Minnesota DNR proposes permanent lead ammo ban for Keystone Woods Wildlife Management Area

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that, if adopted, would permanently ban the use of lead ammunition at Keystone Woods Wildlife Management Area in northern Washington County.

The proposed lead-free requirement has been in effect as a temporary, expedited emergency rule since the prized east-metro-area property opened to public hunting in fall 2024. If the proposal is adopted, Keystone Woods WMA would be the only lead-free WMA in the state, and Keystone users would be required to possess only nontoxic ammunition when in the WMA.

The one exception: Persons who possess a valid permit to carry a pistol “could possess ammunition that does not meet nontoxic requirements,” though they would not be allowed to use the pistol with lead ammunition to take “wild animals” on the WMA. Minnesota has 1,521 WMAs encompassing 1.39 million acres. The DNR is accepting comments until 4.30 p.m. on Oct. 8 (see below for more information on how to comment).

“We encourage people to voice their opinions on the proposal by submitting public comments,” said Sarah Middleton, wildlife rules and regulations coordinator for the Minnesota DNR. “We want to hear from the public. This isn’t a done deal.”

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WMA history

Formerly owned by the Kelly Land and Cattle Company, the 1,820-acre WMA had been eyed by developers for years before it was finally purchased by the Minnesota DNR.   

The WMA covers areas along Manning Trail North in May Township between 170th St. North on the northern end of the tract running south to near Lynch Road North. The area is about 10 miles northwest of Stillwater and just south of Scandia and Big Marine Park Reserve.

State officials say the WMA is a stunning property that includes rolling grasslands, some native prairie, small lakes, woods (including oak savannah) and wetlands. The property’s variety of landscapes is the perfect mix for providing habitat for game and nongame wildlife species alike. The WMA is open to hunting, fishing, trapping and other nonconsumptive uses like hiking, birding, photography and more.

“We’re seeing a lot of use across every season, from both traditional users like hunters and nontraditional users like hikers and birders,” said Brandon Schad, Minnesota DNR assistant regional wildlife manager in St. Paul. “It’s going to get a lot of use, given it’s in the metro area. It’s an incredible property and we’re lucky to have it in our WMA system.”

Schad said the agency will release a Keystone Woods WMA management plan in the coming months for public comment.

Decision rationale, timeline

Dave Trauba, wildlife section manager for the Minnesota DNR, said the previous longtime owners of the property had a long-standing history of using only lead-free ammunition for hunting. “We wanted to honor and maintain that tradition at the new WMA,” Trauba said.

Trauba stressed that the agency has no plans to seek a ban on lead ammunition at other state WMAs. “No, not at all,” Trauba said. “We haven’t had any discussions.”

Middleton of the DNR said the current temporary, expedited emergency rule expires in November 2027. She said a decision on the proposed measure will likely come before that date. The DNR commissioner must approve the rule, though the final step in the permanent rule process “routes it through to the governor’s office.” 

“They must review and either approve or veto the rule,” said Middleton, adding the next governor will have the final say on the measure.

According to the Minnesota DNR, nontoxic ammunition includes bullets, slugs, muzzleloader ammo and other single projectiles, as well as copper-, nickel- and zinc-plated steel shot made entirely of nontoxic material approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Hunters already are required to use nontoxic shot on other public lands in Minnesota, including for waterfowl hunting on state WMAs. In addition to waterfowl hunting, small game hunters, including turkey hunters, must use and possess only nontoxic shot when hunting federal waterfowl production areas (WPAs) and national wildlife refuges.

Non-toxic shot is also required while participating in hunts in state parks and parks-managed lands, as well as on all state scientific and natural areas open to hunting. According to the DNR, nontoxic ammunition helps protect both hunters and wildlife from lead poisoning.

The ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl was phased-in starting with the 1987-88 season, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A nationwide ban began in 1991.

Comment information

A draft rule and the request for comments, including details on how to provide input, are available on the DNR rulemaking webpage.

Written and oral comments (written are preferred) and requests for more information should be directed to:

Sarah Middleton, Wildlife Rules and Regulations Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Division. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, Mn. 55155. Telephone: 651-259-5185. Email: wildliferules.dnr@state.mn.us.

All public comments received by the DNR and all information within the comments are public data under Minnesota law. Public comments, including names and addresses, be-come part of the public record upon receipt by the DNR.

For more information about Keystone Woods WMA, visit here.

For more information about state WMAs, including a WMA finder, visit here.