No season
Caribou in Minnesota: no open season
Caribou are not hunted in Minnesota; here is why.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Searching for a caribou season in Minnesota? None is open in 2026-27, and the reasons here come straight from the booklet.
Caribou at a glance
- Bag limit: Closed
- Notes: Big game by statute; no open season.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
What the rules say about caribou
- No open season.
- Big game by statute; no open season.
- Cougar, wolverine, moose, caribou, antelope, eastern spotted skunk: No open season.
State law keeps caribou among big game, but the booklet opens no season.
booklet p. 32, checked October 28, 2026.
When caribou are open in Minnesota
These are the 2026-27 caribou rows; state game refuges, state parks and special hunts can add their own rules.
| Segment | Area | Limit | First day | Last day | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No season | Statewide | Closed | Not offered |
From booklet p. 32, checked October 28, 2026.
Huntable species related to caribou
| Species | Season | Where | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Season A, either-sex | Zone 10 (Grygla) | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 |
| Elk | Season B, antlerless | Zone 10 (Grygla) | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 |
| Elk | Season C, either-sex | Zone 20 (Kittson central) | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 |
| Elk | Season D, antlerless | Zone 20 (Kittson central) | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 |
| White-tailed Deer | Archery | Statewide except Itasca State Park (DPA… | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
| White-tailed Deer | Youth deer | Statewide except Itasca State Park (DPA… | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
| White-tailed Deer | Early antlerless | 26 DPAs | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
| White-tailed Deer | Firearms (100 series) | 100-series DPAs plus 604, 679 and 684 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 |
DNR booklet, checked October 28, 2026.
Penalties for taking caribou
| Rule | Penalty |
|---|---|
| General game and fish violations | Misdemeanor unless otherwise stated (violating, aiding, sharing proceeds, false statements, rules). |
| Gross overlimit | Taking, possessing or transporting wild animals over the limit, in closed season or without a license when restitution value exceeds $1,000 is a gross misdemeanor. |
| Restitution | Violators owe the state the value of animals killed, injured or possessed (values set by rule under 97A.345; doubled for animal-cruelty cases); credited to the game and fish fund. |
| License revocation after conviction | Licenses void after game and fish convictions; generally no license of that kind for 1 year; 3 years after selling game worth $300+; gross overlimits: 10 years (restitution $2,000+), 5 years ($1,000-$2,000 or repeat over $500), 3 years for that animal type (over $500); separate big game rules (subd. 3). |
| Seizure and confiscation | Unlawfully taken animals and equipment (firearms, traps, bows) may be seized and confiscated; restitution in addition to fines. |
Call 800-652-9093 (Turn In Poachers) to report a kill.
Minnesota Statutes 97A.301 and booklet TIP page, checked October 28, 2026.
Protected list with caribou
| Species | Rule |
|---|---|
| Canada lynx | No open season; incidentally killed lynx may not be possessed or transported without CO authorization; special snare rules in the lynx management zone (east and north of US 53). |
| Swans (tundra, trumpeter) | Not legal game birds; do not shoot white birds with black bills and legs. |
| Bobwhite quail, hawks, owls, eagles, herons, bitterns, cormorants, loons, grebes and most other birds | May not be taken; only designated game birds in season and unprotected birds may be taken. |
| Nongame migratory birds | Illegal to kill (federal). |
| Wild animals in burrows or dens | No disturbing any burrow or den Nov. 1-Apr. 1 without a permit. |
| Endangered, threatened and special-concern species (Minn. R. ch. 6134) | Protected wild animals; excluded from the unprotected class. |
From the DNR booklet and Minnesota Statutes 97A.015, checked October 28, 2026.
How chapter 97A groups caribou
| Group | Species | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Big game (97A.015 subd. 3) | deer, moose, elk, bear, antelope, caribou | Open seasons only for deer, bear and elk; no open season on moose, antelope or caribou (booklet p. 32). |
| Small game (97A.015 subd. 45) | game birds, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, jack rabbit, raccoon, lynx, bobcat, short-tailed weasel, long-tailed weasel, wolf, re | No open season on lynx, wolf, cougar or wolverine. |
| Game birds (97A.015 subd. 24) | migratory waterfowl, ring-necked pheasant, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, Canada spruce grouse, prairie chickens, gray partridge, bobwhite quail, wild turk | Bobwhite quail have no season (booklet p. 32). |
| Unprotected wild animals (97A.015 subd. 53; booklet p. 32) | coyote, plains pocket gopher, porcupine, red/pine squirrel, striped skunk, woodchuck, unprotected birds | May be taken at any time in any manner except with artificial lights or by motor vehicle; no license needed. Booklet adds red squirrel and woodchuck. |
From Minnesota Statutes 97A.015 and the DNR booklet, checked October 28, 2026.
Caribou: common questions
Is there a trapping season for caribou?
No trapping season exists for caribou.
Which booklet page explains caribou?
Page 32 of the 2026-27 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet.
Is shooting caribou a crime?
Misdemeanor unless otherwise stated (violating, aiding, sharing proceeds, false statements, rules). Violators owe the state the value of animals killed, injured or possessed (values set by rule under 97A.345; doubled for animal-cruelty cases); credited to the game and fish fund.
Are caribou legal to hunt in Minnesota?
Not in 2026-27. No open season.
How are caribou defined in state law?
Big game (97A.015 subd. 3): Open seasons only for deer, bear and elk; no open season on moose, antelope or caribou (booklet p. 32).
Are any animals like caribou in season?
Elk (Sep 12 to Oct 4, 2026) and White-tailed Deer (Sep 19 to Dec 31, 2026) are open this license year.
Which other animals have no Minnesota season?
No dates for Moose, Pronghorn, Bobwhite Quail, Swans, Gray Wolf, Canada Lynx, Cougar, Wolverine and Eastern Spotted Skunk.
How do I report someone who kills caribou?
Turn In Poachers 24-hour hotline 800-652-9093. Conservation officers follow up.
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); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).