And pledge to take a friend hunting this year!



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minnesota department of natural resources


*Minnesota Wildlife*



"April 15, 2025"

Stay informed! Here’s a summary of upcoming wildlife and habitat management activities and ways you can discover, explore and experience Minnesota’s outdoors.

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turkey hunter with bird he harvested
Spring turkey hunting begins 

Minnesota’s turkey hunting begins this week, with opportunities available from Wednesday, April 16, through Saturday, May 31. The season is divided into six hunt periods, A-F.

Wild turkey hunting is popular in Minnesota and turkey hunting — including setting decoys, listening for gobbles and calling to birds — can make for an active and unforgettable experience. For anyone new to the experience, the Minnesota DNR has how-to guides and videos on a learn-to-hunt webpage [ [link removed] ].

Hunters who harvest a bird in permit area 507 can help check the health of wild turkeys — and enter for the chance to win a shotgun donated by and given away in a raffle run by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation — by submitting samples to DNR wildlife research. More information about how to submit samples, and important season and regulation details about turkey hunting in Minnesota, can be found on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ].

"Photo courtesy of Shawn Weide"



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turkey hunter with bird harvested
Take a friend turkey hunting

Take the pledge to take someone new hunting this turkey season, and you’ll be entered to win prizes from Pheasants Forever!

We have joined forces with Pheasants Forever to invite Minnesota hunters to take the Hunter Mentor Pledge [ [link removed] ] and take someone new hunting. The challenge is open to all in-season game species — turkey season is the perfect opportunity.

Take the pledge online, take the new hunter out, share a quick hunt recap on the Pheasants Forever website, and you’ll be entered to win limited-edition prizes. Share the passion of hunting in Minnesota.

"Photo courtesy of Cloey Griep"



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a black bear
Bear hunt lottery applications available

Prospective bear hunters have until Friday, May 2, to apply for a bear hunting license from the Minnesota DNR. Applications for the 2025 season can be submitted online, at any license agent or by telephone at 888-665-4236. A total of 4,605 licenses are available across the 15 quota areas where licenses are limited for the 2025 season, which opens Monday, Sept. 1, and closes Sunday, Oct. 12.

The number of licenses available each year in the quota area is based on Minnesota’s bear population trends for those areas. License quotas for the 2025 bear season include a moderate increase where population trends indicate sufficient growth.

Visit the DNR bear hunting page [ [link removed] ] for complete instructions about how to apply for a bear hunting license, information about bear permit area changes and maps of permit areas, and a listing of permit availability for each area.



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a bull moose seen from an aircraft
Minnesota’s moose population remains relatively stable

The most recent Minnesota moose population estimate is approximately 4,040 animals, according to the results of the Minnesota DNR’s 2025 population survey.

Results continue to suggest that after a steep decline from a population estimate of approximately 8,000 in 2009, Minnesota’s moose population appears to have stabilized and has fluctuated around 3,700 animals in recent years.

While recent estimates suggest continued stability in the population and reproductive success, DNR researchers point out that Minnesota moose remain at risk. Presently, the long-term survey trends indicate the moose population has declined approximately 60% since the mid-2000s. Climate change, parasites, and predator impacts on calf survival all play a part in the long-term survival of the moose population.

Both the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the 1854 Treaty Authority are full partners on the moose survey and contributed funding and personnel for the 2025 annual survey. The survey is available on the DNR’s moose management webpage [ [link removed] ].



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deer hunter in blaze orange with deer he harvested
Deer harvest report from 2024 posted

The deer harvest report [ [link removed] ] for 2024 is posted on the Minnesota DNR website.

If you love delving into pages and pages of deer data, this is the report for you. Total deer harvest totaled 170,679 deer in 2024. The report includes license sales data, success rates, harvest by season, harvest by permit area and weapon type, and harvest statistics on all the special hunts and more.

"Photo courtesy of Jesse Henry"



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wolf on a hill
Talks on deer predator-prey dynamics

Predator-prey dynamics is a hot topic amongst deer hunters, especially about wolves. Did you know the Minnesota DNR has two recorded webinars on this topic? Check out:

Wolves in Minnesota [ [link removed] ] – DNR wolf management specialist Dan Stark shares what we know about wolf ecology in Minnesota, ongoing research, and DNR’s updated management plan.

