Should Southern Minnesota Embrace the New Rifle Hunting Law

As many in the Southern Minnesota hunting community know, the state has recently passed legislation allowing the use of rifles for deer hunting in areas where it was previously restricted. This change marks a significant shift in Minnesota’s approach to hunting regulations and one that deserves thoughtful local consideration and support.

As a longtime firearms professional, custom rifle builder, and active member of the shooting and hunting community, I believe embracing this law at the county level is not only logical it’s the right move for our hunters, landowners, and public safety officials alike.

A Fuller Picture: Why Shotguns Were Originally Required

The shotgun-only rule for deer hunting in Southern Minnesota was put in place decades ago, and it was based on several factors that made sense at the time:

1. Lower deer densities – At the time, many southern counties had sparse deer populations. With fewer animals to hunt, the concern was that hunters might take longer, more desperate shots if allowed to use rifles. Restricting them to shotguns helped reduce that risk by limiting range.

   
   

2. Flat, open terrain with scattered population centers – Without the natural backstops found in the northern forest regions (like hills or dense timber), there were concerns about long-range rifle rounds potentially traveling far and endangering nearby people or livestock.

   
   

3. Lack of advanced equipment and training – Most hunters in the mid-20th century didn’t have the optics, education, or firearm technology that are standard today. Shotguns with slugs were considered “safer” because they were less effective at distance.

While these were reasonable concerns at the time, today’s conditions are dramatically different.

Today’s Reality Is Different

• Deer populations have rebounded significantly across southern counties.

• Land use has changed fields are more broken up, CRP and timber plots are more common, and natural or artificial backstops are plentiful.

• Firearms are safer, more accurate, and better regulated than ever.

• Hunters are more trained and educated, and most have passed state-mandated safety courses.

Most importantly, rifles are already used safely in the majority of Minnesota, as well as in neighboring states with similar terrain and population patterns.

Modern Hunting Practices Support Rifle Use

One of the biggest changes in hunting over the past few decades has been the widespread use of deer blinds particularly in Southern Minnesota.

Today, hunters of all ages commonly use:

• Box blinds

• Elevated tower blinds

• Ground blinds overlooking food plots or travel corridors

This evolution in hunting style directly supports the case for rifles because:

• Blinds restrict shot angles, creating safer, more controlled shooting conditions.

• Elevated blinds provide natural backstops and downward angles, reducing projectile travel.

• Blinds encourage steady, deliberate shots, improving shot placement and reducing the chance of wounded animals.

• For youth, seniors, or mobility-limited hunters, blinds offer a safer and more stable environment, which pairs perfectly with a properly set up hunting rifle.

This isn’t the same deer hunting landscape we had 30 or 40 years ago. The majority of Southern Minnesota deer hunters are now hunting from controlled, fixed positions and that makes the argument for rifle safety even stronger.

Current Laws Are Inconsistent

Let’s look at the facts:

• You can legally hunt deer with an AR-style pistol using a 15.5” barrel, which functions nearly identically to a short rifle.

• You can hunt coyotes with a centerfire rifle in the same counties where rifles for deer are still banned.

• Most rifle shots are safer, more controlled, and more ethical than slug shots taken from the same distance.

This inconsistency in regulation creates confusion and worse, it limits hunters' ability to take ethical, clean shots.

🔍 Comparison of 308, 20 ga Sabot slug , 12 ga Standard slug

Metric	.308 Win (15.5–16")	20 Ga Sabot	12 Ga Rifled Slug
Max Effective Range (ethical)	400 yards	150–200 yds	~100–125 yds
Energy @ 100 yds	~2000 ft-lbs	~1385	~1175
Energy @ 300 yds	~1300 ft-lbs	~635	~620
Drop @ 300 yds	~13.5"	~28.3"	~48.0"
Drop @ 400 yds	~30–31"	~70.6"	~115.0"
Trajectory Consistency	Excellent	Moderate	Poor
Accuracy Potential	High (1 MOA or less)	Moderate (2-4 MOA)	Low (~4–6 MOA)

Barrel Length Impact: You lose ~25–40 fps per inch of barrel with .308. The difference between 15.5" and 16" barrels is minimal for practical hunting purposes—roughly 2–3% in energy at most.

A .308 fired from a AR pistol is still more predictable, flatter-shooting, and more ethical for mid-range deer harvests than either shotgun alternative.

