Support Statewide Rifle Use for Deer Hunting in Minnesota

County-level shotgun-only restrictions undermine safe, effective deer management and hunter choice.

• 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

Independent Studies

Brett Meyer, BS, DC