In Minnesota, our research showed the below requirements to become a hunting guide or fishing guide.  Before operating as a guide ensure that you contact your states wildlife agency directly to verify all requirements.

*Always ensure that you and your clients have the necessary hunting and fishing licenses for the game you will be pursuing.

Basic requirements for Fishing Guide Jobs in Minnesota:

• One of the first steps in determining which license(s) you may need is to know whether the waters you will be operating on are subject to not only Minnesota laws and rules, but have been designated “Navigable Waters of the US” by the US Coast Guard (USCG). Examples of these US waters in Minnesota are Lake Superior, most of the Mississippi River or Lake of the Woods. On these waters you will need to comply with both state and federal requirements. On sole-state waters you will need to comply with only the state rules for charter boats.
• If you are carrying passengers for hire on waters subject to only Minnesota laws and rules (often called “sole state waters”), the following requirements from the Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry apply, as of 2010, regardless of boat length: If you are carrying six or fewer passengers for hire there are no state licensing, permitting or inspection requirements – regardless of boat length. See exception noted below.
• If you are carrying more than six passengers for hire, regardless of boat length, you need to obtain a Minnesota Boat Master License from the Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry and have your boat inspected by that agency. If you have a USCG license to carry more than six passengers for hire and are required to have a USCG boat inspection, you are exempt from the Minnesota Boat Master License and inspection requirements. See the State of Minnesota section when following the link below for direct contact information on state licensing and inspection requirements, and any updates that may occur. The Minnesota DNR currently licenses fishing charter boat operators or fishing guides only on Lake Superior and St. Louis River Estuary. If you guide or do fishing charters there, you will need to obtain a Minnesota DNR Lake Superior Guide’s License. A prerequisite to that is to have your USCG Operator of an Uninspected Passenger Vessel License (OUPV or Six-Pack). For more information on the Lake Superior Guide’s License, contact the DNR License Center – see contact information.
• Visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/index.html and click on “Guide licensing” which is near the bottom of the “What To Know” column.

Other Fishing Guide Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good communication skills
• Well organized
• Ability to work with diverse groups of clients
• Willingness to teach others effective fishing techniques
• Outdoor survival and first aid skills
• Swimming skills
• Good physical fitness

Basic requirements for Hunting Guide Jobs in Minnesota:

• MN DNR regulates only bear guiding. Master Bear Guide license is required for Bear Guiding. Contact dnr@state.mn.us for Bear Outfitter rules.
• Turkey guiding is illegal in MN.
• All other guiding for hunting is not regulated in Minnesota.

Other Hunting Guide Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good communication skills
• Well organized
• Ability to work with diverse groups of clients
• Willingness to teach others effective hunting techniques
• Outdoor survival and first aid skills
• Firearm safety skills
• Good physical fitness

State Wildlife Agency Contact:

Agency Name: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Website: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html

Phone Number: (888) 646-6367

Email Address: info.dnr@state.mn.us