Written by HLRBO Staff|
Last updated
In a shift for Minnesota’s hunting landscape, state officials have finalized plans to end the "shotgun-only" zone, allowing rifle hunting statewide beginning in the 2026 season.
The decision changes a restriction that has governed southern and western Minnesota since the 1950s. For decades, hunters in the state’s more open, agricultural regions were limited to shotguns, muzzleloaders, and handguns.
While many believed the rule was rooted in safety concerns over the long-range capabilities of rifles, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) clarifies that the original intent was also about population control.
In the 1940s, deer numbers in southern Minnesota were dangerously low. Restricting hunters to short-range firearms helped the herds recover. Today, with populations robust and concerns over Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) rising, the DNR views rifles as appropriate for the entire state.
For decades, a sharp line cut the state in half, with the shotgun-only zone in the south
While the law establishes a statewide standard, it includes a significant caveat: individual counties can "opt out." Counties within the former shotgun zone can notify the DNR if they intend to pass local ordinances maintaining the shotgun-only restriction.
A Nationwide Trend
Beyond Minnesota state lines, the move signals the near-total disappearance of "shotgun zones" in the United States. Minnesota was one of the last holdouts to maintain a geographical ban on rifles. Its repeal follows similar moves by neighbors like Wisconsin, reflecting a national trend toward simplifying regulations.
The shift also highlights a broader transformation in hunting technology. Modern cartridges and shotgun slugs have blurred the ballistic lines that once defined these zones.
Wildlife biologists may watch the transition as a case study in disease management. With CWD now present in dozens of states, the ability to increase harvest is becoming a defense strategy for agencies nationwide.
Will the new rules decrease safety? Data from neighboring states suggests that the change does not lead to an increase in hunting accidents. DNR officials emphasize that modern shotguns already bridge the gap in range, and the primary responsibility for safety remains with the hunter.
The DNR will publish a final list of rifle-legal counties in a 2026 hunting synopsis once the opt-out period concludes. See more info at the Minnesota DNR site.