Stearns County Now Accepting Email, Written Comments on Possible Deer Hunting Rifle Ordinance

(KNSI) – The Stearns County Board of Commissioners wants to hear how the public feels about allowing rifles to be used for deer hunting.

The choice follows a new statewide law that eliminated the shotgun-only zone, giving individual counties the option to either allow rifles for deer hunting or formally adopt an ordinance to maintain existing shotgun-only restrictions. Up until now, Stearns County has been a shotgun-only zone. If the county takes no action, rifles will be allowed within county limits.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has asked counties to make their decisions by early May so the information can be included in the annual deer hunting rule book.

The DNR has also made clear it will not send representatives to the county-level public hearing and does not intend to be involved in the county decision-making process.

The public hearing will be held on Monday, April 7th, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Melrose City Hall.

The board encourages residents to submit written opinions, which will be compiled into the public record. When submitting comments, residents are asked to include their name, contact information, city of residence, stance on the issue, and any additional comments.

Residents may submit written comments by email at deerhuntordinance@stearnscountymn.gov or by mail to:

Stearns County Administration
Attn: Deer Hunting Ordinance Comments
705 Courthouse Square, Room 121
St. Cloud, MN 56303

A final vote on whether to adopt the ordinance is expected at the board’s April 21st meeting.

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