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 [Repealed, 2015 c 65 art 3 s 38] Subd. 5. [Repealed, 2017 c 93 art 2 s 166] Subd. 6.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. 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 [Repealed, 2015 c 65 art 3 s 38] Subd. 5. [Repealed, 2017 c 93 art 2 s 166] Subd. 6.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
Minnesota Legal Code