Minnesota’s 10,000-plus lakes and sprawling river systems make it one of the most appealing states in the country for bowfishers. But before you rig your reel and hit the water, you need to understand exactly what the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) allows — and what it doesn’t.
Bowfishing laws in Minnesota cover everything from which species you can target to how loud your boat can be after dark. Getting those details wrong can cost you your license, your catch, and potentially a significant fine. This guide walks you through every major regulation so you can bowfish confidently and legally.
Is Bowfishing Legal in Minnesota?
Yes, bowfishing is fully legal in Minnesota. Bowfishing in Minnesota is a thrilling and unique way to enjoy the great outdoors, and with its abundance of lakes and rivers, the state offers plenty of opportunities for bowfishing enthusiasts. The sport is regulated by the Minnesota DNR under state statute Minnesota Statutes Section 97C.376, which sets the specific rules for bow fishing statewide.
You can bowfish for native rough fish and common carp over open water or through the ice in a fish house or shelter, day or night, with or without lights, during the open season. That flexibility makes Minnesota one of the more permissive states for the sport, provided you stay within the defined boundaries.
Important Note: Bowfishing regulations in Minnesota apply only to rough fish and common carp. Game fish such as walleye, bass, and northern pike cannot be taken by bow under any circumstances on standard inland waters.
The season for possessing bows and arrows near water runs from the last Saturday in April through the last Sunday in February. A person may possess bows and arrows for the purposes of bow fishing on or within 100 feet of waters at any time from the last Saturday in April to the last Sunday in February, and at other times on lakes and rivers south of State Highway 210, subject to local ordinances. Always verify the broader hunting and fishing laws in Minnesota before heading out, as local ordinances can add restrictions in specific municipalities.
What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Minnesota?
You may only bowfish for common carp and native rough fish, which include buffalo, sucker, redhorse, freshwater drum, bowfin, gar, goldeye, and bullhead. These are the only species you are legally permitted to shoot. Targeting any other fish — including game fish — with a bow is prohibited.
Each of these species plays a different role in Minnesota’s waterways, and many are considered invasive or overabundant, which is why the DNR permits year-round harvesting with few bag limit restrictions on most of them.
| Species | Classification | Daily Bag Limit (Inland) |
|---|---|---|
| Common Carp | Non-native invasive | No limit |
| Bigmouth / Smallmouth Buffalo | Native rough fish | No limit |
| Sucker (various) | Native rough fish | 50 per day |
| Redhorse | Native rough fish | 50 per day |
| Freshwater Drum | Native rough fish | No limit |
| Bowfin | Native rough fish | No limit |
| Gar | Native rough fish | No limit |
| Goldeye | Native rough fish | No limit |
| Bullhead | Native rough fish | 100 per day |
You cannot exceed the daily limit for each species taken with any combination of bowfishing, spearing, harpooning, dip netting, or seining equipment to reach the limit. That means if you’ve already taken 50 suckers by dip net earlier in the day, you cannot take additional suckers by bow to reach a new total.
Pro Tip: Spring and early summer are widely considered the best time to bowfish in Minnesota. The best time for bowfishing in Minnesota is during the spring and early summer months, when fish species like carp and suckerfish gather in shallow waters for spawning. During this time, visibility in the water is also better due to the absence of algae blooms.
Bowfishing License Requirements in Minnesota
A standard Minnesota fishing license is all you need to bowfish — there is no separate bowfishing permit or endorsement required for inland waters. You need a fishing license if you’re 16 or older unless you qualify for an angling license exclusion.
To legally fish in Minnesota, all residents of Minnesota, age 16 through 89, must have a current Minnesota fishing license unless an exemption applies. All nonresidents need a license, except those younger than 16 do not need a license if a parent or guardian is licensed.
Fishing licenses are effective from March 1 to the last day of February of the following year. A fishing license for the current 2026–27 license year is effective until Feb. 28, 2027. You can purchase your license online through the Minnesota DNR fishing licenses page or from a local license vendor.
