FAIRMONT – A long-standing deer hunting law has been repealed, giving more options and discussion topics for area hunters and conservationists.

Large portions of Central and Southern Minnesota, including Martin County, had shotgun-only zones since the 1940s. Fox Lake Conservation League President Tim Eisenmenger said it was implemented back then because of the deer population.

“We didn’t have hardly any deer here [back then],” he said. “For years, the population has grown immensely. We’re to the point of overpopulation, we need more does harvested than we get every year.”

While restrictions had lessened to include muzzleloaders and legal handguns, this still limited the options for deer hunters.

“Shorter range shots, you had to get them closer, and they’re not nearly as accurate,” Eisenmenger said. “Lesser deer kill percentage.”

In the 2025 legislature, the zones law has been repealed, and any legal guns can be used for the first deer hunting season after Jan. 1, 2026.

Before that date, each county previously affected will need to hold discussions. If concerns are raised, they have the right to add restrictions on certain guns or continue using shotgun-only zones, which Freeborn County voted back in May to do before the repeal was finalized.

Eisenmenger said he was glad to see the change come as it will allow for guns with better accuracy to be used, but there are some concerns involved.

“If people are doing by the law and not trespassing, it’s fine,” he said. “The problem is when you can shoot that much farther, when the deer is across the fence in the neighbor’s property, and you don’t have permission. You don’t shoot for the skyline.”

By not shooting for the skyline, Eisenmenger is referring to identifying your target and what’s beyond. If you can’t tell what’s beyond, like past a hill, he said the shot should not be taken.

Rifle bullets can travel over three miles. With a lower tree density in Martin County and Southern Minnesota than further north, an unobstructed bullet could strike someone or something unintentionally.

Martin County Conservation Club Member Ryan Fraser said he had seen this difference first-hand when hunting in the south.

“Usually you’re in the woods,” he said. “Here we have a lot of fields, so there is a different open field policy. It comes down to the basics of hunter safety,”

In talking to others, Eisenmenger said around 80 percent of them are for it and 20 percent are against it. He said some would prefer the law not change to keep with tradition.

Fraser said he doesn’t believe it will change deer hunting much. If it does, it will be similar to the impact felt when crossbow hunting was allowed starting last year.

Some, like compound bow hunter Bryan Gregor, said they like what they’ve got currently and will stick with it. Others, like Jim Utermarck, have preferred rifles when hunting elsewhere and look to take advantage of the change.

While it may be a split between those who do and don’t take advantage among adults, Fraser said he sees rifles becoming the more popular choice among youth and teen hunters.

“Because of the [lesser] recoil,” he said. “On an AR platform, you can adjust the stock so you don’t have little kids trying to reach way out [with a shotgun].”