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Hundreds urge Stearns County not to reimpose shotgun-only deer rules; board to decide April 21
Summary
More than two hours of public comment at the Stearns County Board meeting largely urged commissioners to decline a county “slug-only” ordinance and defer to Minnesota DNR and recent state law allowing rifles; the board said it will decide April 21.
Stearns County commissioners heard more than two hours of public testimony on April 7 as landowners, hunters and residents urged the board not to adopt a county ordinance restricting deer hunting to shotguns and similar weapons.
County Administrator Mike Williams opened the hearing by explaining that 2025 state legislation eliminated the statewide shotgun zone and authorized counties to adopt local ordinances restoring shotgun-only limits. Williams said the board would take no action at the April 7 meeting and was scheduled to vote on the matter at its April 21 meeting; he also noted deadlines for DNR filings linked to hunting regulations.
The bulk of speakers, many of them long-time local hunters and instructors, argued the county…
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