Controlled hunting opportunities
Olmsted County Parks offers limited controlled hunting opportunities for veterans and the general public at Chester Woods Park and Oxbow Park. Select an event below that the Olmsted County Parks department offers and learn more. Also, please review the regulations for each event.
- The Annual Lottery Deer Hunt at Chester Woods Park takes place during the Firearm (B) 300 Series. November 23, 2024 through December 1, 2024.
- Chester Woods Park is closed to the general public during the hunt.
- 40 hunters are selected by a lottery drawing to help harvest a sufficient number of animals to keep the herd healthy and manageable.
- Two permits are reserved for physically disabled hunters and distributed by Olmsted County staff. A doctor's note is required. Assistant(s) to a disabled hunter are not permitted to hunt.
- Registration closed Friday, September 20, 2024 at 5 p.m.
- Drawing was held on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 8 a.m. at Public Works Service Center located at 1188 50th Street SE, Rochester, MN. Following the lottery drawing, all successful and all unsuccessful applicants were notified via email and/or mail.
- All successful applicants must provide picture identification, a current year's deer license, and at least one current year disease management harvest tag when picking up the permission slip.
- Selected applicants who fail to pick up their permission packet will forfeit their opportunity to hunt at Chester Woods for the current season, as well as next season. There will be no exceptions to this requirement! If you are selected and unable to hunt, please notify us as soon as possible at 507-328-7070.
- All selected hunters must return the pre-addressed report postcard by mail within five days following the hunt regardless of if an animal was taken or not. Cards will be distributed with the permission slips. Failure to comply with these requirements will disqualify the hunter from future hunts.
Questions?
Please call 507-328-7070.