SPRINGFIELD – 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 in July and August. Since the state has entered Phase 5, the Department intends to hold traditional blind drawings at all sites not already drawn, with current guidance from the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health regarding use of face coverings and social distancing being observed. Participants are also reminded to follow any site-specific drawing procedures.

Duck and goose hunters must register in person for waterfowl blind site drawings and must be present at the drawing held at each designated location immediately after the registration period to claim their blind sites. Mail-in or pre-registrations are not accepted. Blind allocations for these sites are good for one or two years, as listed below.

To participate in a drawing, all applicants must present a 2020 or 2021 regular Illinois hunting license (no apprentice license and no youth license unless the youth license holder also presents hunter safety certification), a 2020 or 2021 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp at the time they register, unless exempted by law, and valid photo identification. 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 IDNR license and permit vendor, through the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov or by calling 1-866-716-6550.

Registrants are no longer required to possess a valid Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card from the Illinois State Police to participate in blind drawings. Also, in order to be an eligible applicant for the drawing, the participant must not have his or her hunting privileges suspended or revoked by the IDNR or any other jurisdiction at the time of the drawing. Out-of-state residents must have an annual (5-day licenses not accepted) 2020 or 2021 non-resident hunting license for Illinois and a 2020 or 2021 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.

An individual with a disability precluding him/her from hunting from a waterfowl blind may be accommodated through issuance of a Standing Vehicle Permit from IDNR.

The schedule for 2021 blind drawings is listed below:

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

(Blinds allocated for one year)

• 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.

SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021

(Blinds allocated for one year)

• Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area, Bureau County: Registration: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Park, ¾ mile west of DePue on Illinois Route 29.
• Starved Rock State Park, LaSalle County: Registration 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Buffalo Rock State Park (near the large picnic shelter area). Three miles west of Ottawa on Dee Bennett Road.

Additional hunting information and maps on the above sites can be accessed at https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/FactSheets/Pages/default.aspx