Controlled hunting opportunities

Olmsted County Parks and Trails provide limited, controlled hunting opportunities for both veterans and the general public at Chester Woods Park and Oxbow Park. Select an event below to learn more about the opportunities available and be sure to review the regulations for each event before participating.

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 21, 2026, through November 29, 2026.
• Chester Woods Park is closed to the general public during the hunt.
• 80 hunters were selected by a lottery drawing to help harvest a sufficient number of animals to keep the herd healthy and manageable, along with eight alternates.
• Four permits are reserved for a physically disabled hunter and one assistant and distributed by Olmsted County staff. A doctor's note is required. Please contact our office at 507-328-7070 for this special request.
• Registration opened at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and closed Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 4 p.m.
• Drawing was held on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 8 a.m. at Public Works Service Center located at 1188 50th Street SE, Rochester, MN. Following the lottery drawing, all successful and unsuccessful applicants were notified via email and/or mail of their lottery outcome, and winners are provided with information on when to pick up permission packets.
• 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 packet.
• 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 hunters must return the pre-addressed postcard provided in their packet by mail within five days following the hunt, regardless of whether an animal was taken or not for our reporting purposes. Failure to comply with these requirements will disqualify the hunter from future hunts.

Questions? 
Please call 507-328-7070.