Prairie State Wire

Waterfowl hunters in Illinois are advised to note the schedule for upcoming waterfowl blind drawings at various public hunting areas. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will conduct traditional blind drawings at multiple locations this year. Participants must adhere to site-specific procedures.

Hunters must register in person and be present at the designated drawing location immediately after the registration period to claim their blind sites. Mail-in or pre-registrations are not accepted, and blind allocations are valid for one year.

To participate, applicants must present a 2023 or 2024 regular Illinois hunting license, a 2023 or 2024 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (unless exempted by law), and valid photo identification. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by the date of the drawing. Apprentice licenses and youth licenses will only be accepted if accompanied by hunter safety certification.

Applicants should purchase necessary licenses and stamps prior to the drawing, as most locations will not offer on-site sales. These can be obtained from any IDNR license vendor or through the IDNR website.

A valid Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card is no longer required for participation in blind drawings. Eligible applicants must not have suspended or revoked hunting privileges by IDNR or any other jurisdiction at the time of the drawing. Out-of-state residents need an annual 2023 or 2024 non-resident hunting license for Illinois and a 2023 or 2024 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp; five-day licenses are not accepted.

Individuals with disabilities that prevent them from using a waterfowl blind may apply for a Standing Vehicle Permit from IDNR online.

The schedule for 2024 blind drawings is as follows:

**Saturday, July 27, 2024**

- Chain O' Lakes State Park and Redwing Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area, Lake County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area, Will County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Kankakee River State Park and Momence Wetlands, Kankakee and Will Counties: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area, Grundy County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, DeKalb County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Sinnissippi Lake, Whiteside County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- William Powers State Recreation Area, Cook County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

**Sunday, July28 ,2024**

- Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area,Fulton County :Registration formoments .

ClearLake,MasonCounty :Registrationfrom Sand RidgeState Forest headquarters .

Lake DePueStateFishandWildlifeArea,BureauCounty :RegistrationatOakGrovePark .

MarshallStateFishandWildlifeArea ,includingtheSparlandUnit MarshallCounty :Registrationattheareacheckstation .

RiceLakeStateFishandWildlifeArea FultonCounty :Registrationattheareacheckstation .

SanganoisStateFishandWildlifeArea CassandMasoncounties :

SpringLakeStateFishandWildlifeAreaandPekinLakeStateFishandWildlifeArea TazewellCounty :

StarvedRockStatePark LasalleCounty :

WoodfordStateFishandWildlifeArea WoodfordCounty :

Further information on hunting sites can be accessed online.