Ruffed Grouse in Aspen
Hunting pheasants, ruffed grouse, squirrels or rabbits offers opportunities to enjoy the Minnesota outdoors as temperatures fall and snow blankets the landscape.
Pheasants: Hunting season is open through Jan. 1, 2025. On Dec. 1, the daily bag limit increases to three roosters, with a possession limit of nine roosters. The best places to find pheasants at this time of year are in tall grass or cattail marshes. Hunters should remember to exercise caution around thin ice.
Grouse: Hunting season is open through Jan. 1, 2025. Wintertime grouse hunters might find success during the “golden hour,” which is the last hour before sunset when ruffed grouse move out of their snow roosts to feed.
Squirrels: Hunting season is open through Feb. 28, 2025. Winter is breeding season for squirrels, which means they are active and easier to find.
Rabbits: Hunting season is open through Feb. 28, 2025. Hunters will find the most success around thick cover, such as brush piles, thorn tangles and briars.
Fisher, martin and bobcat trapping opens Saturday, Dec. 14, so hunters should be aware of the potential for additional traps in the woods.
Hunters also can find regulations and complete bag limit information on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website (mndnr.gov/hunting). More information about how or where to hunt can be found on the DNR’s learn to hunt webpages (mndnr.gov/gohunting). Recorded webinars with tips on how to hunt pheasants, grouse, squirrels or rabbits are available in the webinar archive on the outdoor skills and stewardship page of the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/discover).
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