Drawings to be held for public hunting area waterfowl blind sites

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.

To participate in a drawing, applicants must present a 2008 or 2009 Illinois hunting or combination sportsman’s license and a 2008 or 2009 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. Participants should save their 2008 waterfowl stamps in case they have difficulty purchasing new stamps.

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 dnr.state.il.us, or by calling 1-888-6-PERMIT (673-7648).

Registrants must also possess a current Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card from the Illinois State Police. 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 2008 or 2009 non-resident hunting license for Illinois and a 2008 or 2009 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.

The schedule for 2009 blind drawings is listed below:

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2009 (Blinds allocated for one year)

Chain O’ Lakes State Park and Redwing Slough/Deer Lake 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 Conservation 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 2.5 miles south of Shabbona on Shabbona Road, turn east on Shabbona Grove Road and go one-half 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 Fish and Wildlife Area, Cook County:
Registration 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the boat launch, 126th St. and Ave. 0, Chicago.

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2009 (Blinds allocated for one year)

Anderson Lake Conservation Area, Fulton County:
Registration 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the area check station, 20 miles south of Havana on Illinois Route 100.

Clear Lake, Mason County:
Registration 10a.m. – 2 p.m. at Sand Ridge State Forest Headquarters.  Located at 25799E  CTY. RD.  2300N,  Forest City, Illinois 61532.  Phone 309.597.2212.  Follow the signs from Manito or Forest City, Illinois.

Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area, Bureau County:
Registration from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Oak Grove park, 3/4 miles west of DePue on Illinois Route 29.

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area including the Sparland Unit, Marshall County:
Registration from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the area check station, five miles south of Lacon on Illinois Route 26.

Meredosia Bay in Morgan and Cass Counties:
Registration noon – 2 p.m. at the USFWS shed on the east side of the bay approximately one-half mile north of Meredosia (2227 Beech Road).

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 Rt. 24.

Sanganois Conservation 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 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the South Park office area, two miles north of Manito on County Road 16 (Manito Road) and eight miles west and south on Spring Lake Road.

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 5.5 miles west of Illinois Route 23 in South Ottawa.

Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area, Woodford County:
Registration from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the area check station, 5.5 miles north of Spring Bay on Illinois Route 26.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2009 (Blinds allocated for two years)

Mississippi River Pool 16:
Registration from 10am-2pm at Loud Thunder Forest Preserve five miles west of Andalusia.

Mississippi River Pool 17:
Registration from 10am-2pm at New Boston City Park.

Mississippi River Pool 18:
Registration from 10am-2pm at Delabar State Park, two miles north of Oquawka.

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

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lt. Eric Bumgarner, 217-785-8407
IDNR Office of Law Enforcement
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
eric.bumgarner@Illinois.gov