Waterfowl blind drawing dates announced

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced dates for its summer waterfowl blind drawings at public hunting areas.

Duck and goose hunters must register in person and must be present at the drawings.

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.

Applicants must be 16-years-old at the time of the drawing and have a hunting license and state waterfowl stamp.

A current Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card also is required.

2011 blind drawing schedule:
June 5 (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