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Turtles and Frogs in Minnesota Rules
The legal status of turtles and frogs in Minnesota.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
For turtles and frogs, the rules are in the fishing booklet, as the hunting booklet itself states.
Turtle and frog rules in one list
- Limit: See fishing regulations
- Seasons in short: Fishing rules
- Also: Covered in the 2026 Fishing Regulations.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
Where turtle and frog rules live
For turtles and frogs, the DNR hunting booklet points to the fishing booklet, so the general take rules below are the only hunting-side rules shown.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Definition of take | Pursuing, shooting, killing, capturing, trapping, snaring, netting and attempting or assisting. |
| Wanton waste | May not waste a protected wild animal by failing to use usable parts; migratory birds must be retrieved. |
| 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. |
DNR booklet page, checked October 28, 2026.
Turtles and Frogs: 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. |
| Game birds (97A.015 subd. 24) | migratory waterfowl, ring-necked pheasant, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, Canada spruce grouse, prairie chickens, gray partridge, bobwhite quail, wild turk | Bobwhite quail have no season (booklet p. 32). |
| Unprotected wild animals (97A.015 subd. 53; booklet p. 32) | coyote, plains pocket gopher, porcupine, red/pine squirrel, striped skunk, woodchuck, unprotected birds | May be taken at any time in any manner except with artificial lights or by motor vehicle; no license needed. Booklet adds red squirrel and woodchuck. |
From Minnesota Statutes 97A.015 and the DNR booklet, checked October 28, 2026.
Turtles and Frogs 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. |
| Canada lynx | No open season; incidentally killed lynx may not be possessed or transported without CO authorization; special snare rules in the lynx management zone (east and north of US 53). |
| Cougar, wolverine, moose, caribou, antelope, eastern spotted skunk | No open season. |
| 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. |
| Endangered, threatened and special-concern species (Minn. R. ch. 6134) | Protected wild animals; excluded from the unprotected class. |
From the DNR booklet and Minnesota Statutes 97A.015, checked October 28, 2026.
Alternatives to turtles and frogs this season
| Species | Season | Where | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Coot | Regular ducks | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 |
| American Coot | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
| American Coot | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
| American Coot | Regular ducks | South Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
| Muskrat | Trapping (north zone) | North Furbearer Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Muskrat | Trapping (south zone) | South Furbearer Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Mink | Trapping (north zone) | North Furbearer Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Mink | Trapping (south zone) | South Furbearer Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Sora and Virginia Rail | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 |
DNR booklet, checked October 28, 2026.
What hunters ask about turtles and frogs
What applies to definition of take?
Pursuing, shooting, killing, capturing, trapping, snaring, netting and attempting or assisting.
Can I wear camo for turtles and frogs?
The booklet requires blaze from every hunter and trapper afield during the firearms and muzzleloader deer seasons, turtle and frog hunters included.
How is sale of game handled?
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.
How is wanton waste handled?
May not waste a protected wild animal by failing to use usable parts; migratory birds must be retrieved.
What applies to inspections and seizure?
Must allow inspection of firearms, licenses, game, vehicles and boats; unlawful game and equipment may be seized.
How is road-killed animals handled?
A possession permit (from a CO or local law enforcement) is required.
Is Sunday hunting allowed for turtles and frogs?
No day of the week closes the turtle and frog season in Minnesota.
What does the booklet say about hunter harassment?
No preventing or disrupting lawful hunting or trapping, including disturbing animals to do so.
Is there a daily limit on turtles and frogs?
The booklet says: See fishing regulations
Other photos on this page: Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0).