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.