Trapping only
Mink: Minnesota trapping rules for 2026-27
Dates by unit or zone, limits, licenses and where to go for mink.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
The mink calendar for 2026-27 covers Oct 24, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027; licenses, limits, legal light and land follow below.
Mink: the short version
- Limits: No limit.
- Season shape: Trapping: north Oct. 24-Feb. 28, south Oct. 31-Feb. 28.
- More: No digging or dogs.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
Mink dates, 2026-27
Each mink row with its area, limit and length in days.
| Season | Covers | Bag | Opening | Closing | Span | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping (north zone) | North Furbearer Zone | No limit | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 128 | |
| Trapping (south zone) | South Furbearer Zone | No limit | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 121 |
Notes on the mink rows
- 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; not before 9 a.m. on opening day
From booklet p. 66, checked October 28, 2026.
North and south seasons for mink
North Furbearer Zone is north of the I-94/US 10 line (Moorhead-St. Paul-Hastings); South Furbearer Zone is south of it.
Lynx zone restrictions
East and north of US 53: land snares 8-10 in. loops, 5/64-1/8 in. wire, anchored, loop stop 3 1/4 in., one-piece lock, no fence/vegetation reach, 7 ft max length, 1+ swivel; foothold traps over 6 1/2 in. banned on dry land; body-grip 5-7 1/2 in. traps half-submerged, 3 ft up a pole or in a cubby.
WMAs where trappers need a permit
- Carlos Avery (Anoka, Chisago)
- Hampton Woods (Dakota)
- Hubbel Pond (Becker)
- Red Lake (Beltrami, Lake of the Woods)
- Lac qui Parle (Big Stone, Lac qui Parle, Swift, Chippewa)
- Mille Lacs (Mille Lacs, Kanabec)
- Roseau Lake and Roseau River (Roseau)
- Talcot Lake (Cottonwood, Murray)
- Thief Lake (Marshall)
- Vermillion Highlands (Dakota)
- Whitewater (Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona)
DNR booklet furbearer page, booklet WMA trapping rules, checked October 28, 2026.
Bag limits and license costs for mink
Fees for mink hunting
| License | Residency | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fisher/marten (671) or river otter (672) site validation coupons | resident | Trappers | Free |
| Junior trapping | resident | Age 13-17 | $5 |
| Adult trapping | resident | Age 18-64 | $23 |
| Senior trapping | resident | Age 65+ | $11.50 |
| Trapping, landowner only | nonresident | Landowners | $84 |
The license year for small game runs March 1 to the end of February; deer, bear and turkey licenses follow their seasons.
booklet p. 18, booklet p. 20, checked October 28, 2026.
Mink rules in the field
No blaze is required to run a trap line except on land during the deer gun seasons.
The mink season includes every Sunday.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
Mink legal methods
| Weapons | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Foothold jaw opening up to 8 3/4 in.; body-grip up to 7 1/2 in. (larger as watersets); snares with 350-lb breakaway, loop 10 in. max, cable 1/8 in. max, top of loop 20 in. max. | Snares in deer trails, for bears, with spring poles, in culverts (except submerged); foothold traps within 20 ft of exposed bait; body-grip over 6 1/2 in. in small culverts or rights-of-way within 500 ft of occupied buildings. |
booklet p. 67, checked October 28, 2026.
Mink questions
What are the trapping license rules?
For mink: trapping license plus small game license (16+); residents under 13 need no trapping license; nonresidents may trap only their own land.
Does Minnesota limit Sunday hunting for mink?
Minnesota sets no day-of-week limits, so Sunday mink hunting is allowed.
What are the 2026-27 dates for mink?
Oct 24, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 across 2 dated rows. Trapping: north Oct. 24-Feb. 28, south Oct. 31-Feb. 28.
What is the bag limit for mink?
For 2026-27: No limit.
What license do I need for mink?
Prices for 2026-27: Fisher/marten (671) or river otter (672) site validation coupons (resident, Trappers): Free; Junior trapping (resident, Age 13-17): $5; Adult trapping (resident, Age 18-64): $23; Senior trapping (resident, Age 65+): $11.50; Trapping, landowner only (nonresident, Landowners): $84.
Is blaze orange or pink required for mink?
No blaze is required to run a trap line except on land during the deer gun seasons.
Can I use a rifle for mink?
Per the weapons rules: Foothold jaw opening up to 8 3/4 in.; body-grip up to 7 1/2 in. (larger as watersets); snares with 350-lb breakaway, loop 10 in. max, cable 1/8 in. max, top of loop 20 in. max.
Why do mink seasons open later in the south?
Two, North and South, divided by I-94/US 10.
How are traps identified?
Non-drowning traps tended every calendar day; drowning and body-grip traps every third day; no trap in place after season close; traps identified with DL number, ID number, name/address or MDNR number.
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); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).