Please do not pass the language in bills HF4407 and SF2767 that eliminates the deer hunting shotgun zones in Minnesota.

Eliminating the shotgun only zone and opening up southern Minnesota to rifle hunting would have a devastating effect on our deer and deer hunting experience.  The flat, open land that the agricultural land consists of will eliminate any sort of fair chase that exists in deer hunting at the moment.  Without other changes being implemented prior to or along with a regulation like this to offset the effects of rifle hunting, the toll it would take on the deer and quality of deer hunting would be detrimental.  Other states that allow rifle hunting in similar landscapes have had quality management practices in place along with rifle hunting - this is something Minnesota is currently lacking.   Quality deer and deer hunting is not sustainable in southern Minnesota with the use of rifles unless other deer management practices and regulations are put in place first.