Guides · Feral hog laws by state · Checked September 30, 2026
Feral hog laws in Minnesota
In Minnesota, hunting or trapping feral swine is illegal unless the DNR authorizes it for control or eradication. Shooting one is not a violation if you report it to the DNR within 24 hours and surrender the animal.
The rules at a glance
- Legal status
- Feral swine, meaning any animal of the pig or peccary families that lives or has lived in the wild, may not be possessed, released or allowed to run at large without a permit. A violation is a misdemeanor. source
- Season
- No season. Hunting or trapping is lawful only when the DNR commissioner authorizes it for control or eradication. Shooting a feral swine is not a violation if the taking is reported to the commissioner within 24 hours and the animal is surrendered. source
- License
- Not stated in Minnesota statute 97A.56 or the 2024 DNR report
- Bag limit
- Not stated in Minnesota statute 97A.56 or the 2024 DNR report
- Trapping
- Prohibited, unless the DNR commissioner authorizes it for control or eradication. source
- Moving live hogs
- Eurasian wild pigs cannot be imported, held, bred, moved or released without a Minnesota Department of Agriculture permit. source
- Night hunting
- Not stated in Minnesota statute 97A.56 or the 2024 DNR report
- Eradication or bounty
- The DNR requests assistance from USDA Wildlife Services to remove pigs under its federally funded Feral Swine Damage Management Program. source
What makes Minnesota different
As of the February 2024 report, Minnesota did not have an established feral pig population, though feral pigs had been reported.
Where to report hogs
Anyone who shoots a feral swine must report it to the DNR commissioner within 24 hours and surrender the animal. The statute gives no phone number.
Every state also has a USDA Wildlife Services office. The federal feral swine program (Squeal on Pigs!) links to yours.
Knowing the rules is half of it
Whether you hunt, trap or call it in, it helps to know what is actually on your land.
HogSight reads the trail-camera photos you already have and maps the sounder: group size, timing, and which individuals keep coming back. See how HogSight reads your camera roll →
Sources
Checked against these official pages on September 30, 2026. Due for a re-check by September 30, 2027.
Rules next door
This guide is informational. Wildlife and animal-health rules change and can vary by county. Always confirm current rules with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources before acting.