Houston County to hold public hearing after residents press board on allowing rifles for deer season

A public hearing will be scheduled after residents urged the Houston County Board of Commissioners to consider exempting the county from a recent state change that allows rifles during deer season.

The issue surfaced during the board’s public-comment period when Luke Onstead, a county employee and resident, told commissioners that his conversations with neighbors showed “about 85% against” the change and cited safety concerns about rifle ranges compared with shotguns. “Most hunting accidents are due to failure of people to identify the target or more importantly what's beyond the target,” Onstead said.

Why it matters: Allowing rifles could change safety dynamics in areas with mixed housing and agricultural uses, and counties in Minnesota can opt out or exempt themselves from the statewide change after holding a public hearing, residents and presenters told the commissioners.

Multiple residents addressed the board. Steve Bauer, who said he represents a circle of sportsmen in Houston County, told commissioners he had reviewed the legislation and had spoken with DNR staff and several legislators, and he urged the county to “pass this resolution” to exempt the county. Bonnie Lum said she supports training youth hunters with shotguns and expressed concern about allowing rifles for 12-year-old permit-holders. Bea Kelch asked where the proposal originated; commenters traced the change to a recently passed omnibus state bill and to individual legislators and county-level actions in other counties.

Board response and next steps: Board members said the issue has been discussed before and agreed to hold a formal public hearing. The county attorney, Sue Bublitz, was asked to review a resolution used by Freeborn County as a model; commissioners asked staff to coordinate publication and set a date. Commissioners discussed timing requirements for public notice and tentatively agreed to aim for an August public hearing, with several commissioners indicating August 19 as a possible date.

No formal policy decision was made at the meeting. Commissioners described the next steps as a staff- and attorney-led review followed by a public hearing where residents and potential petitioners could comment. The transcript indicates the board intends to follow statutory notice requirements and to consult the county attorney before final action.

Ending: The board directed staff to coordinate the notice and asked the county attorney to review draft language; a public hearing will follow once legal review and notice are complete. The board did not vote on an exemption at this meeting.