Common Concerns and Why They Don’t Hold Up

As this change moves forward, some local officials or community members may raise concerns. Let’s address the most common ones directly:

🔸 1. "Rifles are more dangerous than shotguns in flat, populated areas."

Rebuttal: This was once a reasonable concern but modern conditions have changed.

• Today’s sabot slugs can match the range and penetration of a lot of standard deer rifles.

• Rifles are actually more accurate, which means fewer missed or wounded animals and better safety for everyone.

• Rifles are already legal for coyote hunting in the same areas if safety were truly the issue, those wouldn’t be allowed either.

🔸 2. "Rifles will encourage longer, riskier shots."

Rebuttal: Rifles reduce the need for risky shots, not increase them.

• They allow hunters to wait for a clean, ethical shot with full confidence in their equipment.

• Almost all deer harvested with rifles are taken at moderate distances not extreme range.

• The availability of optics and proper rests encourages better shot discipline, not recklessness.

🔸 3. "The terrain and population density make rifles too risky."

Rebuttal: That was true in the 1970s. It’s not true now.

• Southern Minnesota has evolved. Fields are broken up, new cover has grown, and natural and artificial backstops are more common.

• Many counties across northern and central Minnesota already allow rifles in similar conditions without any spike in accidents.

• Neighboring states with flatter terrain and higher populations allow rifle hunting safely and effectively.

🔸 4. "It’s not worth the risk to change something that’s already working."

Rebuttal: "Working" doesn’t mean it’s still right.

• The shotgun-only rule is outdated. It’s based on past technology, past training levels, and past deer populations.

• Hunters today are more capable, more informed, and better equipped.

• Modernizing this rule simply brings consistency and fairness to our local hunters, in line with state and national standards.

🔸 5. "People don’t want high-powered rifles near their homes."

Rebuttal: This fear is understandable but misplaced.

• Deer hunting doesn’t happen in backyards it happens on managed public and private hunting lands.

• Rifles are already used in rural areas every day for coyotes, pests, and recreational shooting without issue.

• Public safety is protected by existing setback laws, hunting regulations, and training requirements and these continue to apply whether the hunter uses a shotgun or a rifle.

A Message to Those Who Are Still Concerned About Southern Minnesota Rifle Hunting Law

If you’re someone who’s uneasy about rifle use for deer hunting maybe because you worry about safety, or don’t like the direction firearm laws seem to be going I understand your concerns.

This isn’t about expanding gun rights or pushing high-powered weapons into neighborhoods.

It’s about giving trained, ethical hunters the tools they need to harvest animals cleanly and humanely. A well-placed rifle shot reduces suffering. It helps ensure that an animal doesn’t run for miles wounded or suffer unnecessarily. That matters.

It’s also about making regulations consistent and science-based. Right now, hunters in Southern Minnesota can use rifles to shoot coyotes, or even use AR pistols to hunt deer but can’t use a precision bolt-action rifle built specifically for ethical game harvesting. That inconsistency doesn’t serve safety it creates confusion.

Hunters today are not the stereotype. Many are veterans. Many are teachers, farmers, conservationists, or parents who take safety and training seriously. We’re not asking to deregulate. We’re asking to modernize outdated rules and align with what already works in the rest of the state.

We Need County Support to Move Forward

The State of Minnesota has removed the shotgun-only rule but implementation now lies with individual counties. Commissioners, sheriffs, and land managers must decide whether to allow their residents the same rights and tools that are already available to the rest of the state.

By supporting this update, local officials will be:

• Trusting trained, law-abiding hunters to act responsibly

• Supporting ethical and humane deer harvesting

• Aligning with statewide and regional consistency

• Backing the local hunting economy, which supports small businesses, guides, and landowners

At Redleg Guns, we stand ready to support our community with precision-built rifles, gunsmithing, training, and education that prioritizes safety, reliability, and respect.

It’s Time for a Common-Sense Update

Shotgun-only laws were created for a different time, with different tools and different needs. Today’s hunters deserve the opportunity to use modern equipment that promotes safety, ethics, and efficiency.

The rest of Minnesota trusts its hunters to use rifles. Southern Minnesota should, too.

Questions or Concerns? Let's Talk.

Whether you're a landowner, hunter, or county official, we welcome honest conversation about the southern Minnesota rifle hunting law. Redleg Guns is committed to helping you understand what this means and why it matters.

📞 (507) 677-6007📧 info@redlegguns.com🌐 www.redlegguns.com