Several exemptions exist for Minnesota residents. Residents who are legally blind, receiving SSI or SSDI, or receiving worker’s compensation for total and permanent disability are exempt and must present a current letter from Social Security stating disability or SSI benefits to any license agent to receive a free license. Minnesota residents may also fish without a license for any species except trout when shore fishing or wading on state-owned land inside a state park, or fishing from a boat on water bodies completely inside state park boundaries.
Key Insight: Residents age 90 and older do not need a fishing license in Minnesota. The standard resident license requirement applies to ages 16 through 89.
To qualify as a resident for licensing purposes, a person must maintain a legal residence in Minnesota for at least 60 consecutive days before purchasing a license. Residents 21 years of age or older must provide a current Minnesota driver’s license or Minnesota public safety ID card. If you’re interested in how Minnesota handles other animal-related regulations, the dog leash laws in Minnesota offer another example of how the state balances public use and wildlife management.
Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Minnesota
Minnesota law sets specific standards for the equipment you use while bowfishing. Using the wrong gear — even unintentionally — can result in a violation, so it pays to know the rules before you load up your boat.
Arrows and bow requirements:
- Arrows must have a barb and be attached to the bow with a tethered line.
- You can use a bow while taking native rough fish and common carp from a watercraft with or without a motor.
- To possess a bow, you need to follow local ordinances. Some municipalities restrict bow possession near water bodies, so check your specific location.
Crossbows: Yes, you can use a crossbow for bowfishing. This is a notable update from older regulations that restricted crossbow use to those 60 and older or those with a disability permit. The current eRegulations guide published by the Minnesota DNR confirms crossbows are permitted for bowfishing.
Noise limits: From sunset to sunrise, the noise limits for total noise while bow fishing must not exceed a noise level of 65 decibels on the A scale measured at a distance of 50 feet from the motorboat. This rule is specifically designed to reduce disturbance to lakeside residents during nighttime outings.
Common Mistake: Many bowfishers assume any arrow will work. Minnesota specifically requires barbed arrows attached to the bow with a tethered line. Using unbarbed or untethered arrows is a violation — and you are also required to attempt to retrieve both your arrow and any fish you shoot.
Fish disposal: Native rough fish and common carp taken by bow fishing must not be returned to the water, and native rough fish and common carp may not be left on the banks of any water of the state. If you shoot a fish, you have to try to retrieve the fish and your arrow. Wasting fish or abandoning them on shore is a violation. For context on how Minnesota handles other wildlife-related responsibilities, see the state’s roadkill laws in Minnesota.
Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Minnesota
Minnesota allows bowfishing on most inland waters, but there are important location-based restrictions you need to know before choosing your spot.
Where bowfishing is allowed: Bowfishing is generally permitted on all inland waters of Minnesota during the open season, with a few named exceptions. Some of the top lakes and rivers for bowfishing in Minnesota include Lake Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, and the Mississippi River. These waters have healthy rough fish populations and offer excellent access.
Designated trout waters — closed: You can’t bowfish in designated trout lakes and streams, nor in posted spawning areas. Trout waters are clearly marked on the DNR’s LakeFinder tool, and you should verify any water body before fishing it.
Specific prohibited locations:
- Baby Lake in Cass County is specifically closed to bowfishing under inland water regulations.
- Bowfishing is prohibited in all waters within the city of Bloomington.
- Posted spawning areas are off-limits during the posted periods.
- Any water body where taking fish is otherwise prohibited is also closed to bowfishing.
Distance restrictions near structures: From sunset to sunrise, you cannot discharge a bow within 300 feet of a campsite or within 150 feet of an occupied structure. This rule applies during nighttime hours only, but it’s one of the most commonly cited violations among Minnesota bowfishers.
Border waters: The bowfishing regulations are allowed only on Minnesota’s portion of the border waters when they differ from those of the neighboring state. If the bowfishing regulations are the same, then they may be exercised from shore to shore. If you plan to bowfish near the Wisconsin or South Dakota borders, verify which state’s rules apply to your specific location.
Pro Tip: Use the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder tool to check whether a specific water body has special regulations, trout designations, or bowfishing closures before you launch.
