Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt

Service-Connected Disabled Veterans Bow Deer Hunt 
October 26 - November 26
Oxbow Park

Oxbow Park will grant permission to a limited number of hunters to bow hunt within the park from October 26 through November 26, 2018. All successful applicants will be required to obtain one deer harvest tag and a bonus tag. 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 four-point restrictions. Permits will be reserved for service-connected, disabled veterans and will be granted through the Veteran Service Office.

Registration forms for the drawing may be obtained at the Olmsted County Veteran Service Office located at 2100 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200 in Rochester, Minnesota or by printing off the application below or by calling 507 328-6355.

Registration for Disabled Veteran Bow Deer Hunt (196 KB)

Completed registration forms will be accepted until 3:00 PM on Tuesday, September 4th at the Veteran Service Office located at 2100 Campus Drive SE, Ste 200 in Rochester.

The drawing will be held on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mail. 

Successful applicants must provide picture identification, bow hunting competency certification, one 2018 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.

Service-Connected Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt
November 8 - November 11
Chester Woods Park

Registration opened Friday, August 31, 2018

Chester Woods Park will grant permission to a limited number of hunters to hunt within the park from November 8-11, 2018 during the normal shotgun season for Zone 3A.
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.

Registration forms for the drawing may be obtained at the Olmsted County Veteran Service Office, 2100 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200, Rochester, Minnesota 55904 or by printing off the application below or by calling 507-328-6355.

Registration for Disabled Veteran Deer Hunt (105 KB)

The determination will be held on Monday, October 1, 2018 and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mail or email, per preference. Successful applicants must provide picture identification, a 2018 deer hunting license, and at least one 2018 bonus harvest tag when picking up their permission slips at the evening banquet on November 7th at Chester Woods, or the morning of the hunt. You cannot be in the Park hunting without your permission slip.

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 2018 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. A change in the DNR regulation requires a buck must have at least 4-points on one side to be legal.
11. Participants must adhere to the MN State guidelines for registering deer.
12. These rules will be enforced without exception!