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Migratory birds
Sandhill Crane hunting in Minnesota, 2026-27
2026-27 dates, limits, licenses and public land for sandhill cranes, from the DNR booklet.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Sandhill cranes in Minnesota: 1 season row between Sep 12, 2026 and Oct 18, 2026, plus bag limits, license prices and the public land that lists them.
The DNR line on sandhill cranes
- Limit: 2 daily; 6 possession.
- Seasons in short: Sept. 12-Oct. 18 in the northwest crane zone; $3 permit; nontoxic shot.
- Also: No stamps or HIP required.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Sandhill Crane calendar by unit and zone
1 row for sandhill cranes, as the 2026-27 booklet lists them; the last column checks each against today.
| Hunt | Applies to | Limit | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest zone | Sandhill Crane Zone (northwest; zones.s… | 2 daily; 6 possession | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 37 |
Sandhill Crane row details
- Small game license plus $3 Sandhill Crane Permit; no stamps or HIP needed.
From booklet p. 59, checked October 28, 2026.
Crane zone in the northwest
Zone boundary read from the booklet map (flagged): Canada border south along MN 310/11/9/1/54/89/28/27/2 (roughly the Roseau-Beltrami/Marshall-Beltrami line) and west along MN 92/32/US 2 to the Red River.
Where the zone falls
- Kittson
- Roseau (west of MN 310/11/9 line)
- Marshall
- Pennington
- Red Lake
- Polk (north part, north of US 2/MN 32/92 line)
DNR booklet crane map, checked October 28, 2026.
Limits and fees for sandhill cranes
| Rule | Bag |
|---|---|
| Sandhill crane | 2 daily, 6 possession. |
Licenses for sandhill cranes
| License | Residency | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small game license | resident | Adult 18-64 | $22 |
| Sandhill crane permit | resident | All crane hunters | $3 |
| Small game license | nonresident | Adult 18+ | $102 |
Residents must have lived in Minnesota 60 days before buying a resident license.
booklet p. 18, booklet p. 20, booklet p. 59, checked October 28, 2026.
WMAs that list sandhill cranes
60 public places list sandhill cranes, led by the WMAs below; together the WMAs cover 323,057 acres.
| Place | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roseau River | WMA | Roseau · | 75,163 |
| Thief Lake | WMA | Beltrami · | 54,650 |
| Wapiti | WMA | Beltrami · | 31,759 |
| Beaches Lake | WMA | Kittson · | 30,623 |
| Elm Lake | WMA | 15,740 | |
| Palmville | WMA | Roseau · | 14,891 |
| Caribou | WMA | Kittson · | 14,138 |
| East Park | WMA | Marshall · | 10,427 |
| Nereson | WMA | 9,863 | |
| Twin Lakes | WMA | 8,874 | |
| Roseau Lake | WMA | 8,025 | |
| Skull Lake | WMA | 7,452 |
Shown: WMAs listing waterfowl in the counties of the northwest crane zone (read from the booklet map). WPAs are open under federal rules with nontoxic shot for all shotgun hunting; WMAs follow the DNR WMA rules.
DNR WMA finder and WMA rules, checked October 28, 2026.
Sandhill Crane: hours, blaze and registration
The booklet groups sandhill cranes with waterfowl for hours, so the day closes at sunset.
Blaze is not part of the crane rules except while walking during an open firearms deer season, when stationary and on-water waterfowlers stay exempt.
For sandhill cranes, bait makes a site illegal to hunt for 10 days after it is taken away.
Say yes to HIP when you buy the license for sandhill cranes, and leave one feathered wing on every bird in transport.
Sundays are open for sandhill cranes: the booklet and chapter 97B set no day-of-week limits.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
When legal light starts for sandhill cranes
Three county centres show how far the crane clock moves between the Red River and Lake Superior.
| Date | Event | County | Rise | Set | Open to close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Season opener | Clay | 6:58 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Season opener | Ramsey | 6:46 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Season opener | St. Louis | 6:42 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. |
| Oct 18, 2026 | Closing day | Clay | 7:46 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Oct 18, 2026 | Closing day | Ramsey | 7:30 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Oct 18, 2026 | Closing day | St. Louis | 7:31 a.m. | 6:19 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 6:19 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.
What the law allows for sandhill cranes
| 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. |
Other rules for crane hunters
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Waterfowl blinds and decoys | 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. |
| Drones and radios | 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. |
| Shooting from vehicles and roads | No taking wild animals with a firearm or bow from a motor vehicle (except disability permit holders); no shooting at big game on or within the right-of-way of improved public roads. |
booklet p. 37, booklet p. 41, booklet p. 43, Minnesota Statutes 97B.055, checked October 28, 2026.
Sandhill Crane FAQ
Which firearms are allowed for sandhill cranes?
Legal: Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells with approved nontoxic shot.
Where do crane hunters go on state land?
60 state WMAs list sandhill cranes; Roseau River WMA, Thief Lake WMA, Wapiti WMA top the acreage.
Is Sunday hunting allowed for sandhill cranes?
No day of the week closes the crane season in Minnesota.
Do I need a crane permit?
No; no stamps or HIP are needed for cranes.
Is there a daily limit on sandhill cranes?
The booklet says: 2 daily; 6 possession.
What is the crane opener in Minnesota?
From Sep 12, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026. Detail: Sept. 12-Oct. 18 in the northwest crane zone; $3 permit; nontoxic shot.
What hours apply to crane hunting?
The booklet groups sandhill cranes with waterfowl for hours, so the day closes at sunset.
What does it cost to hunt sandhill cranes?
Small game license (resident, Adult 18-64): $22; Sandhill crane permit (resident, All crane hunters): $3; Small game license (nonresident, Adult 18+): $102; all are electronic, with no paper tags.
How do I register sandhill cranes?
Say yes to HIP when you buy the license for sandhill cranes, and leave one feathered wing on every bird in transport.
Can I wear camo for sandhill cranes?
Blaze is not part of the crane rules except while walking during an open firearms deer season, when stationary and on-water waterfowlers stay exempt.
Can I hunt sandhill cranes over bait?
For sandhill cranes, bait makes a site illegal to hunt for 10 days after it is taken away.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); GerryT (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).