After residents voiced concerns about gun safety during the regularly scheduled Houston County Commission meeting on Tuesday, July 15, commissioners agreed to schedule a public hearing in August. The purpose of the hearing is to gather public input on recently enacted state legislation that eliminates shotgun-only zones for deer hunting. Under the new law, all legal firearms may now be used statewide during the regular firearms deer season.
Luke Onstad, speaking as a private citizen and not in his capacity as a county employee, noted that while the state has eliminated the shotgun zone, counties still have the option to opt out by passing a resolution. He said that he has talked to “tons of people,” and he estimates that approximately 85% oppose the change, while 15% are for it or say they will adapt immediately.
Clayton Johnson, a Houston County resident and lifelong hunter who is active in a large hunting community, said he agreed with everything Onstad said. The bill gives counties the authority to pass a resolution, after proper notice and a public hearing, to limit the types of firearms that may be used to hunt deer within the county. He expressed hope that Houston County would choose to pass such a resolution.
Johnson also confirmed that Senator Steve Drazkowski introduced the bill which was buried deep within an omnibus bill-so deep, in fact, that when he spoke to Senator Jeremy Miller and Representative Greg Davids, both indicated that they did not know anything about it.
Houston County resident Steve Bauer said that he is concerned about the potential for shooting accidents. Houston County resident Bonnie Laumb stated that she agrees with everything that has been said and that a 12-year-old with a shotgun is ok, but to start putting them with a rifle is not good, because they don’t know how to judge the distance and they are in a learning process.
Commissioners in attendance included Cindy Wright (District 1), Eric Johnson (District 2), Kurt Zehnder (District 3), and Greg Myhre (District 5). District 4 Commissioner Bob Schuldt was absent.
The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda and minutes from the July 1 regular and special meetings, along with the July 13 workgroup session, were all unanimously approved.
At 9:20 a.m., the board entered a closed session to discuss ongoing labor negotiations. They returned at 9:50 a.m., with Chairman Johnson reporting that no decisions were made. As a result, action item number five was removed from the agenda.
The consent agenda was unanimously approved. It included the following items:
•Sarah Ostern’s employment status as Jailer/Dispatcher was changed from probationary to regular.
•Kelly Petersen’s job title was updated from Commercial Property Appraiser to Accredited Minnesota Appraiser.
•Approval of the tentative agreement as negotiated with Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc., Local #237.
•Approval of the Business Associate and Consultant Service Agreements with Intellicents.
Additional board actions included:
•Approval of a grant agreement with the FAA for the Houston County airport.
•Adoption of Resolution No. 25-19, approving Houston County Title VI Policy (non-discrimination in programming and contracts).
•Initiation of the formal process to transition the Houston County Auditor/Treasurer and Recorder positions from elected to appointed roles, which will also include a public hearing.
•Approval of all submitted bills.
Bonham OHanlon says
I am an Infantry rifleman Marine Corps veteran, I have extensive experience hunting with center fire rifles in over 12 states. I have extensive experience as a firearms instructor and hunting guide.
I have hunting in MN since I was 12 years old.
I have rifle hunted in counties, with a higher population then the entire state of MN.
Anyone in opposition to allowing center fire rifle hunting is grossly ignorant, pushing fud lore nonsense. It comes down to cherishing a mistake because it had been made for far, far to long.
There are zero quantifiable objective reasons to regulate hunting with center fire rifle cartridges.
They are not only safer due to their accuracy, but infinitely more effective in their terminal performance.
The access to cost effective, lead free projectiles for rifles allows hunters to increase their level of proficiency and are far more affordable then with $8+ per round shotgun sabbots. All while reducing lead contamination to our environment at prices the average hunter can afford.
An individual is no less responsible for a stray shotgun slug then they are a centerfire rifle cartridge. The use of rifles is literally across an imaginary line and river with no increase in hunter fatalities or negligent discharges over shotguns.
Lacrosse county has a higher population then either Houston or Winona county. They allow rifles inside the metro zone without issue.
I will be attending these meetings to express these facts further and will gladly debate this on the public stage with anyone claiming this is a bad idea.
Dan Bergin says
Solid comments/data by both Bonham and Gary in favor of allowing center fire rifle deer hunting in Houston County as well.
Gary Van Domelen says
The move to allow rifle hunting is in accord with data from Wis and other states that demonstrates rifles can and are used safely in areas far more populated than Houston County MN. In addition, our hills and bluffs mean in many instances unlike flat areas in other states, bullets cannot travel as great a distance in a straight line. As to the comment about the 12 year old using a rifle, the issue is really not whether it’s a rifle or a shotgun but whether the youth was properly trained and supervised. I’d question whether a 12 year old should be hunting on their own anyway whether with a shotgun or a rifle. Last, today’s shotguns are capable of 150 yard shots much like a rifle. Those shotguns are legal today as are muzzle loaders which also greatly extend the range of a shooter.
With this topic and many others it’s best to rely on hard data rather than individual opinions. When the data is reviewed from Wis and many other states it’s clear allowing rifles can lead to more accurate and less shots, more humane kills and less wounded animals without sacrificing personal hunter or passerby safety.