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Small game
Snowshoe Hare: Minnesota hunting rules for 2026-27
Dates by unit or zone, limits, licenses and where to go for snowshoe hares.
Photo: Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0)
The snowshoe hare calendar for 2026-27 covers Sep 19, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027; licenses, limits, legal light and land follow below.
Snowshoe Hare: the short version
- Limits: 10 daily combined with cottontail.
- Season shape: Sept. 19-Feb. 28.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
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Snowshoe Hare dates, 2026-27
Each snowshoe hare row with its area, limit and length in days.
| Season | Covers | Bag | Opening | Closing | Span | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | Statewide | 10 combined daily; 20 possession | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 163 |
Notes on the snowshoe hare rows
- Shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. Small game license (16+); blaze orange/pink article above the waist when no firearms deer season is open.
From booklet p. 57, checked October 28, 2026.
Bag limits and license costs for snowshoe hares
| Applies to | Limit |
|---|---|
| Rabbits and hares | Cottontail and snowshoe hare 10 combined daily, 20 possession; jack rabbit 1 daily, 3 possession. |
| Party hunting (small game) | Members of a party (2+ in unaided visual and vocal contact) may take game for each other up to the combined limits; each may transport only an individual limit. Not allowed for migratory birds. |
Fees for snowshoe hare hunting
| License | Residency | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small game license | resident | Under 16 | Free (not required) |
| Small game license | resident | Youth 16-17 | $5 |
| Small game license | resident | Adult 18-64 | $22 |
| Small game license | resident | Senior 65+ | $13.50 |
| 72-hour small game license | resident | Adult 18+ | $19 |
| Walk-In Access validation | resident | All ages | $3 |
| Walk-In Access validation | nonresident | All ages | $3 |
| Small game license | nonresident | Under 16 | Not required |
| Small game license | nonresident | Youth 16-17 | $5 |
| Small game license | nonresident | Adult 18+ | $102 |
| 72-hour small game license | nonresident | Adult 18+ | $75 |
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. 19, booklet p. 20, booklet p. 56, checked October 28, 2026.
State and federal land for snowshoe hares
1,360 WMAs list snowshoe hares, 1,360,346 acres in all; across every land type the count is 1,366 (1360 WMAs, 5 national forest ranger district, 1 national forest).
| 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 |
Species tags come from the DNR WMA pages (and the 50 CFR hunt lists for federal land), not from guesswork. Firearms on WMAs stay cased and unloaded except while hunting.
DNR WMA finder and WMA rules, checked October 28, 2026.
Snowshoe Hare rules in the field
Snowshoe hares may be hunted from a half hour before sunrise to sunset, the small game window in the booklet.
The blaze requirement for snowshoe hares is one visible orange or pink item above the waist when deer gun seasons are closed.
The snowshoe hare season includes every Sunday.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
Snowshoe Hare: sunrise, sunset and legal time
Sunrise in Clay County comes later than in St. Louis County, so the snowshoe hare window shifts across the state; times are computed for each county centre.
| Day | Event | County | First sun | Last sun | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Opening day | Clay | 7:07 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Opening day | Ramsey | 6:54 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Opening day | St. Louis | 6:51 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Season close | Clay | 7:10 a.m. | 6:08 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:08 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Season close | Ramsey | 6:54 a.m. | 5:57 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Season close | St. Louis | 6:55 a.m. | 5:52 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:52 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.
Snowshoe Hare legal methods
Snowshoe Hare and the general hunting laws
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Firearm transport | Unloaded and fully cased or in a closed trunk (Personal Protection Act handguns excepted); uncased unloaded long guns allowed while hunting or traveling to/from hunting, except in Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, cities of 2,500+, school grounds and refuges. |
| Sale of game | Hides, bones, antlers, teeth, claws, sinew may be sold (not migratory birds); flesh of beaver, muskrat, raccoon, rabbits and hares may be sold; no sale of bear meat or gall bladders; bear paws only on the hide. |
| Road-killed animals | A possession permit (from a CO or local law enforcement) is required. |
| Trespass and agricultural land | Permission needed on posted or agricultural land; may not return for a year after being told to leave; no discharging a firearm within 500 ft of an occupied building or livestock on another's land without written permission. |
booklet p. 30, booklet p. 37, booklet p. 38, Minnesota Statutes 97B.001, checked October 28, 2026.
Snowshoe Hare questions
Do I need a validation for Walk-In Access?
Walk-In Access is open to snowshoe hare hunters: 23,000 acres at 230+ private sites open Sept. 1-May 31 with a $3 validation; no vehicles, trapping, dog training, target shooting or camping.
Does Minnesota limit Sunday hunting for snowshoe hares?
Minnesota sets no day-of-week limits, so Sunday snowshoe hare hunting is allowed.
What are the 2026-27 dates for snowshoe hares?
Sep 19, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 across 1 dated row. Sept. 19-Feb. 28.
What is the bag limit for snowshoe hares?
For 2026-27: 10 daily combined with cottontail.
What license do I need for snowshoe hares?
Prices for 2026-27: Small game license (resident, Under 16): Free (not required); Small game license (resident, Youth 16-17): $5; Small game license (resident, Adult 18-64): $22; Small game license (resident, Senior 65+): $13.50; 72-hour small game license (resident, Adult 18+): $19.
What are shooting hours for snowshoe hares?
Snowshoe hares may be hunted from a half hour before sunrise to sunset, the small game window in the booklet.
Is blaze orange or pink required for snowshoe hares?
The blaze requirement for snowshoe hares is one visible orange or pink item above the waist when deer gun seasons are closed.
Which WMAs list snowshoe hares?
The DNR lists snowshoe hares on 1,360 wildlife management areas, led by Red Lake WMA, Roseau River WMA, Thief Lake WMA.
Do party limits apply to snowshoe hares?
Yes for snowshoe hares: members of a party (2+ in unaided visual and vocal contact) may take game for each other up to the combined limits; each may transport only an individual limit. Each hunter may carry only one limit of snowshoe hares.
Other photos on this page: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).