Trapping only
Minnesota Muskrat trapping, 2026-27
The muskrat rules for Minnesota, row by row.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Minnesota sets 2 dated rows for muskrats in 2026-27, running Oct 24, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027. Dates, limits, licenses, WMAs and the field rules are on this page.
How the booklet sums up muskrats
- Keep: No limit.
- Dates in brief: Same as mink.
- Worth knowing: Rules on muskrat houses.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
Muskrat season dates for 2026-27
Read the muskrat rows by area: deer permit areas, bear areas, waterfowl zones or furbearer zones where they apply.
| Season | Where | Bag | Opens | Closes | Days | 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 |
Muskrat season notes
- 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; not before 9 a.m. on opening day
From booklet p. 66, checked October 28, 2026.
Muskrat zone rules
North Furbearer Zone is north of the I-94/US 10 line (Moorhead-St. Paul-Hastings); South Furbearer Zone is south of it.
Lynx management zone
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.
Manager permit WMAs
- 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.
What you may take and what it costs
Muskrat: licenses and stamps
| 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 |
Prices are the booklet fee table amounts; the DNR may add an issuing fee at purchase.
booklet p. 18, booklet p. 20, checked October 28, 2026.
What to know afield for muskrats
Trappers need no blaze outside the deer gun seasons; during an open firearms or muzzleloader season they wear orange or pink above the waist unless trapping on water.
Seasons for muskrats run straight through the weekends.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
Muskrat weapons and hunting law
| 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.
Questions about muskrats
How long does the muskrat season run?
The first legal day is Oct 24, 2026 and the last is Feb 28, 2027. Same as mink.
Is there a weekday rule for muskrats?
Yes. Neither the booklet nor chapter 97B closes Sundays, so muskrats may be hunted any day of the week.
Which license covers muskrats?
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. Licenses sell online, by phone and at license agents.
How many muskrats can I take?
No limit. That is the 2026-27 figure.
Which guns and bows work for muskrats?
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. (booklet weapons table).
What blaze rule applies to muskrats?
Trappers need no blaze outside the deer gun seasons; during an open firearms or muzzleloader season they wear orange or pink above the waist unless trapping on water.
Can traps stay out after the season?
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.
How many furbearer zones are there?
North Furbearer Zone is north of the I-94/US 10 line (Moorhead-St. Paul-Hastings); South Furbearer Zone is south of it.
Do I need a trapping license?
For muskrats: trapping license plus small game license (16+); residents under 13 need no trapping license; nonresidents may trap only their own land.
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); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0).