Lyon County commissioners reiterate their frustration with State, vote to defer control over polarizing issue
This is one instance where local control probably isn’t a positive thing. At least that was the sentiment of Lyon County commissioners on Tuesday when discussing the State’s move to repel the shotgun-only hunting zone regulation.
When all was said and done, commissioners voted to not buck the law — which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026 — and instead, roll with the change that will allow rifles to be used in what used to be shotgun-only areas of public land. Commissioners voted 3-2 to not to adopt Lyon County’s individual law, with commissioners Todd Draper, Paul Graupmann and Board Chair Gary Crowley voting yes, and commissioners Tom Andries and Rick Anderson voting against.
“From when this started … I feel like county commissioners have been put under the bus trying to make this determination,” Crowley said to open the discussion. “I don’t know any other law on the books in the state of Minnesota that they put it on the county commissioners — that we can opt out or change it. But this is what we’re dealt with.”
All counties had been given the option to set their own rules on whether or not deer hunters could use rifles. That autonomy, however, was never welcomed by commissioners in Lyon County. Crowley said he would support whatever decision was made Tuesday and recognized this issue is a polarized one that has divided hunters and landowners.
Anderson agreed with Crowley, saying the State was shortsighted on the issue. He doesn’t agree that State employees in the field should have to enforce the new law.
“I wish we had more guidance,” said Anderson. “I think there were some things (in the law) that should’ve been addressed and weren’t. But to put this on the County to make a decision — it’s a lose-lose for us.”
Besides everyone’s personal opinion and potential friction between hunters and landowners on the matter, commissioners are concerned about how this could affect counties that border others that vote to repeal the law and not allow high-powered rifles.
“What if one county goes along with this and another county doesn’t?” Crowley said. “That is going to cause some issues.”
The end result, Graupmann said, will likely be a “patchwork” of counties across southern Minnesota where local laws will clash.
“It creates confusion,” he said. “I like simplicity when it comes to what’s legal … this is not going to do that. There are probably some years yet to come to sort some things out, but with this being done the way it is, it’s going to wind up dragging some of that out.”
Commissioner Tom Andries predicted a split vote and said no matter what the board’s decision was, the County would get a “black eye. I’ve heard some discussion that the DNR is not in favor of this. I would propose we do nothing and let the government figure it out,” he said.
Draper was the last commissioner to chime in and referenced a note from the DNR that said pistols and handguns have been used for more than five years for hunting coyote — a sport that has grown in popularity in this region — and there have been no negative effects.
“Landowners will have the choice if we go rifle and can say no one can hunt with a rifle on their property,” Draper said. “I’m hearing from people I talk to that the accuracy of a rifle poses a better chance of a deer kill and less chance of a deer crawling into a wooded area and suffering. If the deer population should drop in our area, the DNR has the right to limit permits.”
County residents were given their chance to voice their opinions at a public hearing this summer, where everything from deer population to safety was discussed in length.
“I agree that I don’t think it’s our place as commissioners to have to decide this,” Draper said. “On January 1, 2026, it’s going to be law, and that’s the way it should stay.”