Understanding property boundaries matters too. You cannot access private land to reach a water body without permission. Minnesota’s trespass laws carry civil and criminal penalties, including fines up to $3,000 and license revocation. If you want to understand how property and animal interaction laws work together in Minnesota, the neighbor’s cat in your yard laws in Minnesota provide an interesting parallel on property rights and animal regulation.
Night Bowfishing Rules in Minnesota
Night bowfishing is one of the most popular ways to target carp and rough fish in Minnesota, and it is broadly legal — but it comes with its own set of rules that you must follow precisely.
You can bowfish for native rough fish and common carp over open water or through the ice in a fish house or shelter, day or night, with or without lights, during the open season. The use of lights while bowfishing at night is permitted statewide on most waters, which is a significant advantage compared to some neighboring states.
Key night bowfishing rules at a glance:
- Distance from structures: From sunset to sunrise, you cannot discharge a bow within 300 feet of a campsite or within 150 feet of an occupied structure.
- Noise limit: You cannot make more than 65 decibels of noise on the “A” scale measured at a distance of 50 feet from the boat. This applies from sunset to sunrise.
- Fish retrieval: If you shoot a fish, you have to try to retrieve the fish and your arrow. You can’t shoot a fish and throw it back in the water, leave it on any bank of any waterway or any access site, or otherwise illegally dispose of the fish.
- No angling equipment: On special management waters like Mille Lacs Lake, specific rules apply. Beginning June 1, 2025, Mille Lacs Lake is open to bowfishing for carp and native rough fish between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily. A person must not have any angling equipment in possession while bowfishing under this provision.
The noise restriction is one of the most frequently misunderstood rules. Running a gasoline generator at full power while drifting near a residential shoreline will almost certainly exceed the 65-decibel limit. Many experienced Minnesota bowfishers use electric motors and battery-powered lighting systems specifically to stay compliant.
Key Insight: Lake Minnetonka has historically required special event permits for nighttime bowfishing. The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District Board has approved a Special Event Permit authorizing nighttime bowfishing on Lake Minnetonka during a limited event period from April 25, 2026 through June 30. Always check local district rules for high-profile lakes before planning a night outing.
Local ordinances can also restrict bow possession near water after dark, independent of state law. To possess a bow, you need to follow local ordinances. Cities and townships retain the authority to impose additional restrictions, so checking with your county or municipality before a night trip is always a smart move. This kind of layered regulation is common across Minnesota animal and outdoor laws — as seen in areas like backyard chicken laws in Minnesota, where municipal rules often add to state-level requirements.
Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Minnesota
Minnesota is a landlocked state with no ocean coastline, so there are no saltwater bowfishing regulations that apply here. The state does not border any saltwater body, and the Minnesota DNR does not publish saltwater fishing rules.
If you are planning a bowfishing trip that involves travel to a coastal state, you will need to review the regulations of that specific state. Saltwater bowfishing laws vary significantly by state and can include species-specific restrictions, gear requirements, and licensing structures that differ entirely from Minnesota’s freshwater framework.
Within Minnesota, all bowfishing takes place on freshwater — lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. The 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations are effective from March 2026 through February 28, 2027, and they cover all inland and border waters comprehensively. Lake Superior, while a large freshwater body bordering Minnesota, is subject to its own set of special regulations. Anyone fishing Minnesota waters of Lake Superior must have a Minnesota angling license and a trout/salmon stamp validation. Bowfishing for rough fish on Lake Superior’s Minnesota waters would still fall under the standard inland rough fish rules, but you should confirm current DNR guidance for any Lake Superior outing.
For the most current and location-specific regulations, always refer directly to the Minnesota DNR’s official bowfishing regulations page or download the current 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet. Regulations on specific waters are subject to in-season changes, and staying current protects both you and the fishery. You may also find it useful to review related Minnesota animal and outdoor laws, such as beekeeping laws in Minnesota or dog bite laws in Minnesota, to get a fuller picture of how the state structures its wildlife and property regulations.
Bowfishing in Minnesota rewards anglers who take the time to know the rules. Target only legal rough fish species, carry your fishing license, use barbed tethered arrows, respect distance limits near homes and campsites, and always retrieve your fish and arrows. Follow those core principles and you’ll be in full compliance — and well-positioned for a productive day on the water.