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Minnesota Statutes Game and Fish (Ch. 97-102) § 97B.031. Use and possession of firearms

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

Subdivision 1. Permissible firearms and ammunition; big game and wolves. A person may take big game and wolves with a firearm only if:

(1) any rifle, shotgun, or handgun used is a caliber of at least .22 inches and has centerfire ignition;

(2) the firearm is loaded only with single projectile ammunition;

(3) a projectile used is a caliber of at least .22 inches and has a soft point or is an expanding bullet type;

(4) any muzzleloader used has the projectile loaded only at the muzzle;

(5) any smooth-bore muzzleloader used is a caliber of at least .45 inches; and

(6) any rifled muzzleloader used is a caliber of at least .40 inches.

Subd. 2. Handguns for small game. A person may take small game with a handgun of any caliber in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, except that wolves may only be taken by hunting with the calibers specified in subdivision 1.

Subd. 3. Firearms larger than ten gauge prohibited. A person may not use a firearm with a bore larger than a ten gauge to take a protected wild animal.

Subd. 4. Repealed byLaws 2015, c. 65, art. 3, § 38, par. (c), eff. August 1, 2015.

Subd. 5. Repealed byLaws 2017, c. 93, art. 2, § 166, eff. July 1, 2017.

Subd. 6. Scopes. A person may use a muzzleloader with a scope to take deer during the muzzleloader season. The scope may have magnification capabilities.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Minnesota Statutes Game and Fish (Ch. 97-102) § 97B.031. Use and possession of firearms - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/mn/game-and-fish-ch-97-102/mn-st-sect-97b-031/

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