Shotgun zone history

[MNice]

I was always curious as to why the slug zone existed, so I e-mailed the DNR. The following was their response my question.

Regulated deer hunting in Minnesota was initially open only in a zone encompassing the "northwoods" (the only place where deer remained after settlement) and any firearm was legal. As deer began to repopulate transition and agricultural areas of the state, the open zone for deer hunting was extended south and west and a "shotgun" zone was established in the more open parts of the state along the southern and western edges of the open zone. The shotgun zone dates back to the early 1940s and eventually all of the state was opened and included in either the "rifle" (all legal firearms) or shotgun zones.

I was told by those who were around before me that the primary concern that lead to the shotgun zone was the high vulnerability of deer to rifles in the more open "farm country" of the state. They said it was not established primarily for safety reasons, although that was a common perception. The boundaries of these zones have changed over the years and were regulated by DNR commissioner's order or rule until 2006. At that time the Legislature made some changes to allow rifles in portions of northwestern Minnesota and put the zones into statute instead of rule (see Minnesota Statutes 97B.318).

[Musky Buck]

Interesting. Trying to picture the shotguns of the 1940's and available ammunition. Same with muzzleloaders. Technology is unreal. I'm 15 miles north of the shotgun line so using rifle my whole life, what is slug hunting like and what kinds of distances do people feel safe throwing lead from, to when you sight in, what types of groups can you lay on a target and how's the confidence level ?

[fr0sty]

50 yards is what I practice at with my smooth barrel 12 gauge. I take a few target shots at 100 yards. 1 in 3 hit the paper. That's with open sites.

[Musky Buck]

Right on frosty, you better get ready to help your friends frost one. I bet things were a bit frosty last night in the Tamarac's ! I'm heading to a friends farm in Ottertail to see if any deer moved in, we walked that farm from 8-4 and never saw a bed or track. 200 acres of standing corn along the ottertail river and we found zilch, but who knows, a bit of fresh snow and some deer searching for food ? Good luck !

[cupper]

I have my shotgun equipped with scope and rifled barrel. I shoot 1" group at 100 yds. If I had an iron shoulder I think sighting in at 200 yds would be very realistic. I shoot winchester partition gold sabots.

I have a good friend who is into guns and ammo big-time. He makes his own loads and everything. He's shot about every gun under the sun and hunts with rifle in WI and Shotgun in MN. He thinks that his shotgun (equipped like mine) provides more knockdown power with the same accuracy as his rifle.

Pretty amazing how far shotguns/muzzleloarders have come in the past 25 years. Almost make distinguishing between them and rifles obsolete.

[fr0sty]

Haven't gotten any reports this week from Mills. I will be tromping around Stearns county outside St. Stephen.

Hope to see something, but won't hold my breath (frosty as it may be

Right on frosty, you better get ready to help your friends frost one. I bet things were a bit frosty last night in the Tamarac's ! I'm heading to a friends farm in Ottertail to see if any deer moved in, we walked that farm from 8-4 and never saw a bed or track. 200 acres of standing corn along the ottertail river and we found zilch, but who knows, a bit of fresh snow and some deer searching for food ? Good luck !