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After large public turnout, Grant County commissioners take no action on local rifle/slug rule
Summary
Following a public meeting of 86 attendees with 29 speakers, the board considered options on whether to restrict rifle ammunition and ultimately voted to take no action, leaving any rule change to proceed or lapse through state processes unless the board reopens it.
The Grant County Board of Commissioners heard a summary of a public meeting in Barrett that drew 86 attendees and 29 speakers on a proposed local change affecting rifle vs. shotgun hunting regulations. A majority of public commenters at the Barrett meeting expressed support for allowing rifles (20 for rifles, 8 for shotguns, 1 undecided), and questioners raised enforcement and inter-county consistency concerns.
Commissioners debated procedural options. A motion to table the question until the next meeting lacked a second and failed; a subsequent motion that the board would take "no action" on the matter was moved and seconded and then approved in a voice/roll-call process. During a roll call the transcript records responses including Ben Johnson: "Yes," Troy Johnson: "Yes," and others indicating assent. The board stated that, by taking no action, the county would not create a local restriction and state deadlines and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) processes would determine the next steps.
No ordinance or formal restriction was adopted by the board at the meeting, and staff said the county will treat the matter as concluded for now unless the board chooses to revisit it. Commissioners discussed the timing for state publication (mentioning a May deadline for the DNR booklet), and the chair said the board would not be taking a new motion this month to adopt a local slug-only designation.
Because the board recorded the vote as a formal motion and roll call, the outcome stands as an official board action: "no action" on adopting a local restriction.
