It depends on where you live. This might point you in the right direction.

Two rifle hunting bills ‘struggling’ in House

ST. PAUL — Two bills in the Minnesota Legislature are seeking to make it possible to hunt deer with a rifle instead of a shotgun in southern Minnesota. But at this point, it’s not sure if the proposal will make headway in the Minnesota House of Representatives, said Rep. Chris Swedzinski...

www.marshallindependent.com

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Ask your Grandson. If he's bought a license hopefully, he read the regs.

You could check the State DNR/Fish Cops web.

 

There are two "areas" in Minnesota regarding firearms/calibers. There's a shotgun and a rifle area. In the shotgun areas, nothing larger than 10 gauge can be used and you can use a pistol in those areas. In the rifle area and when using a pistol , any center fire ammunition greater than 22 caliber is allowed. I know, hard to believe but as of a couple of years ago you could use a 22 pistol. Couldn't believe it myself so I called the DNR and their response was to use your best judgement....in other words, at bare absolute minimum 9mm for a pistol.

You'll most definitely want to look at the current regs. The Dems have been in charge for a while and things might have changed. It's been 2 years since I hunted deer here in Minnesota so I haven't kept up to date.

 

Agree with @ScottMn. Mostly shotguns in the more populated areas of the south, and rifles in the less populated north. There is also archery and black powder hunting. I don’t know how old he is but there are youth seasons. I did those with my kids when they were younger. To the best of my knowledge the use of crossbows still requires a physicians certificate of need. Some cities have archery hunts inside of the city limits.
I’m not entirely clear on the laws around transfer of shotguns and rifles. You may need to talk to a local FFL. I think you can still transfer some types of guns, including shotguns and non-semiautomatic rifles, to close family members without going through an FFL (again, I think). One advantage of an FFL transfer (for about $30) is that if the gun is ever lost or stolen and then used in the commission of a crime it is out of your name. Handguns are age 21 and semiautomatic rifles are 18 years old, I believe.

 

Minnesota's transfer laws have changed dramatically during the rule of the democratic trifecta. ALL sales OR gifts of guns must go through an FFL. You can lend someone a gun without a transfer BUT you must be with them at all times. If the gun leaves your sight you must do an FFL transfer.

Have your grandson or his parents contact an FFL and do what they recommend.

Welcome to the People Republic.

 

Crossbows are legal for anyone to use without a doctors note.

 

That must have changed in Minnesota because I have had to certify people for medical need in the past before they could hunt archery season with them.

 

Thanks everyone. He's in his mid 20's and so far has used only a 12ga.

 

In the rifle areas, something like a 308 is close to ideal. If they haven’t gone to the ‘straight-walled’ rifle cartridges in the shotgun areas, a modern in-line muzzle-loader is a great option. My Knight Elite shoots circles around most any shotgun slug gun.