Shotgun to Rifle for Red River Valley Area

[UNDBowhunter]

I know that everyone will have a different opinion on this issue, but from my perspective, I wish the DNR would have left the Red River Valley area in MN shotgun only!! Honestly, there isn't much cover for deer in this area, and now with this area open to rifles, deer are going to be even easier to shoot. From a deer management standpoint, if the DNR wants to lower the doe population in the area, I think they should try "earn a buck". The only thing that opening this area to rifles, is that buck #'s and size will drop!!!

[Code-Man]

I know where your coming from. I hunted the shot gun area for the first time last year and had more fun with the shot gun but i did miss a dump load I am shocked they didn't have a buffer strip near main highways/cities. Even though i think the shot gun area was fun I will be bringing my 30-06 out this fall.

Code-Man

[HunterLee]

Thats the reason that my buddies get mad at me. For always getting a nice buck. Shotguns save alot of those big bucks, granted some dont get away. I hunt on both sides of Hwy 32. Its funny how i see maybe one or two good bucks on the one side and 10 or so on the shotgun side. I am a little worried about the rifles from the saftey stand point, as rifles attract road hunters. Rifle side i see probly 5-10 vehicles cruising around, and the shotgun side you see maybe a couple. Have to get my big one with the bow before the rifle season as there wont be as many for the muzzle loader season as usual. I garantee there will be lots more monsters shot this year and after a this its all down hill for the size and numbers.

[UNDBowhunter]

Yeah,

I hunted both West and East of Hwy 32 last year. I will strongly agree that they were less bucks and LOTS of road hunters east of Hwy. 32.

[lcornice]

Quote:

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I know that everyone will have a different opinion on this issue, but from my perspective, I wish the DNR would have left the Red River Valley area in MN shotgun only!! Honestly, there isn't much cover for deer in this area, and now with this area open to rifles, deer are going to be even easier to shoot. From a deer management standpoint, if the DNR wants to lower the doe population in the area, I think they should try "earn a buck". The only thing that opening this area to rifles, is that buck #'s and size will drop!!!

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Not that it matters but DNR didn't change the line. The legislature did it in conference committee at the very end of the session. DNR had no input into the decision.

[Code-Man]

what would have been nice is in some states if you hunt from elevated stands you can use rifle and if you hunt from the ground shotgun. Guess it would help some but if legislature knows it all no sense to tell them soemthing they don't kknow. Wish they would let scopes on muzzleloaders.

Code-Man

[Huskiedevle]

What was the original reason for the shotgun only zone in this area? I hunt over by Thief River Falls area, so this doesn't affect me, anyway. My cousin farms just north of Oslo,right on the river, so I think his kids might be liking the rifle option.To each his own, I guess.

[gorrilla]

I know for a fact that up on the area around the Red River where we hunt, this will add to the already terrible "road hunting" problems and decrease the average rack found in the herd.

This is one of the stupidest changes I can see this year...

Everybody I know up there already shoots all the animals they can consume already. The addition of rifles only puts more pressure on the bucks.

MN the great state of basket racks!!!!

[Hines R]

We hunt on the river just south of East Grand Forks. We had an already interesting year last year due to the change from 2 seasons to one 9 day season. I can tell you their we're a lot more people out hunting that first weekend. I would say it close to doubled from my perspective. We also ran into some issues with people that had always been hunting our land the second weekend and we didn't care. When they tried to drive through where all our stands we're first weekend last year we had to argue with them to stop them. They just thought it was alright because they had always done it.

Now we're going to have a whole bunch more people still out their hunting and on top of that they'll be able to carry rifles. I'm definitely concerned.

On the flip side I will say I'm considering carrying a rifle at least for the stand hunting. One of the guys in our group just found out about this today like me and he had bought a $300 dollar barrel for that new TC that can change out barrels. He's a little bummed. He's never shot it so hopefully he can change it out for another barrel or return it. He already has 2 other slug guns so I thought that one was a little overkill anyways.

Later, Ryan