NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioners unanimously set a March 11 public hearing to consider an ordinance to regulate deer hunting firearms to shotgun only Tuesday. The public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. in the Brown County Law Enforcement Center training room. The Minnesota Legislature repealed the “shotgun-only” zone for deer hunting effective Jan. 1, 2026. The change allows for the use of rifles statewide, although previously restricted counties may pass ordinances to remain shotgun-only. The restriction remained in place for the 2025 hunting season. A county board of a county ...