nonresident | Adult 18+ | $102 |
| State waterfowl stamp validation | nonresident | $7.50 | |
| Federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp | both | Waterfowl hunters 16+ | Federal price (not printed) |
| HIP certification | both | Free |
Prices are the booklet fee table amounts; the DNR may add an issuing fee at purchase.
booklet p. 17, booklet p. 18, booklet p. 19, booklet p. 20, checked October 28, 2026.
Largest public tracts for Canada geese
The DNR names Canada geese on 1,104 wildlife management areas totalling 1,217,687 acres. Including federal and other land: 1104 WMAs, 8 national forest ranger district, 2 national forest, 2 scientific and natural area.
| Place | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lake | WMA | Beltrami · | 322,246 |
| Roseau River | WMA | Roseau · | 75,163 |
| Thief Lake | WMA | Beltrami · | 54,650 |
| Mille Lacs | WMA | Kanabec · | 38,678 |
| Lac qui Parle | WMA | 33,623 | |
| Wapiti | WMA | Beltrami · | 31,759 |
| Beaches Lake | WMA | Kittson · | 30,623 |
| Whitewater | WMA | Wabasha · | 27,451 |
| Carlos Avery | WMA | Chisago · | 24,598 |
| Moose River | WMA | 21,273 | |
| Mud Goose | WMA | 17,011 | |
| Moose Willow | WMA | 16,946 |
A place appears here when its DNR or federal page names the species or its group. WMA rules: portable stands come down daily, dogs are leashed Apr. 16-July 14, no drones, and vehicles stay on designated routes.
DNR WMA finder and WMA rules, checked October 28, 2026.
What to know afield for Canada geese
Minnesota closes the goose day at sunset; it opens half an hour before sunrise.
Canada geese may be hunted in camo; the booklet lists migratory birds among the blaze exceptions, and waterfowl hunters on water or stationary stay exempt in deer season.
A baited field or marsh is closed to Canada geese hunting for 10 days after the bait is gone.
Migratory bird hunters, including those after Canada geese, need HIP certification and carry birds home with one fully feathered wing attached.
Seasons for Canada geese run straight through the weekends.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
Legal time for Canada geese across Minnesota
Legal goose hours on key dates, worked out for the Clay, Ramsey and St. Louis county centres; the DNR rule supplies the offsets.
| Date | Moment | County | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Opener | Clay | 6:49 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Opener | Ramsey | 6:38 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Opener | St. Louis | 6:33 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Jan 6, 2027 | Closer | Clay | 8:11 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 7:41 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 6, 2027 | Closer | Ramsey | 7:50 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
| Jan 6, 2027 | Closer | St. Louis | 7:57 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 4:33 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.
Canada Goose weapons and hunting law
| Weapons | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Migratory waterfowl and cranes | Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells with approved nontoxic shot. | Lead shot (or possessing it), rifles, pistols, traps, live decoys, recorded calls, sink boxes, motorboats under power. |
Laws that matter for Canada geese
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Hunting while intoxicated | No taking wild animals with a firearm or bow under the influence or with alcohol 0.08+; includes cannabis products. |
| Waterfowl blinds and decoys | No blinds/decoys in public waters more than 1 hour before the season opens; decoys no more than 2 hours before shooting time and not left out overnight or unattended over 3 hours; no permanent blinds or sink boxes. |
booklet p. 41, booklet p. 43, Minnesota Statutes 97B.065, checked October 28, 2026.
Questions about Canada geese
Why are goose dates split?
Yes. The North Zone runs straight through; the Central and South zones split their seasons. The lines follow MN 210/23/39 and US 212/I-494/I-94.
Which guns and bows work for Canada geese?
Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells with approved nontoxic shot. (booklet weapons table).
Is there a weekday rule for Canada geese?
Yes. Neither the booklet nor chapter 97B closes Sundays, so Canada geese may be hunted any day of the week.
What are the blind rules on public water?
No blinds/decoys in public waters more than 1 hour before the season opens; decoys no more than 2 hours before shooting time and not left out overnight or unattended over 3 hours; no permanent blinds or sink boxes.
How many Canada geese can I take?
5 daily combined with white-fronted geese and brant. That is the 2026-27 figure.
How long does the goose season run?
The first legal day is Sep 5, 2026 and the last is Jan 6, 2027. Early season Sept. 5-20 statewide (hunting over water allowed); regular North Sept. 26-Dec. 25, Central split to Dec. 30, South split to Jan. 6.
What time can I start hunting Canada geese?
Minnesota closes the goose day at sunset; it opens half an hour before sunrise.
Which license covers Canada geese?
Small game license (resident, Adult 18-64): $22; State waterfowl stamp validation (resident, Age 18-64): $7.50; Small game license (nonresident, Adult 18+): $102; State waterfowl stamp validation (nonresident, Age 16+ (table p. 25 shows required at 16-17)): $7.50; Federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp (both, Waterfowl hunters 16+): Federal price (not printed). Licenses sell online, by phone and at license agents.
How soon must Canada geese be registered?
Migratory bird hunters, including those after Canada geese, need HIP certification and carry birds home with one fully feathered wing attached.
What blaze rule applies to Canada geese?
Canada geese may be hunted in camo; the booklet lists migratory birds among the blaze exceptions, and waterfowl hunters on water or stationary stay exempt in deer season.
Is there public land for Canada geese?
Start with the 1,104 WMAs that list them, such as Red Lake WMA, Roseau River WMA, Thief Lake WMA.
Does Minnesota allow goose baiting?
A baited field or marsh is closed to Canada geese hunting for 10 days after the bait is gone.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).