04. Deer Hunting Zones Staff Report
Date of Meeting: November 5, 2025
For: Honorable Mayor and Council
From: Kyle Morell, City Administrator
Subject: Deer Hunting Zones
Background
Beginning in 2026, Minnesota will allow deer hunters to use rifles throughout the state. Currently,
Washington County is a shotgun-only area for deer hunting. The attached state map shows the area
division of firearms use for deer hunting. The area south of the red line is shotgun only; north of
the red line is shotgun or rifle. The County can pass an ordinance prohibiting rifle hunting within
the County, but the City cannot. The law change goes into effect for the 2026 deer hunting season.
Issue
The County Administrator has asked whether cities would support a county-wide ban on rifle use
for deer hunting or would prefer to allow rifle hunting within their city limits.
Attachments:
Zone Map
Press Release from MN Fish and Wildlife
News release: DNR Fish and Wildlife
Almanac, Oct. 27
October 27, 2025
Minnesota’s shotgun-only deer hunting zone staying
same in 2025, changes coming in 2026
Minnesota’s shotgun-only zone for deer hunting is changing — but not until 2026. The
shotgun zone remains in effect this year.
Once the law goes into effect, hunters generally will be allowed to use legal rifles or
shotguns throughout the state during the deer hunting season, wherever deer hunting is
permitted, unless a county formally passes an ordinance restricting the use of rifles in their
county. Counties where all firearms currently are allowed cannot restrict firearm types
based on this new law — only counties in the current shotgun zone may choose to remain
shotgun-only.
The current zones can be viewed on the printed deer season map available on the DNR
hunting regulations webpage (/regulations/hunting/index.html).
Q u e s t i o n s ?
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Emai l u s: info.dnr@state.mn.us
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10/31/25, 9:11 AM DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac, Oct. 27 : Oct 27, 2025 | News release | Minnesota DNR
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