Target shooting rifles in shotgun zone?

[Finlander]

Friend of mine said you couldn't shoot a rifle in the shotgun zone even when the season is closed. And you have to shoot rifles in approved ranges only! Then I said what about varmint rifles? I told him that only during the deer season you can't shoot deer with a rifle in the shotgun zone!

[picksbigwagon]

your last sentence is a little misleading but, yes it is legal to shoot rifles in the "shotgun zone". It is called the shotgun zone because in the deer hunting season, only shotguns can be used. Rifles can not be used in shotgun zones for shooting deer, ever. I have used a rifle varmint hunting in SE MN numerous times. talked with CO's while out varmint hunting with no issues what so ever.

[Archerysniper]

your last sentence is a little misleading but, yes it is legal to shoot rifles in the "shotgun zone". It is called the shotgun zone because in the deer hunting season, only shotguns can be used. Rifles can not be used in shotgun zones for shooting deer, ever. I have used a rifle varmint hunting in SE MN numerous times. talked with CO's while out varmint hunting with no issues what so ever.

+1 I shoot yotes and target practice with the rifle in the slug zone all the time, pick's is 100% right it only pertains to deer hunting.

[HooknHorns]

Might want to double check to see if varmit hunting with a rifle during firearms deer season in shotgun zone is legal.

[mntatonka]

well, considering you can squirrel hunt with any weapon, then yes it's perfectly legal to shoot a rifle in the shotgun zone, regardless of season. You can even shoot a coyote with your rifle during the shotgun season you're hunting. You simply cannot have a rifle in your possession while in the field attempting to take deer in that zone.

The shotgun part of the zone ONLY applies to deer hunters that are actually hunting deer with the firearms deer license during that season.

[96trigger]

Actually, it seems like almost everyone is partially right and partially wrong. You need to read the regs

Possession of Firearms Before, During, and After the Firearms

Deer Season

(Note: This section does not apply to the Muzzleloader Season, see

page 88, except that muzzleloaders legal for deer may be possessed only by

persons with a muzzleloader or firearms deer license during that season.)

No person may possess a firearm or ammunition outdoors during

the period beginning the fifth day before the open firearms season and

ending the second day after the close of the season within an area where

deer may be legally taken by firearms, except:

• A person who has a valid firearms big game license in possession may hunt big game during the open season with a firearm and

ammunition authorized for big game.

• Possession is also legal under these conditions:

a) An unloaded firearm that is cased or in a closed trunk of a

motor vehicle.

A shotgun and shells containing No. 4 buckshot or smaller

diameter lead shot or nontoxic shot.

c) A .22 caliber rimfire handgun or rifle with .22 caliber short,

long, or long rifle cartridges, .22 magnum or .17 caliber.

d) Handguns possessed by a person with a carry permit.

e) On an authorized target range.

So to sum it up, no I would not be caught 5 days before, or two days after the season with a rifle that wasn't a .22 rimfire or .17 caliber Anywhere but on a range. It would be deemed illegal to do otherwise. You should not be varmint hunting during that time period with any rifle other than a .22 RIMFIRE or a .17 caliber. You would have some explaining to do if you get caught with something bigger in the field.

[mntatonka]

I have, and will continue to, shoot coyotes in the evening with my rifle before, during, and after deer seasons on our farm, and will continue to do so whether entirely legal or not. It's legal season to hunt nuisance animals all year round with any weapon, and I will stick to that.

[96trigger]

The question was about the legality of it, not whether or not you do it. What you do on your farm is your business. However, going on a public forum and telling someone that it is OK to break the law because you do it is another. I think the regs are pretty specific to what you can and cannot have in the woods in regards to fireams during that time period. I hope this helps answer the original posters question.

[BobT]

I have, and will continue to, shoot coyotes in the evening with my rifle before, during, and after deer seasons on our farm, and will continue to do so whether entirely legal or not. It's legal season to hunt nuisance animals all year round with any weapon, and I will stick to that.

You go ahead and continue to do this but don't be crying foul when you get caught and face charges.

[tracker x-2]

Just a FYI to the people who will be sighting in. please do not do it during prime hunting times like evening ex. last light.

Had a neighbor where i bow hunt do this last weekend and it was very frusterating.

Thanks from all bowhunters

[HandGunner]

either way the landowners out their use whatever they want... my dad says he sees this one guy who owns just a bit of the public land we hunt use a lever action to hunt and were in SE MN shotgun handgun only zone... plus around the private land I can tell they use rifles because of the diferent sounding booms from just a regular shotgun... the closest you can get by legally is to get a handgun like ours that shoots a 308win round, TC ENCORE handgun

[96trigger]

Been in SEMN all my life, never heard of people using rifles for deer. I have never heard what I thought were rifles during the deer season, unless they were on a gun range. I'm sure that some landowners feel that they can do whatever they want, but the fact is that it is not legal and just because someone else does it, doesn't make it right. I can't believe that I would even have to say that.

By the way, how can one guy own just a bit of public land?

[Finlander]

+1 Tracker x-2!

A few years ago I was bowhunting a Waterfowl Production Area the friday evening before gun season only to have some nimrods start target shooting in the parking lot about 200 yards away. Just about doo-dooed myself as the shots seemed to be aimed in my direction. If I had a cell phone back then I would have called TIPs. I know they were target practicing there deer gun as it had to be a rifle or shotgun slugs by the sound of the shots! By the time I got out of the tree as I had to take my trestand down they were gone. I find spent brass bullets in the parking lot of just about every parking lot on public hunting land! SOME PEOPLE!

[Big Dave2]

By the way, how can one guy own just a bit of public land?

I was wondering the same thing?

Plus, I don't think I have ever seen one personally but I am pretty certain that there is such a thing as a lever action shotgun. I'm pretty sure that Winchester makes one and others probably do too.

[nofishfisherman]

By the way, how can one guy own just a bit of public land?

You'll have to ask the guy who lives next to my aunts property in NW MN. That guy thinks he owns 450 acres of public land and he's not afraid to scare you off "his" land.

[HandGunner]

were we are theres spot of private land owned by ppl, at the entrance b4 we hit our camp is land that was for auction just 11 acres and next to our camp is a cabin someone built he probobly owns only like 3 acres or so. plus in the woods is a road that leads to another private owned campsite... and I doubt you can fire 6 shot in 6 seconds with a shotty, last year I heard 6 shots coming from the private land ahead of me and i can hear the bullets buzzing through the air not nececarily in my direction but close by and I can tell from the sound it was not a slug from a shotgun going through the air, 15 mins later a doe ran to me coming from their land

[Archerysniper]

Speaking of the rifle in the shotgun zones how about the rifles during muzzle loader season,I can reload fast but their is no way some one can crack off shots that fast with one and I hear it a few times every year.

[Double D]

Plus, I don't think I have ever seen one personally but I am pretty certain that there is such a thing as a lever action shotgun. I'm pretty sure that Winchester makes one and others probably do too.