2023 Minnesota Statutes

97B.031 USE AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS.

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[Repealed, 2015 c 65 art 3 s 38]

Subd. 5.

[Repealed, 2017 c 93 art 2 s 166]

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.

History:

1986 c 386 art 2 s 7; 1989 c 153 s 1; 1989 c 287 s 7; 2000 c 473 s 7; 2002 c 351 s 15; 2004 c 215 s 19; 2005 c 102 s 1; 2005 c 146 s 28,29; 2007 c 131 art 1 s 36; 2008 c 368 art 2 s 39; 1Sp2011 c 2 art 5 s 39; 2012 c 277 art 1 s 50,51; 2014 c 290 s 38; 1Sp2015 c 4 art 5 s 19,20; 2017 c 93 art 2 s 93; 2023 c 60 art 4 s 55