Illinois Department of Natural Resources Gives FYI to Lake DePue Waterfowl Hunters

The unofficial start to waterfowl season is just around the corner and whether you'll be shooting clays, hitting the fields for some dove or just getting the grill ready for a long day at blind drawings, it's coming.  Are you attending the drawing at Lake DePue?  If so, this post is for you!  The IDNR is passing along an FYI to those of you who are hunting or plan to hunt Lake DePue State Fish and Wildife Area.  "Due to infrastructure damage at the site, boat access to waterfowl blinds cannot be guaranteed for the 2018 - 2019 waterfowl season".   Interested in attending another drawing?  Check out the 2018 Waterfowl Blind Drawings across the state.

IDNR Alerts Hunters to Ongoing Maintenance Issues at Lake DePue

Access to waterfowl blind sites may not be possible

There's nothing like enjoying a sunrise in the waterfowl blind with some coffee.

Form the Press Office of the IDNR  – Waterfowl hunters planning to attend the annual Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area duck blind drawing on July 29 should be aware that due to infrastructure damage at the site, boat access to waterfowl blind locations cannot be guaranteed for the 2018-2019 waterfowl season. Water levels in the site’s Spring Lake will rise and fall with the level of the Illinois River, which may create anywhere from mudflat to deeply flooded conditions at blind sites.

Hunters concerned about access to blind locations should consider attending a blind drawing at another IDNR site. The full schedule of dates and locations of blind drawings can be found here .

Specific questions should be directed to the Lake DePue SFWA office at (815) 447-2353.

Duck and goose hunters must register in person for waterfowl blind site drawings and must be
present at the drawing – held at designated locations immediately after the registration period –to claim their blind sites. Mail-in registrations are not accepted. Unless otherwise stated, blind allocations for these sites are good for one year.

To participate in a drawing, all applicants must present a 2017 or 2018 regular Illinois hunting license (no apprentice or youth license), a 2017 or 2018 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 DNR Direct 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. 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) 2017 or 2018 non-resident hunting license for Illinois and a 2017 or 2018 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.

Note: The photo ID requirement for all applicants was a new rule for last year’s drawings.  Additional hunting information and maps on the above sites can be accessed at https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/FactSheets/Pages/default.aspx