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Unprotected
House Sparrow seasons and rules in Minnesota
What an unprotected listing means for house sparrows in Minnesota.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
The 2026-27 booklet treats house sparrows as unprotected wildlife, which means no dates and no bag; this page covers the rules that remain.
House Sparrow in the DNR summary
- Take: No limit.
- How and when: Any time.
- Keep in mind: Unprotected bird.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
Every house sparrow season row
1 row for house sparrows, as the 2026-27 booklet lists them; the last column checks each against today.
| Season | Unit or zone | Bag | From | To | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous | Statewide | No limit | Year-round | Year-round |
House Sparrow row details
- No license required for residents or nonresidents to take unprotected species, including coyote. On WMAs unprotected animals only Sept. 1-end of February unless hunting a protected species.
From booklet p. 65, checked October 28, 2026.
Rules afield for house sparrows
Because house sparrows are unprotected, there is no season, no limit and no license; the method limits are no lights and no motor vehicles.
For house sparrows, orange or pink becomes required when a firearms or muzzleloader deer season is open nearby.
No day of the week is closed for house sparrows.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
House Sparrow: guns, bows and statutes
Booklet rules on house sparrow hunts
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Duty to render aid | A person who believes a shot injured someone must check and give reasonable help. |
booklet p. 16, checked October 28, 2026.
Species classes that apply to house sparrows
| Group | Species | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 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). |
| Migratory game birds (booklet definition) | ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, moorhens (gallinules), woodcock, rails, snipe, sandhill cranes, mourning doves | Migratory waterfowl = ducks, geese and mergansers (statute adds swans, which have no season). |
| 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. |
| Unprotected birds | house (English) sparrow, European starling, common pigeon, Eurasian collared dove, chukar partridge, quail other than northern bobwhite, monk parakeet | Booklet list. Statute 97A.015 subd. 52 also lists cormorant and mute swan and omits monk parakeet (flagged). |
From Minnesota Statutes 97A.015 and the DNR booklet, checked October 28, 2026.
House Sparrow: open seasons nearby on the list
| Species | Season | Where | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Starling | Unprotected | Statewide | All year | |
| Rock Pigeon | Unprotected | Statewide | All year | |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Unprotected | Statewide | All year | |
| Monk Parakeet | Unprotected | Statewide | All year |
DNR booklet, checked October 28, 2026.
House Sparrow FAQ
When may house sparrows be taken on WMAs?
WMA rules narrow the year for house sparrows to Sept. 1-end of February, except during a hunt for a protected species.
Is house sparrow hunting open to visitors?
No license required for residents or nonresidents to take unprotected species, including coyote.
Can I use a light for house sparrows?
The rule that applies to house sparrows: no shining while possessing a weapon; no shining from 2 hours after sunset to sunrise; no shining posted land or fenced agricultural land, residences or building sites from a vehicle.
May I use electronics for house sparrows?
The rule that applies to house sparrows: no drones or radios/cell phones to take big or small game (including recovery); radios allowed for unprotected animals; no electronic or motorized deer decoys; remote callers allowed for crows, furbearers and unprotected animals.
Which bird species are unprotected?
house (English) sparrow, European starling, common pigeon, Eurasian collared dove, chukar partridge, quail other than northern bobwhite, monk parakeet. Booklet list. Statute 97A.015 subd. 52 also lists cormorant and mute swan and omits monk parakeet (flagged).
Can I hunt house sparrows on a Sunday?
There is no Sunday ban; house sparrow hunting runs seven days a week.
Is house sparrow hunting year-round?
No closed season: Any time.
What may a hunter keep of house sparrows?
No limit (DNR summary).
Is pink allowed instead of orange for house sparrows?
For house sparrows, orange or pink becomes required when a firearms or muzzleloader deer season is open nearby.
Are house sparrows protected in Minnesota?
House sparrows are unprotected, so no license, season or limit applies; lights and motor vehicles are still off limits.
Do trespass rules apply to house sparrows?
Yes, trespass law covers house sparrows too: 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.
Other photos on this page: Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).