IDNR Announces Schedule of Waterfowl Blind Site Drawings

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Waterfowl hunters are encouraged to mark their calendars for upcoming waterfowl hunting blind site random drawings to be held at several public hunting areas in Illinois this summer.

Duck and goose hunters must register in person for waterfowl blind site drawings and must be present at the drawing – held at each location designated below immediately after the registration period – to claim their blind sites. Mail-in registrations are not accepted. Blind allocations are good for one year, except on the Mississippi River, Horseshoe Lake State Park in Madison County and Meredosia Lake in Morgan and Cass Counties.

To participate in a drawing, applicants must present a 2010 or 2011 Illinois hunting or sportsman combination license and a 2010 or 2011 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp at the time they register, unless exempted by law. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by the date of the drawing.

Applicants needing to purchase new licenses and stamps should do so prior to the drawing. Most blind drawing locations will not have license sales available. Licenses and stamps are available at any DNR Direct license and permit vendor, through the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov, or by calling 1-888-6-PERMIT (1-888-673-7648).

Registrants must also possess a current Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card from the Illinois State Police unless exempted by law. Expired FOID cards are not acceptable. Applicants under the age of 21 do not need a FOID card if they are accompanied by an adult who has one. For those without a FOID card in their possession, law enforcement officers will not be able to validate FOID card status on the day of the drawing.

Also, in order to be an eligible applicant for the drawing, the participant must not at the time of the drawing have his or her hunting privileges suspended or revoked by the IDNR or any other jurisdiction. Out-of-state residents must have a 2010 or 2011 non-resident hunting license for Illinois and a 2010 or 2011 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.

The schedule for 2011 blind drawings is listed below:

SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2011 (Blinds allocated for three years)

• Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County): registration 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at shelter #1 directly north of the park office (park office is 1½ miles south of Pontoon Beach on Highway 111).
• Mississippi River Area (Pools 25 and 26):
  • Glades/12 mile, Fuller Lake, Helmbold Slough, and Piasa Island: registration 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Alton Wood River Sportsman's Club, 3109 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey.
  • Godar Diamond, Hurricane/Michael, Red's Landing, Rip Rap Landing: registration 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Calhoun County fairgrounds, north of Hardin on Route 100.
  • Batchtown and nearby Mississippi River blinds: registration 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Batchtown Ball Diamond, Batchtown.
  • Stump Lake, Calhoun Point and Illinois River blinds: registration 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the entrance to Camp Potowatomi located in the upper area of Pere Marquette State Park.

SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011 (Blinds allocated for two years)

• Mississippi River Pool 21: registration 10 a.m. - noon at the Twin Oaks Sportsman's Club, 2707 Bonansinga Dr., Quincy.
• Mississippi River Pool 22: registration 10 a.m. - noon at the South Side Boat Club, 640 S. Front St., Quincy.
• Mississippi River Pool 24 and Meredosia Bay (Illinois River) in Morgan and Cass Counties: registration 10 a.m. - noon at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office, Route 106 West, Pittsfield.
• Meredosia Lake in Morgan and Cass Counties: registration 10 a.m. – noon at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office, Route 106 West, Pittsfield.

SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2011 (Blinds allocated for one year)

• Chain O' Lakes State Park and Redwing Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area, Lake County: registration for both sites 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Oak Point day use area, 1/5 mile east of the Fox River on the south side of Illinois Route 173. Hunters will be allowed to register for only one of the two sites.
• Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area, Will County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the site office, two miles northwest of Wilmington off exit 241 on Interstate 55.
• Kankakee River State Park and Momence Wetlands, Kankakee and Will Counties: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for both sites at the Kankakee River State Park office, five miles northwest of Bourbonnais on Illinois Route 102. Hunters will be allowed to register for only one of the two sites.
• Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area, Grundy County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the site office just off Illinois Route 53, two miles southeast of Braceville.
• Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, DeKalb County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the park office. Directions - go 2½ miles south of Shabbona on Shabbona Road, turn east on Shabbona Grove Road and go ½ mile (office is on left side of the road).
• Sinnissippi Lake, Whiteside County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Harry Oppold Marina, on Stouffer Road on the east edge of Sterling.
• William Powers State Recreation Area, Cook County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the boat launch, 126th St. and Ave. 0, Chicago.

SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2011 (Blinds allocated for one year)

• Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Fulton County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the area check station, 13½ miles southwest of Havana on Illinois Route 100.
• Clear Lake, Mason County: registration 10a.m. - 2 p.m. at Sand Ridge State Forest Headquarters, 25799E CTY RD. 2300N, Forest City. Phone (309) 597-2212. Follow the signs from Manito or Forest City.
• Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area, Bureau County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Park, ¾ miles west of DePue on Illinois Route 29.
• Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area including the Sparland Unit, Marshall County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the area check station, five miles south of Lacon on Illinois Route 26.
• Meredosia Lake in Morgan and Cass Counties: The draw for this hunt unit has been moved to Sunday, July 17 at the IDNR office in Pittsfield. Allocation period has been changed to two years. See above for more details.
• Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Fulton County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the area check station, three miles south of Banner on Route 24.
• Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area, Cass and Mason Counties: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. On the east side of the maintenance building, two miles north of Chandlerville on Illinois Route 78 (follow the signs to Sanganois).
• Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Tazewell County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the south park office area, two miles north of Manito on County Rd. 16 (Manito Rd.) and eight miles west and south on Spring Lake Rd.
• Starved Rock State Park, LaSalle County: registration 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the Point Shelter day use area on Illinois Route 71, about four miles east of Illinois Route 178 or 5½ miles west of Illinois Route 23 in South Ottawa.
• Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area, Woodford County: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the area check station, 5½ miles north of Spring Bay on Illinois Route 26.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2011 (Blinds allocated for two years)

• Mississippi River Pool 16: Registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, 19408 Loud Thunder Rd., Illinois City.
• Mississippi River Pool 17: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at New Boston City Park.
• Mississippi River Pool 18: registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Delabar State Park, two miles north of Oquawka.

Additional hunting information and maps on the above sites can be accessed at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/hunter_fact_sheet/index.htm