Minnesota
Weird Laws in Minnesota: Which Are Still on the Books?
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 21, 2026). · 3 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
We took three claims from popular weird-law lists about Minnesota, and two of the three turned out to be real. We checked each claim against the full text of the Minnesota Statutes as of October 21, 2026. For other states, see our weird laws by state guide.
Weird laws in Minnesota: the verdicts
Each claim below was checked against the Minnesota code and, where it names a town, the local code. 3 claims checked.
The claim: You cannot cross state lines with a duck on your head.
What the law says: No Minnesota statute concerns carrying a duck on your head or across state lines. The closest real rules govern transporting harvested birds: with some exceptions, Minnesota requires game birds, including ducks, to be shipped or transported undressed, meaning with a fully feathered wing intact (Minn. Stat. 97A.545, subd. 5 and 97A.015, subd. 49), and a federal rule (50 CFR 20.43) requires the head or one fully feathered wing to stay attached to migratory game birds while they are transported.
No state law found in the Minnesota code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the full text of the Minnesota Statutes for any rule on ducks or carrying an animal across state lines, including the full text of the game and fish chapters, the animal cruelty chapter, and the criminal, public safety, traffic and animal health chapters.
Parts of the code read
- Minnesota Statutes Chapter 97A (game and fish: general provisions)
- Minnesota Statutes Chapter 97B (game and fish: hunting)
- Minnesota Statutes Chapter 343 (prevention of cruelty to animals)
No town code was checked for this claim.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Greased pig/chicken/turkey contests are illegal.
What the law says: Minn. Stat. 343.36 makes it a misdemeanor to operate, run or participate in a contest in which a pig (greased, oiled or otherwise) is released for capture, or a chicken or turkey is released or thrown into the air for capture.
“No person shall operate, run or participate in a contest, game, or other like activity, in which a pig, greased, oiled or otherwise, is released and wherein the object is the capture of the pig, or in which a chicken or turkey is released or thrown into the air and wherein the object is the capture of the chicken or turkey. Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor.”
Penalty: misdemeanor
No court opinion in our database cites this section.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Live skunks cannot be brought into the state for sale.
What the law says: Minn. Stat. 145.365 (Trafficking in Skunks) makes it unlawful to import or export any live skunk for sale, barter, exchange or gift, or to acquire, sell, barter, exchange, give or purchase live skunks, with exceptions for zoos, circuses, shows without public contact and scientific or educational institutions. Violation is a misdemeanor.
“it shall be unlawful to: (1) import into or export out of this state any live skunk, for sale, barter, exchange or gift for any purpose whatsoever; (2) acquire, sell, barter, exchange, give, or purchase any live skunks.”
Penalty: Violation of subdivision 1 is a misdemeanor.
Last cited by a court: Anker v. Little (1995)
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
Checked October 21, 2026. This is legal history and information, not legal advice. Laws change; the linked official text is the authority.
No greased pigs, no tossed turkeys
The greased pig claim is accurate, and the law covers chickens and turkeys as well as pigs. Minnesota Statutes section 343.36, in the animal cruelty chapter, reads:
No person shall operate, run or participate in a contest, game, or other like activity, in which a pig, greased, oiled or otherwise, is released and wherein the object is the capture of the pig, or in which a chicken or turkey is released or thrown into the air and wherein the object is the capture of the chicken or turkey. Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
Two details stand out. The pig does not have to be greased; "or otherwise" covers a dry one too. And the section reaches participants as well as organizers, since it applies to anyone who will "operate, run or participate."
Skunks are not for trading
The skunk claim is also on the books, and the statute goes beyond bringing skunks in for sale. Section 145.365 makes it unlawful to:
(1) import into or export out of this state any live skunk, for sale, barter, exchange or gift for any purpose whatsoever; (2) acquire, sell, barter, exchange, give, or purchase any live skunks.
The ban does not apply to zoos, circuses, shows without public contact, or scientific or educational institutions. A violation is a misdemeanor.
The duck that is not on anyone's head
No Minnesota statute was found that concerns carrying a duck on your head, or carrying one across state lines. We searched the full text of the statutes for any rule on ducks or on taking an animal across state lines, including the game and fish chapters, the animal cruelty chapter, and the criminal, public safety, traffic and animal health chapters.
Ducks do appear in the law, just not on heads. With some exceptions, Minnesota requires game birds, including ducks, to be shipped or transported undressed, meaning with a fully feathered wing still attached (Minn. Stat. 97A.545, subd. 5, and the definition in 97A.015, subd. 49). A federal rule, 50 CFR 20.43, similarly requires the head or one fully feathered wing to stay attached to migratory game birds while they are transported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to cross state lines with a duck on your head in Minnesota?
No Minnesota statute was found about carrying a duck on your head or across state lines, as of October 21, 2026. The real rules on ducks govern transporting harvested game birds, which with some exceptions must keep a fully feathered wing attached.
Are greased pig contests illegal in Minnesota?
Minn. Stat. 343.36 makes it a misdemeanor to operate, run or participate in a contest in which a pig, greased, oiled or otherwise, is released to be caught. The same section covers releasing or throwing a chicken or turkey into the air to be caught.
Is it illegal to sell a skunk in Minnesota?
Minn. Stat. 145.365 makes it unlawful to import or export a live skunk for sale, barter, exchange or gift, or to acquire, sell, barter, exchange, give or purchase live skunks. Zoos, circuses, shows without public contact and scientific or educational institutions are excepted, and a violation is a misdemeanor.
What are some weird laws in Minnesota that are real?
Two claims from popular weird-law lists are on the books: the ban on contests where a pig, chicken or turkey is released to be caught (Minn. Stat. 343.36) and the skunk trafficking law (Minn. Stat. 145.365). Both are misdemeanors.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Sources and References
- Minn. Stat. 343.36, greased pig and fowl contests (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes)(revisor.mn.gov).gov
- Minn. Stat. 145.365, Trafficking in Skunks (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes)(revisor.mn.gov).gov
- Minn. Stat. chapter 97B, game and fish: hunting (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes)(revisor.mn.gov).gov
- Anker v. Little (1995)(courtlistener.com)