Lyon County commissioners hear from hunters, landowners on 2026 deer hunting shotgun zone repeal
The debate over whether or not deer hunters in Lyon County should be allowed to use centerfire rifles is about more than guns. That sentiment was shared Tuesday in front of Lyon County Board of Commissioners, who welcomed area hunters and landowners to a listening session in the Lyon County Law Enforcement Center in an effort to gather enough opinion to determine whether or not to keep the county a slug-only county or allow high-powered rifles for deer hunting purposes.
The statewide Shotgun Zone will be repealed as of Jan. 1, 2026, initiating a county’s ability to adopt ordinances that restrict certain firearms during the deer hunting season. By March 1, 2026, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will notify counties of their option to pass a restrictive ordinance, as county boards will vote later this year on whether or not to allow hunters to use high-powered rifles over shotguns.
