Minnesota Shotgun Zone going to Rifle

[tboltz34]

The end result will be negligible on quality and quantity of game, in my opinion. Everyone's preference on challenge and their ideal experience is different. Have things gotten easier? For sure! Technology will always advance. Wild game is not struggling because things are easier. It's loss in habitat and mis-management of game via seasons, predators, etc.. Additionally, of all species whitetails have thrived in a macro environment, all while technology has advanced.

 

[SFC B]

In IN we went from Shotguns, pistols(this included full rifle cartridges in "pistol" form) and muzzleloaders in firearms ....first to straight wall rifles and now to what people like to call "high power rifles". Indiana also has a bit of a difference compared to other states in that firearms season changes each year. It starts the Saturday after Veterans Day (so as early as the 12th-18th and goes 2 weeks. The flux means sometimes there is more rut activity, sometimes less(interestingly the highest harvest years have NOT been the earliest seasons). The deer harvest has remained stable. There have NOT been any upticks in property damage or injuries. Indiana also has a one buck rule (although you can "earn" another buck in an Urban Reduction Zone by harvesting a doe there first).

I think that the first thing to admit is that hunting regulations are (or should be), most importantly, for population control/conservation. Controlling license numbers, buck tags, does tags all will keep the ability to respond to populations with the state wildlife agency regardless of weapon. Anyone who doesn't think rifles are enough of a challenge does not have to use them. In most states you get a couple of MONTHS of bow hunting before there is a rifle season, more archery after and long muzzleloader seasons after. Further, I would say that most folks who "don't want rifle huntin' during the rut" tend to be bow hunters who feel they have right to be the only ones in the woods during that period because they chose that more difficult path. The same folks that have problems with crossbows during archery and a small part of THOSE who don't even think compound bows are sporting enough. If the goal of a deer hunting program in any state is stable, sustained populations why would it matter WHEN deer a killed other the something like this?

This is something for the people of MN to decide, but these are some things I would say should be part of the discussion.

 

[Nick87]

Further, I would say that most folks who "don't want rifle huntin' during the rut" tend to be bow hunters who feel they have right to be the only ones in the woods during that period because they chose that more difficult path. The same folks that have problems with crossbows during archery

Nah. Its people who appreciate the resource and dont feel the need to have to kill every last critter. If you gave me the choice between rifle during the rut and closing all seasons the first two weeks in November. I'd shut it down.

 

[mntatonka]

I think that the first thing to admit is that hunting regulations are (or should be), most importantly, for population control/conservation. Controlling license numbers, buck tags, does tags all will keep the ability to respond to populations with the state wildlife agency regardless of weapon. Anyone who doesn't think rifles are enough of a challenge does not have to use them. In most states you get a couple of MONTHS of bow hunting before there is a rifle season, more archery after and long muzzleloader seasons after. Further, I would say that most folks who "don't want rifle huntin' during the rut" tend to be bow hunters who feel they have right to be the only ones in the woods during that period because they chose that more difficult path. The same folks that have problems with crossbows during archery and a small part of THOSE who don't even think compound bows are sporting enough. If the goal of a deer hunting program in any state is stable, sustained populations why would it matter WHEN deer a killed other the something like this?

you hit the nail on the head. You should have seen how much of a fight it was to allow hunters to use a scope on a muzzleloader. That season is literally insignificant in the overall harvest.

Crossbows are still the same fight, and archery harvest is nearly insignificant in the state as well.


The same people fight against our disease management season, which accounts for less than half a percent of the overall harvest, and is almost exclusively in areas with high populations to begin with, and accounts for less than 700 deer.

 

[Nick87]

You should have seen how much of a fight it was to allow hunters to use a scope on a muzzleloader

Why do you want to have that though? I'm not saying you should or shouldn't but why do you want it?

 

[tboltz34]

It's human nature to draw the line where it benefit's oneself the most. The argument is new technology will be the downfall of hunting. Let's take the crossbow during archery. In my opinion, the crossbow is a longer jump in effectiveness vs going to rifle. Mainly because the bolt is pre-drawn. When someone brings up how easy it is, I always ask why they don't they use a recurve or long bow? Why did they draw the line at a compound?

Humans are selfish. I do think there needs to be a line but put that line with conservation in mind using actual data. Probably easier said than done. And I fully expect that line to move over my lifetime, as it should- it's an ever evolving environment.

Regarding the rut, would I keep the firearm season the same? I honestly don't know. It probably impacts quality of deer more than the actual population. The rut hunt appeases the majority of the population who go to deer camp to hunt once a year. Those people are just as important as the diehards, which is where I label myself. Selfishly, I’d want higher quality deer, but wildlife benefits with more people enjoying the outdoors.

 

[mntatonka]

Why do you want to have that though? I'm not saying you should or shouldn't but why do you want it?

The two big reasons were so older people with poorer eyesight could keep hunting, and less wounded deer.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Are you hunting a fairly large chunk of property?

