I know there are some MN people here. I hunted deer for years at a friend's land in zone 213, shotgun or handgun only. I'm returning this year, and can't seem to figure out if my Ruger .44 carbine (rifle chambered in .44) is legal to use. Anybody?
Are you asking if it's legal to use a rifle to hunt in a hunting area designated for shotguns and handguns only? Seems obvious to me.
No, Minnesota as of now is not allowing the "straight case" rifles in shotgun zones. I actually emailed the DNR this winter about if its been looked at, and their response was they were looking at numerous possible changes, and this was on their radar. The new regulations will be out soon, so it is possible they might catch up to lower Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, etc.
You need the wording of the law. They are obviously limiting bullet travel by excluding rifles or, more correctly, high-calibers. If it's written as handgun, it's a bullshit law. Thompson Contender, a pistol, is predominately high-caliber. If it's written as pistol caliber, there may be a barrel length restriction taking pistol caliber carbines out the equation.
Centerfire caliber handguns(basically singleshots, or an AR pistol) are legal under the handgun regulations. I'm hoping they change it to the straight case type regulations, because I'll build a 45 Raptor bolt gun, even though I haven't hunted the shotgun season in a decade. BTW, muzzle loaders are legal in the shotgun zone.
There is a minimum caliber, but I don't think there is a maximum. Might have to shoulder fire it though.
I don't know if a straight case regulation would be the best way to go unless they're OK with 45/70, 500/600/700 Nitro Express, etc for whitetail. Restricting to specific calibers might be a better idea.