Minnesota › Species › Pronghorn
No season
Pronghorn and Minnesota law, 2026-27
The legal status of pronghorn in Minnesota.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
The 2026-27 Minnesota rules give pronghorn no open season; protection, penalties and related hunts follow.
Pronghorn rules in one list
- Limit: Closed
- Also: Big game by statute; no open season.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
Pronghorn protection and status
- No open season.
- Big game by statute; no open season.
- Cougar, wolverine, moose, caribou, antelope, eastern spotted skunk: No open season.
The statute groups pronghorn with big game; without a season the animal may not be taken.
booklet p. 32, checked October 28, 2026.
Pronghorn calendar by unit and zone
1 season line for pronghorn, opening to closing.
| Hunt | Applies to | Limit | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No season | Statewide | Closed | Closed this year |
From booklet p. 32, checked October 28, 2026.
Alternatives to pronghorn this season
| 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 |
| White-tailed Jackrabbit | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
DNR booklet, checked October 28, 2026.
Pronghorn: what an illegal kill costs
| 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. |
Turn In Poachers answers at 800-652-9093 around the clock.
Minnesota Statutes 97A.301 and booklet TIP page, checked October 28, 2026.
Pronghorn and other protected wildlife
| Species | Rule |
|---|---|
| Gray (timber) wolf | No open season; may be taken only in defense of human life or as allowed by 97B.645 (report within 48 hours). Shooting a wolf mistaken for a coyote is illegal. |
| Cougar, wolverine, moose, caribou, antelope, eastern spotted skunk | No open season. |
| 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. |
| White bears and bear cubs | May not be taken; bears in dens may not be taken or disturbed. |
| Elk outside a licensed elk hunt | Shooting an elk mistaken for a deer is illegal; elk range centers on Kittson and Marshall counties. |
| Wild animals in burrows or dens | No disturbing any burrow or den Nov. 1-Apr. 1 without a permit. |
From the DNR booklet and Minnesota Statutes 97A.015, checked October 28, 2026.
Pronghorn: statutory classes
| 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. |
| Fur-bearing animals (97A.015 subd. 22) | mammals that are protected wild animals, except big game | Seasons for raccoon, foxes, badger, opossum, weasels, bobcat, fisher, pine marten, mink, muskrat, beaver, otter. |
| 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). |
From Minnesota Statutes 97A.015 and the DNR booklet, checked October 28, 2026.
What hunters ask about pronghorn
What happens if someone kills pronghorn illegally?
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 also applies.
What is the source for the pronghorn rule?
The 2026-27 booklet, page 32.
What category of wildlife are pronghorn?
The statute lists them under 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).
Does Minnesota open a season on pronghorn?
No open season exists. No open season.
What else is closed to hunting in Minnesota?
Closed list: Moose, Caribou, Bobwhite Quail, Swans, Gray Wolf, Canada Lynx, Cougar, Wolverine and Eastern Spotted Skunk.
What is open for hunters who came for pronghorn?
Open alternatives: Elk (Sep 12 to Oct 4, 2026), White-tailed Deer (Sep 19 to Dec 31, 2026) and White-tailed Jackrabbit (Sep 19, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027).
May trappers keep pronghorn?
Trapping pronghorn is not allowed; there is no open season of any kind.
Who do I call about a pronghorn poaching case?
Use TIP. Turn In Poachers 24-hour hotline 800-652-9093.
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); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); mary4mac (CC BY-SA 2.0).