We hunt 200 acres, so it is big enough to be comfortable hunting but the deer aren't staying on the property. We have seen an increase in hunting pressure on the neighboring properties the past few years. In general, properties in the area are not "small". I would consider a 40 acre property on the small side for the area.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Houston County Minnesota had a public meeting on March 3. you can find the minutes from the meeting at this link: https://www.co.houston.mn.us/public-meetings/ BOC minutes 2026 | Page 62-66. On March 10 the BOC discussed it at a work group meeting, no public comment. Those minutes are at the same link on page 68. During the Work Group meeting one of the commissioners noted two counties that had opted to not do a county ordinance against rifles. No action was taken and its noted to be taken up at a later meeting. I cannot find the date at which the the DNR has to be notified of an ordinance but I would think it is soon so they can get the regulations for 2026 posted and printed.


In another note from reading the minutes I saw the B.O.C. discussed expansion of cold water stream designation for trout fishing and they are against that.

I believe I saw they have until May 1 to decide.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Rifles during the rut are garbage. I don’t care where you live. Step in the wrong direction imo

Any firearm during the rut. I'd take archery out of the rut too if that's what it would take. Archery during September isn't much better with how patternable they are.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

The real question is when is Iowa going to acquire Houston County @Gellar !? I'm ready for the transition


(Edit to add that I feel this is about as likely as MN moving it's gun season out of the rut)

 

[mntatonka]

I believe I saw they have until May 1 to decide.

There's no deadline in statute. The only deadline would be by the DNR to get it in the regulation book, but a county can still decide after that "deadline" and it'll still be late.

 

[Gellar]

The real question is when is Iowa going to acquire Houston County @Gellar !? I'm ready for the transition


(Edit to add that I feel this is about as likely as MN moving it's gun season out of the rut)

We tried last year. Same senator tried to build an NFL stadium to move the Chicago Bears.

 

[Nick87]

Any firearm during the rut. I'd take archery out of the rut too if that's what it would take

Can you imagine how good the hunting would be for older bucks during late and early season though. I think it would be pretty awesome. Western states do it for mule deer.

 

[rogerthat]

Any firearm during the rut. I'd take archery out of the rut too if that's what it would take. Archery during September isn't much better with how patternable they are.

Archery hunters in the west just really don’t have that much effect on deer. I guess we suck. This last year in Montana, the food to bed buck parade really didn’t make it many days into season with a Sept 6 opener. Some years I think you might get close to 10 days to a couple weeks of really patternable early season whitetail movement. Do you guys get more than that? Our bucks are way more vulnerable in the rut to a rifle than a Sept bow pattern.

 

[SFC B]

Nah. Its people who appreciate the resource and dont feel the need to have to kill every last critter. If you gave me the choice between rifle during the rut and closing all seasons the first two weeks in November. I'd shut it down.

If you kill a deer in SEP, OCT, NOV or the late season it is still the same dead ONE deer, zero difference. Why not make archery the same length season as firearms? Why not make just one 2 week season in early November for EVERY weapon? "Appreciate the resource", really? Stuff like this^^^^^ is a great example of things that are adding to the decline of hunting.

 

[Forkyfinder]

If you kill a deer in SEP, OCT, NOV or the late season it is still the same dead ONE deer, zero difference. Why not make archery the same length season as firearms? Why not make just one 2 week season in early November for EVERY weapon? "Appreciate the resource", really? Stuff like this^^^^^ is a great example of things that are adding to the decline of hunting.

Why? Well cause antlers are what matter. All the good deer will die with gun hunting in november. Besides - think how hard it is for a landowner to manage quality deer?

Those poor guys paid good money for it - cant be letting neighbors or the general public take a deer "with potential"

 

[mntatonka]

Why? Well cause antlers are what matter. All the good deer will die with gun hunting in november. Besides - think how hard it is for a landowner to manage quality deer?

Those poor guys paid good money for it - cant be letting neighbors or the general public take a deer "with potential"

I have a neighbor that has 33 acres. He build a barbed wire line fence nearly 10 feet tall between us and him to try to prevent "his deer" from getting shot by us. Meanwhile, he's sneaking through the culvert under the road to try to shoot a deer on the neighbors property on the other side of the road from his property.

 

[Nick87]

Why not make archery the same length season as firearms?

I could make that work...

 

[SFC B]

Why? Well cause antlers are what matter. All the good deer will die with gun hunting in november. Besides - think how hard it is for a landowner to manage quality deer?

Those poor guys paid good money for it - cant be letting neighbors or the general public take a deer "with potential"

Last year in Indiana the farm next to the one I hunt got leased for the first time by 2 "serious" bowhunters. They had apparently found and "patterned" a big buck in the area. As the season went on I come to find out that they had actually leased 4 or 5 farms, at least 2 they never hunted but leased as "buffer zone" to try and make sure they were the only ones with reasonable access to "their" deer. It must have cost them at least $10,000 to do that. No idea if they shot that deer but I sure hope not.