For years, large swaths of Minnesota have restricted deer hunters to using shotguns instead of rifles. The law, originally passed in the 1940s, was designed to protect the state’s deer ...

Legislation that would eliminate the shotgun-only zone for deer hunting during the regular firearms season in Minnesota is once again on the table this year. State Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, a… ...

Legislation authored by Minnesota State Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, and Sen. Jeff Howe, R-Rockville, would allow the use of rifles throughout the entire state during the regular firearms ...

A proposed bill is aiming to allow hunting rifles for deer hunting across Minnesota by getting rid of ‘shotgun-only’ zones in the southern part of the state.

Minnesota would do away with shotgun-only zones for deer hunting if the Legislature this year takes up a bill that recognizes changes in firearms technology and usage. Sen. Carrie Ruud, R-Breezy ...

Jun. 14—ROCHESTER — Deer hunters in southern Minnesota can start grabbing their rifles, leaving the shotgun in the gun cabinet, during the 2026 firearms deer season. State Sen. Steve ...

After more than 80 years, the Legislature appears poised to change a rule that restricts the kind of firearms that deer hunters can use in large parts of Minnesota.

The Senate passed an environment policy bill that substantially reduces the shotgun-only zones in southern Minnesota. While this change is a victory for hunter safety, it falls short of what we need.

Last November, Dr. Brian Hiller was sitting in a deer stand on private land near Bemidji, hoping to kill his first deer in Minnesota with a rifle. "The little buck settled in about 50 yards from ...