FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2005

IDNR Announces Reservation System for 2005 Controlled Pheasant Hunting Permits

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Permit reservations for controlled pheasant hunting at nine Illinois Department of Natural Resources sites are available through an internet-based reservation system again this year. The nine sites are the Green River State Wildlife Area in Lee County, the Des Plaines Conservation Area in Will County, Kankakee River State Park in Kankakee County, the Iroquois County State Wildlife Area, Moraine View State Recreation Area in McLean County, Sand Ridge State Forest in Mason County, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County, Eldon Hazlet State Park in Clinton County, and Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park in Jefferson and Franklin Counties.

The controlled pheasant hunting website, developed by the IDNR and LRS Webservices of Springfield (www.LRSIDNRPermits.com), is available to view application instructions, controlled pheasant hunting sites, season dates and regulations and to submit permit reservations.

Three two-week random drawing periods for permit reservations are scheduled. The first drawing period open from 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 1 through midnight on Aug. 14 will be available to Illinois residents only. The second drawing from 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 15 through midnight on Aug. 28 will be available to Illinois residents not entered in the first drawing, Illinois residents who are unsuccessful in the first drawing, and to non-residents. The third drawing from 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 29 through midnight on Sept. 11 will be available to residents and non-residents who want a second permit.

During the first two drawing periods, hunters will be allowed to acquire only one permit for one date at one site. During the third drawing period, hunters successful in either of the first two drawings will be able to acquire a second permit. Hunters are reminded not to submit more than one permit reservation in any of the drawings. Loss of all permit reservations occurs when hunters enter more than one in a drawing.

After the third drawing period, hunters will be able to acquire additional permits beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 until permit quotas are reached or until two days prior to any hunt date, whichever occurs first. Hunters cannot have two permits for the same day.

Hunters are required to pay for permits in advance through the secure Internet registration system, using a credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa). DNR Controlled pheasant hunting permits are $15. A prorated transaction fee of from $2.25 to $3.75 dependent on the number of reservations requested will be assessed for each successful transaction. Credit cards will be billed for hunters successful in the drawings. There continue to be no fees for the Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt. Dates for the youth pheasant hunt vary by location and more information is available on the controlled pheasant hunting website.

The application requires the permit holder’s name, complete address, e-mail address if available, birth date, social security number, hunting site name, hunt date(s), number of partners, along with credit card type, number, and expiration date.

Hunters will be allowed to make permit reservations for themselves and up to three partners at all Department-operated sites where reservations are available. The permit holder must be present and hunting on the hunt date for the partners to hunt. Only permit holder information and the number of partners is required at the time the permit reservation is submitted. Partner information will be needed only on the hunt date at the hunting site. Credit cards will be billed for the permit holder and the number of partners specified.

Hunters providing e-mail addresses will be sent an e-mail message telling them whether they were successful or unsuccessful at the conclusion of the drawing periods. Hunters without e-mail addresses will be able to determine the status of their permit reservation by re-accessing the controlled pheasant hunting reservation system and looking-up the status of their application.

Interested hunters without computers are encouraged to gain access to the controlled pheasant hunting reservation system by checking with extended family or friends or by using a computer at their local public library. Completing a permit reservation on the internet should take less than five minutes.

Each of the Department-operated controlled pheasant hunting sites involved in the reservation system will continue to have a portion of their hunter quota allocated to standby hunters. Standby hunters acquire permits and pay permit fees at the site hunter check station on the day of the hunt. Standby permits are generally not available for the Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt.

Four other controlled pheasant hunting sites are operated by a concessionaire: Chain O’Lakes State Park in Lake County, Silver Springs State Park in Kendall County, Ramsey Lake State Park in Fayette County, and Horseshoe Lake State Park in Madison County. Information about controlled pheasant hunting at these sites is available on the controlled pheasant hunting web site (http://www.LRSIDNRPermits.com).

In addition, controlled pheasant hunting at Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park in Henry County is available through a daily drawing system at the park. Hunters must check in for the drawing before 8:30 a.m. each hunting day. Hunting permits at Johnson-Sauk Trail are allocated to hunters successful in the drawing and permit fees are paid at the site’s hunter check station.

For more details, and for information on other controlled pheasant hunting opportunities in Illinois, check the controlled pheasant hunting web site at http://www.LRSIDNRPermits.com.

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