Blue Earth and Nicollet counties would not be included in a bill that would allow high powered rife deer hunting in southern Minnesota, after a change was made in the state Senate.
The proposed legislation would allow any legal firearm to be used statewide for deer hunting, changing the long standing rules that only allow shotgun hunting in southern Minnesota. In the more wooded northern Minnesota, many hunters use high powered rifles.
The bill has drawn support from some hunters, while opposed by others. The main concern raised is about potential dangers of allowing rifles, which send bullets much farther, to be used in southern Minnesota where there are more open areas, including farm fields.
After Rochester and Olmsted County officials earlier raised concerns about rifle use, Olmsted County was also removed from State legislation.
While the bill is slowly moving through the Senate, the House version hasn’t yet had a hearing in the House.