From the Department of Natural Resources:
Illinois waterfowl blind drawings sites and schedule released for 2025 season
SPRINGFIELD – Waterfowl hunters should mark their calendars for upcoming waterfowl blind drawings at several public hunting areas in Illinois.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will host traditional blind drawings at various sites for this year. Participants are advised to follow any site-specific drawing procedures.
Waterfowl hunters must register in person for blind site drawings and must be present at the drawing held at each location designated below 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, all applicants must present a 2024 or 2025 regular Illinois hunting license; a 2024 or 2025 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. No apprentice licenses and no youth licenses will be accepted unless the youth license holder also presents hunter safety certification.
Applicants needing to purchase 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 or through IDNR’s exploremoreil.com website.
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, to be an eligible applicant for the drawing, participants must not have their hunting privileges suspended or revoked by IDNR or any other jurisdiction at the time of the drawing. Out-of-state residents must have an annual 2024 or 2025 non-resident hunting license for Illinois and a 2024 or 2025 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp. Five-day licenses will not be accepted.
Individuals with a disability precluding them from hunting from a waterfowl blind may be accommodated through the issuance of a standing vehicle permit from IDNR. Go online for a standing vehicle permit application.
The schedule for local 2025 blind drawings follows:
Saturday, July 26 – Blinds allocated for one year
- Chain O’ Lakes State Park and Redwing Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area, Lake County: Registration for both sites 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Oak Point day-use area, just east of the Fox River on the south side of Illinois 173. Hunters will be allowed to register for only one of the two sites.
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Information about other sites throughout Illinois can be found here.
