Illinois waterfowl blind drawings sites and schedule released for 2026 season

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.

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.

The 2026 blind drawing schedule follows:

Saturday, July 25 - Blinds allocated for one year

Chain O' Lakes State Park and Redwing Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area, Lake County: Registration for both sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oak Point day-use area, one-fifth mile east of the Fox River on the south side of Illinois Route 173. Hunters may register for only one of the two sites.

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.

Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, DeKalb County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park office, 4201 Shabbona Grove Road, Shabbona. Directions: Travel 2½ miles south of Shabbona on Shabbona Road, turn east on Shabbona Grove Road and continue one-half mile. The office is on the left side of the road.

Sinnissippi Lake, Whiteside County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Harry Oppold Marina on Stouffer Road on the east edge of Sterling.

William W. Powers State Recreation Area, Cook County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the outdoor classroom near the entrance to the visitor center at 126th Street and Avenue O in Chicago.

Sunday, July 26 - Blinds allocated for one year

Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Fulton County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the area check station, 13½ miles southwest of Havana on Illinois Route 100.

Clear Lake, Mason County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sand Ridge State Forest headquarters, 25847 County Road 2300 N., Topeka. Follow signs from Manito or Forest City.

Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area, Bureau County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Park, three-fourths mile west of DePue on Illinois Route 29.

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area, including the Sparland Unit, Marshall County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the area check station, five miles south of Lacon on Illinois Route 26.

Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Fulton County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the area check station, three miles south of Banner on Route 24.

Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area, Cass and Mason counties: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the east side of the maintenance building, two miles north of Chandlerville on Illinois Route 78. Follow signs to Sanganois.

Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Tazewell County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the south park office area, two miles north of Manito on County Road 16 and eight miles west and south on Spring Lake Road. Due to construction, participants should use County Road 200 E. on the east side of the drawing location. The south lake at Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area will be closed to waterfowl hunting during the 2026-27 season. The lake will be dewatered for rehabilitation and habitat improvement work. Additional improvements include road, bridge, water-control structure and parking lot repairs. Blinds 1-12 and 14 are located on the south lake and will not be accessible during the season.

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.

Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area, Woodford County: Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Johnson's Grove Park, 500 block of Park Street, Lacon.

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

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