Prairie State Wire

Waterfowl hunters in Illinois should prepare for the upcoming waterfowl blind drawings scheduled at various public hunting areas across the state. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will conduct these traditional blind drawings, requiring participants to adhere to specific procedures set for each site.

Hunters must register in person and be present at the drawing location immediately after registration to claim their blind sites. The allocations are valid for one year, and mail-in or pre-registrations are not accepted. To participate, applicants need a 2024 or 2025 regular Illinois hunting license, a 2024 or 2025 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. Youth licenses are only accepted if accompanied by hunter safety certification.

Licenses and stamps should be purchased prior to the event as most locations will not offer sales on-site. These can be obtained from any IDNR vendor or through their website exploremoreil.com.

Registrants no longer need an Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification card from the Illinois State Police to take part in the drawings. Eligibility requires that participants have no suspended or revoked hunting privileges by IDNR or any other jurisdiction at the time of the drawing. Out-of-state residents require an annual non-resident hunting license for Illinois along with a migratory stamp; five-day licenses are not permitted.

For those with disabilities preventing them from using a waterfowl blind, IDNR offers standing vehicle permits which can be applied for online.

The schedule begins on Sunday, July 20th with blinds allocated for two years at Mississippi River Pool 21 and Pool 22 in Adams County and Mississippi River Pool 24 in Pike County. On Saturday, July 26th, blinds allocated for one year will include locations such as Chain O' Lakes State Park in Lake County and Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area in Will County among others.

Additional sites across various counties have been listed with specific dates for registration throughout late July into early August. For more information on these events or additional resources such as maps, hunters can visit IDNR's official website.

In its centennial year, IDNR continues its commitment to conservation and service within Illinois since its establishment as the Department of Conservation on July 1st, 1925. Today it manages around 400 sites statewide including parks, historic locations, wildlife areas among others while also overseeing licenses and grants distribution.