MARSHALL — Lyon County will allow deer hunting with rifles starting in 2026. But at Tuesday’s county board meeting, county commissioners were divided on the change away from shotgun hunting.

A vote to go along with a new state law on rifle hunting passed 3-2. In discussion of the topic, commissioners said they weren’t happy about having to be the ones to make the decision whether or not to opt out.

“I’m not backing down on this. I feel like the county commissioners have been put under the bus, trying to make this determination,” Commissioner Gary Crowley said. “I don’t know any other law on the books in the state of Minnesota that they put it on the county commissioners, that we could opt out or change it. But this is what we’re dealt with.”

Under a new Minnesota law, deer hunting with rifles will be allowed on public property statewide, beginning with the 2026 deer season. However, individual counties that are currently in shotgun zones can decide to opt out of rifle hunting. Earlier this fall, commissioners heard comments from area residents who were both for and against rifle hunting being allowed in Lyon County.

On Tuesday, Crowley said there were residents on both sides of the issue, and called on people to be respectful. “I don’t want this to be grudges, because I’ve had a lot of calls and emails on this issue. And I don’t want that to cause any friction in the public, in the community, or our board.”

Commissioners said they had been contacted by residents with a mix of opinions on whether to allow rifle hunting. But most commissioners made comments agreeing that they didn’t like having to be the ones with the final say, instead of the state.

“I know some of the background and why they did it. But I am with you, Gary. To put this on the counties to make the decision, it’s a lose-lose for us,” Commissioner Rick Anderson said. Anderson said he wished the state law had more guidance in it for local governments, as well.

“The end result is going to be a patchwork of counties across southern Minnesota where you have them and don’t have them, and it just creates confusion,” said Commissioner Paul Graupmann.

Commissioner Todd Draper agreed that the county shouldn’t have to decide on the issue. At the same time, he said rifles and pistols have already been allowed for coyote hunting in the area, without problems.

“This vote’s probably going to be a split vote,” Commissioner Thomas Andries said. “I would propose we do nothing, and let the government figure it out.”

In discussion, commissioners favored the idea of just letting the new law take effect.

“I think if that’s the consensus, I still think we should have a vote that we do nothing,” Crowley said. “To make it clear, I think we should have a motion on the table.”

A motion to let the new rifle hunting law take effect passed 3-2, with Commissioners Anderson and Andries casting the votes against.