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Ducks and geese
Light Geese seasons and rules in Minnesota
Season rows, bag limits and rules for snow, blue and Ross's geese, checked October 28, 2026.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Here are the 2026-27 light goose rules as the DNR prints them, opening Sep 5, 2026, with harvest figures and WMAs wherever the data has them.
Light Geese in the DNR summary
- Take: 20 daily.
- How and when: Early and regular goose seasons; spring conservation action Feb. 18-Apr. 30, 2027 with a $2.50 permit.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
GearHeading out for duck and goose season? Duck and goose gear checklist →
Every light goose season row
7 rows for snow, blue and Ross's geese, as the 2026-27 booklet lists them; the last column checks each against today.
| Season | Unit or zone | Bag | From | To | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early geese | Statewide | 20 daily | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 16 | |
| Regular geese | North Zone | See limits | Sep 26, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | 91 | |
| Regular geese | Central Zone | See limits | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 9 | |
| Regular geese | Central Zone | See limits | Oct 10, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | 82 | |
| Regular geese | South Zone | See limits | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 9 | |
| Regular geese | South Zone | See limits | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | 82 | |
| Spring light goose: Snow, Blue and Ross's Geese | Statewide | No limit stated in the booklet | Feb 18, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | 72 |
Light Geese row details
- The booklet table prints Sept. 6-21 for light geese; the DNR waterfowl page lists Sept. 5-20 (flagged).
- 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
- Light Goose Conservation Permit ($2.50) required. Booklet says Feb.-Apr. 2027; dates from the DNR waterfowl seasons calendar.
From DNR page, booklet p. 49, checked October 28, 2026.
Light Geese and the three waterfowl zones
| 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). |
State refuges open to 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.
Light Geese bag and license rules
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Geese | Canada, white-fronted and brant 5 combined daily (early and regular); light geese 20 daily; possession 3x daily. |
What light goose licenses cost
| License | Residency | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| State waterfowl stamp validation | resident | Age 18-64 | $7.50 |
| Spring light goose conservation permit | resident | All participants | $2.50 |
| State waterfowl stamp validation | nonresident | $7.50 | |
| Spring light goose conservation permit | nonresident | All participants | $2.50 |
| Federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp | both | Waterfowl hunters 16+ | Federal price (not printed) |
Licenses sell online, by phone and at license agents; there are no paper tags, and the license (paper or app) is carried afield.
booklet p. 17, booklet p. 19, booklet p. 20, booklet p. 22, checked October 28, 2026.
Where to hunt snow, blue and Ross's geese on public ground
For snow, blue and Ross's geese, start with these 12 large WMAs; 1,104 WMAs list the species statewide.
| 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 |
Counts follow the species lists on DNR WMA pages and federal refuge rules. Federal refuges are closed unless opened; WPAs are open unless posted, with nontoxic shot required.
DNR WMA finder and WMA rules, checked October 28, 2026.
Rules afield for snow, blue and Ross's geese
Snow, blue and Ross's geese may be shot from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset in every zone and split.
Bird hunters after snow, blue and Ross's geese sit outside the small game blaze rule, and the deer-season rule spares those on the water or in a fixed spot.
The migratory bird bait rule applies to snow, blue and Ross's geese, ten days after removal included.
Snow, blue and Ross's geese need HIP, and a feathered wing stays attached until the bird is home.
No day of the week is closed for snow, blue and Ross's geese.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
Light Geese shooting times west to east
Times below apply the booklet rule for snow, blue and Ross's geese to the sun at the centre of each county, rounded to the minute.
| When | Point | Centre of | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Day one | Clay | 6:49 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Day one | Ramsey | 6:38 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Day one | St. Louis | 6:33 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Apr 30, 2027 | Last day | Clay | 6:14 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. | 5:44 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. |
| Apr 30, 2027 | Last day | Ramsey | 6:04 a.m. | 8:15 p.m. | 5:34 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. |
| Apr 30, 2027 | Last day | St. Louis | 5:56 a.m. | 8:18 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 8:18 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.
Light Geese: guns, bows and statutes
| 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. |
Booklet rules on light goose hunts
| 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. |
booklet p. 41, Minnesota Statutes 97B.065, checked October 28, 2026.
Light Geese FAQ
Can I hunt snow, blue and Ross's geese on a Sunday?
There is no Sunday ban; light goose hunting runs seven days a week.
When is the light goose season in Minnesota?
7 season rows run Sep 5, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027. Early and regular goose seasons; spring conservation action Feb. 18-Apr. 30, 2027 with a $2.50 permit.
What may a hunter keep of snow, blue and Ross's geese?
20 daily (DNR summary).
Which permits apply to snow, blue and Ross's geese?
Costs: State waterfowl stamp validation (resident, Age 18-64): $7.50; Spring light goose conservation permit (resident, All participants): $2.50; State waterfowl stamp validation (nonresident, Age 16+ (table p. 25 shows required at 16-17)): $7.50; Spring light goose conservation permit (nonresident, All participants): $2.50; Federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp (both, Waterfowl hunters 16+): Federal price (not printed).
Is night hunting allowed for snow, blue and Ross's geese?
Snow, blue and Ross’s geese may be shot from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset in every zone and split.
Is pink allowed instead of orange for snow, blue and Ross's geese?
Bird hunters after snow, blue and Ross’s geese sit outside the small game blaze rule, and the deer-season rule spares those on the water or in a fixed spot.
Do snow, blue and Ross's geese have to be registered?
Snow, blue and Ross’s geese need HIP, and a feathered wing stays attached until the bird is home.
Is baiting legal for snow, blue and Ross's geese?
The migratory bird bait rule applies to snow, blue and Ross’s geese, ten days after removal included.
Which wildlife areas name snow, blue and Ross's geese?
By acreage: Red Lake WMA, Roseau River WMA, Thief Lake WMA, out of 1,104 WMAs naming the species.
What is legal to shoot snow, blue and Ross's geese with?
The booklet allows shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells with approved nontoxic shot.
Do light goose dates differ by zone?
The Central and South zones close for a few days in early October and reopen later, so the season lasts into colder weeks.
Are permanent blinds legal?
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.
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 (Public Domain Mark 1.0).