Publisher’s Perspective

By Tim Douglass, Publisher

When it comes to deer hunting in Minnesota, many assume the state’s shotgun zone was established for safety reasons. After all, it covers the much more open farmland regions of southern and western Minnesota, in contrast to the densely forested northern region where rifles are allowed. However, the real reason behind the shotgun zone’s creation was more about wildlife management than hunter safety, according to information from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Established in 1942, the shotgun zone was designed as a tool to manage deer populations in areas where numbers were historically low. In the mid-20th century, parts of southern Minnesota had such sparse deer populations that hunting seasons were occasionally closed altogether. At the time, shotguns were significantly less accurate than rifles, especially at longer distances. Their limited effective range required hunters to get much closer to their targets, which naturally reduced harvest rates. Limiting hunters to shotguns was a deliberate strategy to reduce efficiency and support the recovery of the region’s deer population.

Today, things have changed. Deer populations in many areas of the shotgun zone have rebounded significantly, and at the same time, shotgun technology has advanced dramatically. Modern ammunition, combined with rifled barrels and optics, have made shotguns nearly as accurate as rifles, even at extended ranges. Given these changes in both deer numbers and firearm capabilities, some stakeholders have advocated for removing the shotgun zone entirely, allowing rifles to be used statewide. Others, however, remained concerned. For comparison, Wisconsin eliminated its shotgun zone in 2013 and has not experienced an increase in firearms-related incidents.

All this is to provide readers with some context, because in 2006, the shotgun zone was repealed by the legislature.

The shotgun zone remains in effect for this (2025) deer season. There will be no changes for the fall 2025 season. Legislation also allows counties within the current shotgun zone to restrict firearms use within county boundaries.

And the new legislation requires the DNR to, by March 1, 2026, notify county boards and county sheriffs of this change.

I haven’t deer hunted for many years, but I don’t know how I feel about rifles being used for deer in this area.   Until this history provided by the DNR, I always believed the shotgun zone came about for safety reasons.

We’ll have to see what county boards in this area decide.