Support Statewide Rifle Use for Deer Hunting in Minnesota

• Minnesota has moved to statewide rifle legality beginning in 2026

• Some counties are considering local shotgun-only restrictions

• These local rules:

  • Create confusion

  • Reduce hunter participation

  • Undermine statewide wildlife management goals

• Safety & Accuracy

  • Modern rifles improve shot precision

  • Reduce wounded deer

  • Encourage ethical harvests

  Effective Deer Management

  • Helps meet DNR population goals

  • Especially important in high-density areas

  Hunter Participation & Retention

  • More options = more participation

  • Supports rural economies and hunting traditions

  Statewide Consistency

  • Same rules across Minnesota

  • Less confusion for hunters and landowners

• MDHA supports the statewide rifle regulation

• Represents ~20,000 members and 60 chapters

• Focused on:

  • Conservation

  • Education

  • Advocacy

  • Long-term deer herd health

• Supporting rifle use supports:

  • Ethical harvest

  • Hunter participation

  • Healthy deer herds

• This is about conservation, not convenience

Pope County - Petition

If you know of other counties to be added to this list or have a petition you would like us to share please send and email to info@mndeerhunters.com with information and any important links. Thank you.

If the County is highlighted in red it has passed an ordinance to ban the use of Rifles or is actively trying to. Clicking on that County will take you to more information or link to any petition that has been started.