Minnesota Bowhunters Challenge — Official Rules & Terms of Participation
1. Eligibility
1.1 Participation in the Minnesota Bowhunters Challenge ("the League") is open to all bowhunters, if you do not have a MNBOW membership you will need to sign up for a free or paid membership before you can post a harvest.
1.2 Every member of a competing squad must hold a Free or Paid MNBOW membership by the end of the active season. This requirement applies to all squad members without exception. Membership status may be verified by league administrators at any time.
1.3 By registering a squad or submitting a harvest, participants agree to these rules in full.
1.4 Participants must comply with all applicable Minnesota state hunting laws, regulations, and licensing requirements. A valid Minnesota hunting license and any required tags or permits must be held for every animal harvested and submitted to the League.
2. Squads
2.1 Competing teams are called squads. Each squad must consist of a minimum of two and a maximum of four hunters. Squads with fewer than two registered members are not eligible to compete.
2.2 Every member of a squad must be a MNBOW member — free or paid — by the end of the season. Squads found to have ineligible members may be suspended from the standings pending resolution.
2.3 Each squad must be registered before the season opens. Registration requires a squad name, home region, and the name and email address of each member.
2.4 A hunter may only be an active member of one squad per season.
2.5 Squad names must be appropriate and family-friendly. MNBOW reserves the right to reject or request a change to any squad name deemed offensive or inappropriate.
2.6 Squad logos and profile photos must be appropriate for all audiences. MNBOW reserves the right to remove any image that is offensive, inappropriate, or violates these terms.
3. Equipment
3.1 Only legal archery equipment as defined by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the applicable season and zone is permitted. This includes but is not limited to compound bows, recurve bows, longbows, and crossbows where legally permitted.
3.2 All equipment must comply with Minnesota DNR archery season regulations in effect at the time of the harvest. It is the sole responsibility of each hunter to ensure their equipment meets all legal requirements.
3.3 Harvests taken with firearms or any non-archery equipment are not eligible for submission, unless the harvest is taken in completion of an official mission specifically designated for non-archery equipment by MNBOW administrators. Such missions will clearly state the equipment exception in the mission description.
4. Seasons
4.1 The Minnesota Bowhunters Challenge operates on defined seasons with published start and end dates. Points and standings reset at the beginning of each new season.
4.2 Harvest submissions are only accepted during an active season window. Submissions made outside the season dates will not be counted.
4.3 All harvest submissions must be received and approved before the season closing deadline to count toward final standings.
5. Harvests & Point Submissions
5.1 Only legally harvested animals taken within the state of Minnesota are eligible for point submission. Animals harvested in any other state or jurisdiction do not qualify for standard scoring, regardless of the season or equipment used.
5.2 The Minnesota-only harvest restriction may be waived for specific bonus point Missions at the sole discretion of MNBOW administrators. Any such mission will explicitly state that out-of-state harvests are eligible and will define which states or locations qualify. No assumption of eligibility should be made unless the mission description specifically states otherwise.
5.3 Only animals taken with legal archery equipment during the active season window are eligible for submission, except where an official mission permits otherwise per Section 3.3.
5.4 A photo of the harvest is required with every submission. The photo must clearly show the harvested animal and is subject to admin review for authenticity.
5.5 All submissions are reviewed by league administrators before points are awarded. Submission of a harvest does not guarantee approval.
5.6 Administrators reserve the right to reject any submission that involves a harvest taken outside Minnesota (unless covered by an active mission exception), appears to violate hunting laws, involves non-archery equipment outside of an approved mission exception, contains an inappropriate image, cannot be verified, or is otherwise inconsistent with the spirit of the Minnesota Bowhunters Challenge.
5.7 Points are awarded per the published point value schedule. Point values are set by MNBOW and may vary by season. Current approved values are visible on the league website at all times.
5.8 Each harvest submission must represent a unique, individual animal. Duplicate submissions for the same animal are not permitted and will be rejected.
5.9 Submitting a false, fabricated, or misleading harvest is grounds for immediate disqualification of the squad from the current season.
