About 25 people gathered at the Wells Community Center on Feb. 18 to discuss a rifle zone versus a shotgun-only zone for deer hunting in Faribault County. The County Board will make a final decision on the matter on Monday, Feb. 23.

With the Faribault County Commissioners set to make a policy decision on Monday, Feb. 23 about whether to have Faribault County be a shotgun-only zone or a rifle zone for deer hunting beginning this fall, the Wells Rifle and Pistol Association held a “listening session” on Feb. 18 for people to share their views on the matter.

Donn Browne, president of the local group, opened the meeting which had about 25 people in attendance.

“We just want people to be able to voice their opinion,” Browne said. “No matter which side you support.”

Chad Groskreutz, a safety arms instructor with the local association was the first to speak.

“We already use rifles in the county to hunt coyotes,” Groskreutz commented. “I would like to think they (rifles) are safe.”

Another speaker pointed out the reason the county was originally limited to shotgun only was because of the small deer population coming out of the Great Depression and that rifles were allowed until 1942 and thus the change to a shotgun-only zone was made as a management tool not because of safety reasons.

“I would also like to point out that the population of Faribault County was 23,941 in 1940 compared to only 13,921 now,” the speaker said. “So rifles had been allowed when there were 10,000 more people living in the county.”

Another speaker, who identified himself as Mark, offered his thoughts.

“I don’t see this as a safety issue,” Mark commented. “There is no evidence that using rifles is unsafe. I believe there are only three states that are shotgun only. Those are Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.”

An older man spoke up and stated he would much rather teach his grandson to hunt with a rifle because there is lighter recoil compared to a shotgun.

Another speaker, Michelle, agreed.

“I have a chronic shoulder problem,” Michelle said. “I cannot shoot a shotgun because of the recoil. However, I am able to shoot a rifle with no problem.”

Although the majority of those in attendance were in favor of the county being zoned for rifle use, there were a few who spoke in favor of keeping Faribault County a shotgun-only zone.

“I am all for shotgun,” Steve Kauffmann remarked. “I’m not going to go out and buy a rifle just to hunt deer. I have concerns about the safety of farmers working in the field with how far a shot from a rifle can travel.”

Another speaker worried that the quality of the deer population will go down with the use of rifles.

An informal show of hands of those willing to vote on the matter showed about 15 people in favor of a rifle zone and five supporting a shotgun-only zone.

As the meeting was coming to a close, Browne shared his thoughts.

“As long as the state is letting it go to rifle, let it go,” Browne said. “This state has a lot more serious problems to worry about.”