Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt

Service-Connected Disabled Veterans Bow Deer Hunt 
October 25 - December 1
Oxbow Park

Oxbow Park will grant permission to a limited number of hunters to bow hunt within the park from October 25 through December 1, 2019. All successful applicants will be required to obtain one deer harvest tag and a bonus tag for zone 343. We will be running an earn a buck style bow hunt. With a successful harvest of an antlerless deer, you will be allowed to harvest a buck within the DNR restrictions. Permits will be reserved for service-connected, disabled veterans and will be granted through the Veteran Service Office.

The drawing will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mail. 

Successful applicants must provide picture identification, bow hunting competency certification, one 2019 license harvest tag and a bonus tag when picking up permission slips at the Public Works Department located at 2122 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200. You cannot be in the park hunting without your permission slip. Bow hunting competency certification must be obtained at your local archery ranges.

If you hunt at Oxbow you are not eligible for the Chester Woods hunt, you must choose which application you want to submit. Bow hunting competency certification must be obtained at your local archery range.

Oxbow Park Deer Bow Hunter Registration Form (69 KB PDF)

Service-Connected Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt
November 14 - November 17
Chester Woods Park

Chester Woods Park will grant permission to a limited number of hunters to hunt within the park from November 14-17, 2019 during the normal shotgun season for Zone 643.
All successful applicants will be required to obtain one or more bonus harvest tags allowing them to take additional antlerless deer. Permits will be reserved for service-connected, disabled veterans and will be granted through the Veteran Service Office.

The determination will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mail or email, per preference. Successful applicants must provide picture identification, a 2019 deer hunting license, and at least one 2019 bonus harvest tag when picking up their permission slips at the evening banquet on November 13th at Chester Woods, or the morning of the hunt. You cannot be in the Park hunting without your permission slip. If you hunt at Chester Woods you are not eligible for the Oxbow Bow Hunt, you must choose which application you want to submit.

Chester Woods Park Deer Hunter Registration Form (26 KB PDF)

The following rules will apply to the hunt:

1. Parties of up to three may register on a single form. The applicant must be a service-connected disabled veteran. An applicant’s name can only appear on one application.
2. Successful applicants will be issued a written permission slip allowing them to hunt within the park. Picture identification and 2019 deer license and bonus harvest tag must be provided when picking up the permission slip.
3. All hunters must carry picture identification, hunting license, and permission slip while in the park.
4. The park will be closed to the general public during the hunt.
5. No one without a valid permission slip will be allowed within the park for any reason.
6. All trash must be removed.
7. Conservation officers will be patrolling the park and violators will be prosecuted.
8. Archers may hunt during the same dates and under the same rules.
9. The purpose of this hunt is to harvest sufficient numbers to keep the Chester Woods herd healthy and manageable. It may or may not be repeated in subsequent years.
10. There are several changes to DNR regulations in 2019. A change in the DNR regulation does not requires a buck having at least 4-points on one side to be legal. Must still abide by antler size of 3 inches to be considered a buck. All deer taken during the hunt must be submitted for CWD testing, SW Unit of the Gordon Yeager Center (right by Olmsted County Recycling Center). Phone in registration required prior to movement. Carcass cannot be moved outside of management zone until testing is complete, cannot take home etc. Deer hunting in this zone allows you to take a limitless number of antlerless deer with the required bonus/disease management tags. Please read the DNR regulations so you know what the laws are.
11. Must use main tag for a buck.
12. Participants must adhere to the MN State guidelines for registering deer.
13. Guns must always be in a case in and out of park when transporting, whether in a vehickle or in gator.
14. These rules will be enforced without exception!