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Deer hunting changes draw intrigue, concerns

A long-standing deer hunting law has

been repealed, giving more options and discussion

topics for area hunters and conservationists.

Large portions of Central and Southern

Minnesota, had shotgun-only zones since

the 1940s. In Martin County, Fox Lake

Conservation League President Tim Eisenmenger

said it was implemented back then

because of the deer population.

“We didn’t have hardly any deer here

[back then],” he said. “For years, the population

has grown immensely. We’re to the

point of overpopulation, we need more does

harvested than we get every year.”

While restrictions had lessened to include

muzzleloaders and legal handguns,

this still limited the options for deer hunters.

“Shorter range shots, you had to get them

closer, and they’re not nearly as accurate,”

Eisenmenger said. “Lesser deer kill percentage.”

In the 2025 legislature, the zones law has

been repealed, and any legal guns can be

used for the first deer hunting season after

Jan. 1, 2026.

Before that date, each county previously

affected will need to hold discussions. If

concerns are raised, they have the right to

add restrictions on certain guns or continue

using shotgun-only zones, which Freeborn

County voted back in May to do before the

repeal was finalized.

Eisenmenger said he was glad to see the

change come as it will allow for guns with

better accuracy to be used, but there are

some concerns involved.

“If people are doing by the law and not

trespassing, it’s fine,” he said. “The problem

is when you can shoot that much farther,

when the deer is across the fence in the

neighbor’s property, and you don’t have permission.

You don’t shoot for the skyline.”

By not shooting for the skyline, Eisenmenger

is referring to identifying your

target and what’s beyond. If you can’t tell

what’s beyond, like past a hill, he said the

shot should not be taken.

Rifle bullets can travel over three miles.

With a lower tree density in Martin County

and Southern Minnesota than further north,

an unobstructed bullet could strike someone

or something unintentionally.

Martin County Conservation Club Member

Ryan Fraser said he had seen this difference

first-hand when hunting in the south.

“Usually you’re in the woods,” he said.

“Here we have a lot of fields, so there is a

different open field policy. It comes down to

the basics of hunter safety,”

In talking to others, Eisenmenger said

around 80 percent of them are for it and 20

percent are against it. He said some would

prefer the law not change to keep with tradition.

Fraser said he doesn’t believe it will

change deer hunting much. If it does, it will

be similar to the impact felt when crossbow

hunting was allowed starting last year.

Some, like compound bow hunter Bryan

Gregor, said they like what they’ve got currently

and will stick with it. Others, like Jim

Utermarck, have preferred rifles when hunting

elsewhere and look to take advantage of

the change.

While it may be a split between those

who do and don’t take advantage among

adults, Fraser said he sees rifles becoming

the more popular choice among youth and

teen hunters.

“Because of the [lesser] recoil,” he said.

“On an AR platform, you can adjust the

stock so you don’t have little kids trying to

reach way out [with a shotgun].”

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