Carver County closes public hearing and takes no action on shotgun-only hunting ordinance; rifles allowed under state law for 2026

Carver County commissioners closed a public hearing March 10 and declined to adopt an ordinance that would have limited deer hunting to shotguns, allowing a state law that permits rifles to take effect for the 2026 hunting season.

County staff opened the formal hearing and reviewed the legislative change that removed the old “shotgun zone” line and gave county boards the option to adopt ordinances to retain shotgun-only rules. The presenter summarized DNR maps, estimated local hunter counts (Zone 338 roughly 1,264 hunters; countywide estimates provided as high-level figures), and reviewed 23 years of incident data and ballistics comparisons before offering a recommendation. “My recommendation would be to close a public hearing and take no further action,” the presenter told the board, arguing the research did not show rifles would inherently increase hunting incidents.

The recommendation set the stage for more than an hour of questions from commissioners and public testimony. Commissioners asked how enforcement would work if an ordinance were adopted; staff and the sheriff’s office said the county sheriff and the DNR would have enforcement roles. The chief deputy of the sheriff’s office said he could not recall a hunter accident in Carver County during his 23 years there and said the sheriff’s office would investigate any complaints. “From the sheriff’s office perspective... I can’t think of one hunter accident we’ve had,” he said.

Speakers during the public comment period presented mixed views. Pete Parrish of Laketown, a longtime hunter, told commissioners he favored allowing rifles and argued they are more accurate: “I feel the rifle is much more accurate... better kill ratio right away,” he said. Several township representatives and residents urged the board to adopt a shotgun-only ordinance, citing local topography, dense housing in places such as San Francisco Township, and concerns about inexperienced hunters. “I would just ask that you would adopt an ordinance to keep the shotgun,” said Jeannie Ofterite, speaking for San Francisco Township.

After public comment, Commissioner Christian Anderson moved to close the public hearing; Commissioner Fahey seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote, and the board took no ordinance action that evening. County staff clarified that taking no action means the state law allowing rifles becomes the default for Carver County in 2026. The presenter reminded the board the county could revisit the question in a future year, and commissioners noted logistical complexities related to township boundaries and differing choices in neighboring counties.

The meeting proceeded to the county administrator’s report and adjourned later that evening. The county did not adopt a local restriction on firearms for deer hunting; under current state law and the board’s decision to take no local action, rifles will be allowed in Carver County for the 2026 season unless the board votes otherwise at a later date.