I keep a copy of the ATF letter for my brace, a copy of the state statute defining a “pistol”, and a copy of the ATF “open letter” concerning shouldering a brace. All of these are printed 2-up, back to back, and folded up in the storage are of my MOE grip.

I read though parts of this thread again and it’s laughable that anybody is giving any sort of direction on what technique must be used when firing a “handgun” while deer hunting. That idea is absurd, often times, the hunting situation at hand will dictate how the shot is made and the shot should always be taken in the safest and most ethical means available. If that means using a rest, bipod, or even stabilizing your pistol against a tree or even (gasp) utilizing a cheek weld to obtain an adequate site picture, so be it.

Another thing that I mentioned on my aforementioned phone call was how much more enjoyable the availability of these new pistols has made hunting for my kids. Shotguns with slugs are long, heavy, punishing firearms, especially in the hands of a 10 year-old (who are legally able under the apprenticeship program). On the contrary, I took my 8 year-old with major congenital cardiac defects hunting in TX a couple of years ago. At 6 years of age he was able to carry and hunt with an 11” 6.5 Grendel pistol without issue. He ended up harvesting a Ram and had a great time. He would have never been able to pack a traditional hunting rifle, even a youth model, by himself nearly as easily. Another benefit of the Grendel for him is that he could shoot it all day long without the fear of developing a flinch. The same example holds true for my then 10 year-old son who deer hunted with the same pistol. My boys are now addicted to hunting of any type. On the contrary, these guns weren’t available when my daughter started hunting and instead of a little Grendel she started with a 20ga youth model slug gun. It was more than she could comfortly carry and literally painful for her to shoot (even with reduced recoil loads). She still enjoys hunting but we’re still working on that flinch, a flinch that yet to develop in either of my boys (despite them getting started at a younger age). This isn’t just good for the kids but the deer too. My boys have made excellent shots on every animal that they’ve taken, I’m very proud of them both. With the flinch, my daughter has struggled a little bit more. I really pushed this point with my RTO since his concentration is on youth hunter safety. This advancement in technology should really be looked at as an awesome opportunity for youth involvement. Sadly, our DNR appears to be coming at this from the exact opposite viewpoint.

Justin Badina, is who i have been in contact with.Mitch Boyum is our local CO,i have not talked to him yet.

Mitch didn’t respond to my question and it’s been a week now. The “general” DNR contact address didn’t either so I’ll have to take what I was told by the one who did respond as the official word. Works for me.

That sucks.

I built a 8" .300 Blk with a SBPDW brace, Vortex Viper PST 1-4× and SiCo Saker so I could hunt here. First time out with it and I killed a nice buck DRT. Apparently I harvest a deer illegally this year without knowing despite reading the regulation book back to front several times.

I believe I should follow the Federal, State definition and since it doesn't say anything in the regulation book why the hell should I follow regulations from an email that someone had to ask?

I should carry documentation next time if it isn't in the regulation book.

Yeah, it's great when people write letters to agencies to get "clarification" on gun related things, always seems to help us out ya know.

No you didn't shoot a deer illegally. The COs are full of shit. They're making stuff up as they go.
I'll be back in MN for deer season next year and I'll be hunting all over the state with a braced 6.5 grendel. Zero fucks given.

I'm a fan of AR pistols.  I have not used one during MN's firearms season even though our land is in the slug zone however.  I typically stand hunt with my scoped muzzleloader and push cover with my 12 gauge semi auto.  Slug recoil has never bothered me.  I've shot 50 deer with slugs.  
But I say use your legally configured AR pistol.  Carry the ATF letter regarding shouldering braces.  If confronted by a warden, read the letter in front of him so his body camera records it.  Get him to say as much rabble babble on camera as you can so if you get cited you have evidence to back your play getting it tossed in court.  Either keep making the DNR look silly with dumb interpretations, or force the issue to change via legislature.  That could open it up or close it down though.  Given how blue MN has gone lately at the state house, good luck.

I've seen first hand what idiots do with rifles when it comes to "coyote hunting" in the same areas as the slug zone in MN.  I've seen cars hit by stray bullets on federal highways.  I've seen livestock hit.  Honestly, as much as I like rifle hunting deer, it's really easy to kill one with a slug in MN.

One thing I think MN hunters need to do a much better job of is lobbying.  Get straight wall rifle calibers approved for the shotgun zone, much like iowa did.  at least give hunters some additional options besides 20/12/mz/handgun/rifle disguised as handgun.