Long Gun Transport Rules – MN/WI

Is there anyone firmly familiar with long gun transport rules in MN and WI? I have to transport a couple of long guns for an in-law from WI to MN, and the rules are somewhat vague. MN states “or 2) in the closed trunk”, can I assume a lockable truck bed as a trunk? Issue is, he has no gun cases, so just wondering if I need a gun case to transport in a lockable truck bed. WI is even more vague, but maybe more open as well.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

MN –
Minnesota allows the transportation of firearms in a motor vehicle if the gun is unloaded and either: 1) in a gun case made to contain the firearm, and the case fully encloses the firearm by being zipped, snapped, buckled, tied or otherwise fastened, without any portion of the gun exposed; or 2) in the closed trunk.3 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently issued a report about the efficacy of this law.

WI –
Wisconsin generally prohibits the transportation of a long gun:
In or on an automobile, unless the long gun is unloaded or the automobile is stationary.

Not sure on the laws exactly but I have always just put them in a case, unloaded in the rear most area of whatever vehicle it is. That should make any law enforcement officer happy as long as you have no warrants out for you.

They sell some rather cheap gun sleeves/cases. I even got some for free from a pawn store one time. I would just find some cheap cases to put them to avoid any issues in either state. Maybe someone you know has a few cases you could borrow for a short time.

Yeah, been looking for some cheap cases, just to cover all bases. Didn’t think about pawn shops, thanks, will have to check.

Just to share, I did call both MN and WI DNR helplines. It is legal to transport long guns in truck beds without cases, as long as they are covered and inaccessible form the cab. But, since I am transporting to the Twin Cities, those 3 counties REQUIRE that long guns be cased when transporting. So it is county specific as I found out.

How long are we talking? I may have a couple sitting around I could borrow you. I am in Blaine

If the gun itself has a scope or any significant value, I would case it simply for protection. If it rattles around or shifts when you’re driving and gets damaged you’ll be pissed.

Unload it and put it in a case. Simple enough

In Wisconsin no gun case is required. Must be unloaded.

The way I’m reading it is:
MN requires the firearm to be unloaded and in a case. If you don’t have a case then it must be unloaded and carried in the trunk, truck bed, lock box, etc. (presumably no access to the firearm from the passenger cabin if uncased)
WI just seems to require the firearm to be unloaded.

If you didn’t have any cases I would think you could just wrap the firearms in some blankets and store them in the truck bed for transportation.

Rifle socks are a few bucks at wally world.

tegg wrote:

The way I’m reading it is:
MN requires the firearm to be unloaded and in a case. If you don’t have a case then it must be unloaded and carried in the trunk, truck bed, lock box, etc. (presumably no access to the firearm from the passenger cabin if uncased)
WI just seems to require the firearm to be unloaded.

If you didn’t have any cases I would think you could just wrap the firearms in some blankets and store them in the truck bed for transportation.
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When we moved I stacked all of my guns in layers of sleeping bags (didn’t have enough cases)

MN you need a case “made to hold a firearm”, or it can be uncased in a separate locked part of the car. You can drive around unloaded and uncased while hunting or at a range.

97B.045 TRANSPORTING FIREARMS.
Subdivision 1. Restrictions. A person may not transport a firearm in a motor vehicle unless the firearm
is:
(1) unloaded and in a gun case expressly made to contain a firearm, and the case fully encloses the firearm by being zipped,snapped, buckled, tied, or otherwise fastened, and without any portion of the firearm exposed;
(2) unloaded and in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle

I don’t own a gun that doesn’t have a case. Long gun or hand gun. Cases can be cheap or you can drop some bucks if you want. Every gun should have a case it’s kept in even when stored at home just to keep it protected. I would say tell you’re in law you will buy some cheap cases for transport and he can reimburse you. If he don’t want to pony up then take you’re chances transporting them for him under a blanket or sleeping bag.

I have a Ford Expedition and I transport guns to and from the lake every week. They are unloaded and cased and in the rear cargo area which technically is in reach from the passenger cabin if someone is sitting in the second row. I never worry about it as my only other choice would be to tie them to the roof.

The OP only has “a couple of long guns” so purchasing a couple of cheap gun cases for 10 bucks doesn’t seem like it would be hard to do. Its a very inexpensive way to make sure they are transported safely and properly. I understand the blanket or sleeping back method if you have a large stock pile of weapons to transport and not enough cases for each one but he didn’t say he was hauling a quantity like that.

Not being sarcastic but another option would be to cover them any way you want and just do it. Out of sight out of mind. The odds of you getting pulled over are slim and even if you do they wont see the guns. There’s literally no chance of this being an issue. Do you have a detailed financial plan for winning the lottery?

Ice Cap wrote:

I don’t own a gun that doesn’t have a case. Long gun or hand gun. Cases can be cheap or you can drop some bucks if you want. Every gun should have a case it’s kept in even when stored at home just to keep it protected.

Certainly this seems the most logical. You’d think unless the gun never leaves your home, you’d at some point be transporting them whether hunting or the range or any other reason.

Each gun I own has its own dedicated case. They were relatively inexpensive and swapping seemed impractical as the cases are sized for the gun whether it’s a 22 with a scope or a 12 gauge.