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.

Annual Lottery (Shotgun or Archery) Deer Hunt (Chester Woods)

• 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.

Disabled Veterans (Shotgun) Deer Hunt (Chester Woods)

• The DAV Hunt at Chester Woods Park takes place over the Veterans Day holiday typically Thursday-Sunday. The 2024 hunt will take place November 14 through November 17, 2024.
• Chester Woods Park is closed to the general public during the hunt.
• Applicant must be a service-connected disabled veteran. Parties of up to two may register on a single form.
• You may submit an application to the Chester Woods DAV hunt or the Oxbow Park DAV hunt, but not both.
• 30 successful applicants will be issued a written permission slip allowing them to hunt within the park. Picture identification, a current year's deer license, and at least one disease management harvest tag must be provided when picking up the permission slip.

Disabled Veterans (Archery) Deer Hunt (Oxbow)

• The DAV hunt at Oxbow Park takes place from October through December. The 2024 hunt will take place from November 1 through December 1, 2024.
• Oxbow Park remains open during the hunt. Please use caution while on trails.
• Applicant must be a service-connected disabled veteran.
• You may submit an application to the Chester Woods DAV hunt or the Oxbow Park DAV hunt, but not both.
• 15 successful applicants will be issued a written permission slip allowing them to hunt within the park. Picture identification, a current year's deer license, and at least one disease management harvest tag must be provided when picking up the permission slip.

Regulations

All Minnesota DNR game and hunting laws apply.  

Successful applicants may install one deer blind or elevated deer stand on park property with the following restrictions:

1. All stands and blinds must be of a design where no invasive spikes, foot pegs, nails or any other climbing aid is needed for installation. Further, any tree utilized for the placement of a stand may not be altered in any way.
2. Ground blinds are required to have a blaze orange material that is at least 144 square inches (12x12 inches) on each side of the blind.
3. The creation of shooting lanes to facilitate the effectiveness of the elevated stand or blind is strictly prohibited. No shooting lanes will be tolerated on the anchor tree, or on any other trees, shrubs or vegetation within the hunting area.
4. Failure to comply with the above regulations will lead to the confiscation of illegal stands or blinds and may include the issuance of a ticket for violating county park regulations.

Note: Placement of the blinds can be done one day prior to the beginning of hunt. No stands or blinds will be allowed to be placed prior. Complete rules and regulations are provided to all participants prior to the hunt.