6. Missions
6.1 MNBOW may post bonus point Missions throughout the season. Missions may be harvest-based — awarded automatically upon harvest approval — or activity-based — awarded manually by an administrator after verification.
6.2 Activity mission completions must be verified to the satisfaction of the league administrator. The description of each mission will specify what proof is required and how to submit it.
6.3 Mission bonus points are awarded in addition to regular harvest points and count toward final standings.
6.4 For first-only missions, bonus points are awarded solely to the first eligible squad to complete the mission. Once awarded the mission closes to further entries.
6.5 Mission parameters — including point values, eligible animals, geographic scope, time windows, and award type — are set solely by MNBOW and are final.
6.6 MNBOW reserves the right to cancel, modify, or extend any mission at any time with reasonable notice to participants.
7. Leaderboard & Standings
7.1 Standings are calculated by total approved points — harvest points plus mission bonus points — accumulated by a squad during the active season.
7.2 In the event of a tie in final standings, the squad with the greater number of approved harvests is ranked higher. If still tied, the squad whose most recent approved harvest was submitted earliest is ranked higher.
7.3 The leaderboard is publicly visible. Squad names, logos, member names, harvest photos, and point totals are visible to anyone visiting the site.
7.4 Final standings are determined at the close of the season and are subject to a 48-hour review window during which administrators may investigate and resolve any outstanding disputes before results are confirmed.
8. Prizes & Awards
8.1 Where prizes are offered, they will be awarded to the winning squad or squads within three months of the official season end date.
8.2 Prizes are awarded to the squad as a whole. Distribution of prizes among squad members is the responsibility of the squad and is not administered by MNBOW.
8.3 Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value unless otherwise stated by MNBOW.
8.4 To be eligible to receive a prize, all squad members must be in good standing with MNBOW and must not be under any active disqualification at the time prizes are awarded.
8.5 MNBOW reserves the right to withhold prizes pending resolution of any outstanding disputes or rule violations involving the winning squad.
9. Conduct & Sportsmanship
9.1 All participants are expected to conduct themselves with honesty, integrity, and respect for fellow participants, MNBOW administrators, landowners, and the hunting tradition.
9.2 Any attempt to manipulate, falsify, or game the scoring system — including submitting fraudulent harvest photos, claiming missions dishonestly, or coordinating with other squads to unfairly influence standings — is grounds for immediate disqualification.
9.3 Harassment, intimidation, or abusive behavior directed at other participants or administrators, whether on or off the league platform, will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the Minnesota Bowhunters Challenge.
9.4 All harvests must be taken in full compliance with Minnesota hunting regulations. Poaching, trespassing, or any other illegal hunting activity is an automatic basis for disqualification and may be reported to the appropriate authorities.
10. Privacy & Communications
10.1 By registering, participants consent to their name, squad affiliation, harvest submissions, and point totals being displayed publicly on the league website.
10.2 Member email addresses are used solely for Minnesota Bowhunters Challenge communications including harvest notifications, mission alerts, weekly recaps, and season updates. Email addresses are not shared with third parties.
10.3 Participants may contact MNBOW at any time to update or remove their information.
11. Disqualification
11.1 MNBOW reserves the right to disqualify any squad or individual member for violation of these rules, unsportsmanlike conduct, or any action deemed contrary to the integrity of the competition.
11.2 Disqualification decisions are made by MNBOW administrators and are final. Disputes may be submitted in writing to the league administrator within 48 hours of the decision.
12. Amendments
12.1 MNBOW reserves the right to amend these rules at any time. Participants will be notified of material changes via the league website or email. Continued participation after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated rules.
13. Limitation of Liability
13.1 MNBOW and the Minnesota Bowhunters Challenge are not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage arising from participation in the League or from hunting activities undertaken in connection with it.
13.2 Participation is entirely at the individual's own risk. Safe and lawful hunting practices are the sole responsibility of each participant.
These rules are effective as of the current season. Questions or disputes should be directed to your MNBOW league administrator.