Illinois Valley Times

Senator Neil Anderson is urging water fowl hunters to get ready for the duck blind lottery at the end of July.

"If you're a waterfowl hunter, mark your calendars for July 30-31st! " Anderson said in a July 7 Facebook post.

In the post, Anderson shared a link to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

"Waterfowl hunting blind drawings will take place July 30-31 at several public hunting areas in Illinois. For a complete list of locations and guidelines, check our news release."

The following guidelines were given by the Department of Natural Resources:

Duck and goose hunters must register in person for waterfowl blind site drawings and must be present during the drawing 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 year. 

To participate in a drawing, applicants must present a 2021 or 2022 regular Illinois hunting license (no apprentice licenses or youth licenses will be accepted unless the youth license holder also presents hunter safety certification); a 2021 or 2022 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp at the time they register, unless exempted by law; and a 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 1-888-6-PERMIT (1-888-673-7648).

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. To be eligible for the drawing, participants must not have had 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 (five-day licenses not accepted) 2021 or 2022 non-resident hunting license for Illinois and a 2021 or 2022 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.