Board affirms ATV park hunting window, keeps Pine Ridge closed pending archery study

The Grant County Board reviewed the Pine Ridge Park and ATV park ordinances and voted to allow deer hunting at the ATV park under existing seasonal restrictions, while temporarily keeping Pine Ridge Park closed to hunting pending further study of archery-only options and signage.

County staff reported that the Pine Ridge Park ordinance designates it as a county park and a county game refuge, where hunting is generally prohibited under the ordinance unless the board and DNR determine a species has become overabundant. By contrast, the ATV park ordinance does not designate that site as a county park and currently allows hunting within set seasonal dates.

"Based on the ordinance, I think it's pretty clear that hunting in Pine Ridge Park is not permitted," the county attorney (Speaker 15) said, while noting the board could amend the ordinance if it wished. Several commissioners raised safety concerns about allowing rifle hunting in the small Pine Ridge Park, especially after statewide changes that make much of Minnesota a rifle zone; several voiced support for archery-only as a compromise.

The board made and seconded a motion to open the ATV park to hunting (within ordinance limits) and to close Pine Ridge Park pending consideration of archery-only allowances and signage improvements; the motion passed. The board directed staff to draft ordinance revisions and signage options and to return with proposals and public-notice requirements for any amendment.

Next steps: staff will draft potential ordinance amendments (including an archery-only option for Pine Ridge) and provide a timeline and notice requirements; the board indicated any ordinance amendment should be handled through the formal ordinance amendment process.