Winter Impact on Deer [ [link removed] ] – winter is the toughest time of year for white-tailed deer. DNR big game specialists cover the Winter Severity Index and discuss some recent winters and impact on deer. It also covers the adaptations deer have to help them survive winter and what you can do to further help them out.

We also followed up with some responses to common questions [ [link removed] ] that were asked in the webinars. Don’t have time to watch the webinars? Here are some other general points about wolves and deer:


* Deer are a primary prey species for wolves in Minnesota. Wolves tend to target deer that are most vulnerable due to age or poor health.
* The relationship between wolves and deer populations varies on the interplay of several factors, including the abundance of deer, winter severity, other predators (e.g., bear, coyotes), prey on the landscape (e.g., moose, beaver) and habitat conditions.
* Long-term studies of deer in northern Minnesota show that in areas where deer are stressed from severe winters or poor habitat conditions, wolves exert more influence.

"Photo courtesy of harveyddog, iNaturalist"



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an archery turkey hunt with a woman hunter and a mentor during spring
Becoming an Outdoors Woman position accepting applications

The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program is now in its 31st year in Minnesota! BOW in Minnesota began in 1994 with the first workshop held at Gunflint Lodge in January of 1995 and the program has grown significantly since then. Now, the Minnesota DNR is seeking a new BOW coordinator. If you’re interested, apply now through Monday, April 28. The position announcement was posted on the State of Minnesota career website [ [link removed] ]. Search for “Becoming an Outdoors Woman.”



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two pheasant hunters and a dog
Walk-In enrollment open for landowners

Landowners: Open your property to hunting and get paid to do it! Enrollment is open for Minnesota’s 2025 Walk-In Access program, which pays landowners to allow public access to private lands. Since 2011, the Walk-In Access program has enrolled parcels of 40 acres or larger with high-quality natural cover. The DNR partners with select soil and water conservation districts across the state to assist landowners in enrolling parcels into the Walk-In Access program. The participating counties along with their contact information are listed on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] and check the Walk-In Access page [ [link removed] ] for more information about the program.



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a spike bull elk
Interested in Minnesota elk?

Check out our elk newsletter!

Minnesota Elk Notes is a quarterly email newsletter that includes information about elk natural history, biology, viewing, hunting and updates on elk research, management and habitat work taking place in Minnesota.

Sign up here for Elk Notes [ [link removed] ].



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a Richardson's ground squirrel
Wildlife highlight: Richardson’s ground squirrel

For Richardson’s ground squirrel, life means eat, mate, sleep, repeat!

This species has an interesting approach to hibernation that reduces competition between sexes and age classes.

Males wake up first from hibernation in late March, setting up territories, fattening up, and waiting for females to appear. They will re-enter hibernation in early July — if they survive. Fights and long chases between males in the competitive mating season can lead to serious wounds and diminished fat reserves. Not all males survive.

Females emerge from hibernation in April and typically mate after the third day out and about. After the young are weaned they’ll re-enter hibernation by late July.

By August, the only Richardson’s ground squirrels above ground are juveniles. They’ll eat until they reach adult size around mid-October, then retreat below ground to repeat the cycle. Learn more about these squirrels on the DNR website [ [link removed] ].

"Photo courtesy of the National Park Service"







Let’s talk about wildlife

Hunters, trappers and wildlife watchers benefit from the management, habitat and oversight work of the Minnesota DNR’s area wildlife office staff. Have question, comment or concern? Area wildlife staff [ [link removed] ] are happy to talk with you!

Find hunting and trapping regulations, harvest registration, how to contact a conservation officer and information about pursuing a variety of species at the DNR hunting page [ [link removed] ]. New to hunting? Check out the DNR learn to hunt page [ [link removed] ].







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minnesota department of natural resources [ [link removed] ]

*Minnesota Department of Natural Resources  |  mndnr.gov [ [link removed] ] *

Email us: [email protected]  |  Call 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367

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