Did you know that in southern Minnesota you cannot hunt deer with a rifle?
I can assure you that hunters in our area are well aware of this antiquated rule. As bizarre as it sounds, firearms hunters here must use shotguns with slugs, muzzleloaders, or legal handguns. Even though rifles are more accurate and safer, they are not allowed.
It is long past time to eliminate this outdated rule. That is why I have authored and co-sponsored bipartisan bills, Senate File 314 and Senate File 3808, which would finally eliminate the shotgun-only zone for firearms deer hunting in southern Minnesota.
The shotgun-only zone is a relic from 1942 when there was a desire to limit deer harvest in the face of a meager deer population in southern Minnesota. That rationale made sense at the time when less accurate shotguns gave the deer a better chance to grow their herd.
However, the technology of both shotguns and rifles has evolved dramatically in the decades since. Advances in ammunition now give shotguns a reliable effective range of 200 yards or more – on par with many rifles. And more precise and accurate rifles actually lead to cleaner, more humane harvests.
Hunters in northern Minnesota have always used rifles for deer hunting, just as they do statewide in Wisconsin and most states. Continuing to restrict hunters in southern Minnesota to shotgun slugs, muzzleloaders, and pistols puts us at an unfair disadvantage compared to hunters in the rifle zone of northern Minnesota. It is an arbitrary geographical line that is out of step with modern deer management principles.
Allowing rifle use benefits hunters and wildlife managers alike. More precise and effective hunting platforms allow for better control of deer populations when needed to prevent ecological damage from overpopulation. This is not only better for the environment but also mitigates issues like disease transmission, farm crop depredation, and deer-vehicle collisions.
From a hunter’s perspective, being able to use an accurate modern rifle can increase success rates, reduce unnecessary wounding and suffering of deer, and improve hunter safety. An in-depth study commissioned by the Pennsylvania General Assembly found “shotguns firing modern saboted slugs have a larger danger area than the .30-06 rifle when the angle of elevation is approximately level (0 degrees); hence, given this firing condition, the shotgun is riskier than the rifle. In other words, the typical hunter discharging a 12 gauge shotgun fitted with a rifled barrel firing a .50- caliber saboted modern high-velocity ammunition at a deer on level terrain is riskier than a hunter firing a .30-06 with a 150-grain expanding bullet at the same deer.”
Rifles are safer than shotguns. If we want real-world examples, we should look to Wisconsin. In 2013, Wisconsin legalized rifles for statewide use. Since then, according to the Wisconsin DNR, total incidents are at the lowest level in the history of the state.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a 2003 Wisconsin DNR survey found 76% of hunters used a rifle while 24% used a shotgun. Yet from 1998-2008; 42% of incidents were with a shotgun. In other words, shotguns are responsible for a disproportionate amount of shooting incidents.
If you are interested in safety, allowing rifles statewide is a no-brainer. This change brings Minnesota’s deer hunting rules into the 21st century while strengthening conservation efforts, improving hunt quality, and respecting a deeply-held tradition.
The shotgun-only zone may have had its place in the past when circumstances were much different. But today, these bills represent a balanced, fair approach to deer hunting that benefits all Minnesotans. It is good for our environment, our wildlife, our cherished hunting heritage, and the safety of hunters.
Time to get this done.
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