Controlled hunting opportunities

Olmsted County Parks and Trails provides 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 22, 2025 through November 30, 2025.
• 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 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 and closed Friday, September 19, 2025 at 4 p.m.
• Drawing was held on Monday, September 22, 2025 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.

2025 lottery deer hunt at Chester Woods press release

Questions? 
Please call 507-328-7070.

Disabled Veterans (Shotgun) Deer Hunt (Chester Woods)

• The Tom Eckdahl Memorial DAV Hunt at Chester Woods Park takes place over the Veterans Day holiday, typically Thursday-Sunday. The 2025 hunt will take place from November 13 through November 16, 2025.
• 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 Park)

• The DAV hunt at Oxbow Park takes place from October through December. The 2025 hunt will take place from October 31 through November 30, 2025.
• 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.