The Department of Natural Resources will sell nearly 300 confiscated rifles and shotguns at a public auction May 2 in Zimmerman.

The sale will be at the Hiller Auction Barn, two miles east of Hwy. 169 and County Road 4. Bidder registration begins at 8 a.m. and potential buyers can inspect the guns at that time. The auction starts at 10 a.m.

It's the first public auction of DNR- confiscated firearms -- forfeited by hunters for serious game violations -- in about a decade. The guns, collected over the past four years, vary widely in quality. A complete inventory will be posted on the Hiller Auction Web page at www.hillerauction.com.

The guns will be sold "as is" and all sales are final. Payment may be by cash, by most major credit cards, cashier's check, money order or traveler's checks. A convenience fee may be added to each credit card transaction. Personal or business checks also will be accepted if they are accompanied by a letter of credit from a bank stating that the bidder's credit is in good standing. Those letters must be provided when registering.

Hiller Auction, which won the bid to conduct the sale, will do background checks of bidders before releasing guns. Following the background check, a buyer can take possession of a gun immediately. Bidders can bring their own gun case to legally transport them or they can buy a temporary, disposable case from the auctioneer.

For any questions, contact Hiller Auction at 763-856-2453, 800-889-3458 or khauction@sherbtel.net.

DOUG SMITH