SPRINGFIELD – Waterfowl hunters can mark their calendars for upcoming waterfowl hunting blind drawings scheduled at several public hunting areas across Illinois in July and August.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will conduct traditional blind drawings at all sites scheduled this year. Participants should 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 immediately following the registration period to claim blind sites. Mail-in and pre-registrations will not be accepted. Blind allocations for these sites are valid for one or two years, as noted below.

To participate in a drawing, applicants must present a 2025 or 2026 regular Illinois hunting license. Apprentice licenses are not accepted. Youth license holders must also present hunter safety certification. Applicants also must provide a 2025 or 2026 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, unless exempt by law, and a valid photo ID at registration. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by the drawing date.

Applicants needing to purchase licenses or stamps should do so before the drawing. Most drawing locations will not offer license sales. Licenses and stamps are available through IDNR license and permit vendors or online.

Registrants are no longer required to possess a valid Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification card issued by Illinois State Police to participate in blind drawings. Eligible applicants also must not have hunting privileges suspended or revoked by IDNR or another jurisdiction at the time of the drawing.

Out-of-state residents must possess an annual 2025 or 2026 Illinois nonresident hunting license. Five-day licenses will not be accepted. Nonresidents also must possess a 2025 or 2026 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.

Individuals with disabilities preventing them from hunting from a waterfowl blind may qualify for accommodations through issuance of a Standing Vehicle Permit from IDNR. Information and applications are available through the IDNR website.

The local 2026 blind drawing schedule follows:

Saturday, July 25 – Blinds allocated for one year

Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area, Will County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site office, two miles northwest of Wilmington off Exit 241 on Interstate 55.

Kankakee River State Park and Momence Wetlands, Kankakee and Will counties: Registration for both sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kankakee River State Park office, five miles northwest of Bourbonnais on Illinois Route 102. Hunters may register for only one of the two sites.

Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area, Grundy County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site office, 7705 E. Huston Road, Braceville, just off Illinois Route 53, two miles southeast of Braceville.

Sunday, July 26 – Blinds allocated for one year

Starved Rock State Park, LaSalle County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Buffalo Rock State Park’s large picnic shelter area, three miles west of Ottawa on Dee Bennett Road.

Additional hunting information and maps for these sites are available through the hunt planner at HuntIllinois.org.