IDNR Announces State Sites Opening for Youth Waterfowl Hunting Seasons

Youth Hunt Weekends Precede Start of Regular Waterfowl Seasons in Each Zone

For more information go here

SPRINGFIELD, IL – A number of Illinois state parks, fish and wildlife areas, conservation areas and recreation areas will be open to youth waterfowl hunting during the 2007 North, Central and South Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunts, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced today.

At most sites, regulations that apply during the regular waterfowl hunting season apply during the Youth Hunt (hunters should check for site-specific regulations, including changes in legal shooting hours). During the Youth Hunt, the bag limits are the same as during regular seasons.

The youth hunt is also open on all private land or waters where a hunter has permission from the landowner or tenant to hunt.

As part of the Youth Hunt, hunters age 15 or younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers as long as they are accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. The accompanying adult cannot hunt these species, but may participate in other open seasons.

Youth hunters must have a hunting license. The youth hunter or his or her accompanying adult must have a valid FOID card. The supervising adult does not need to have a hunting license if they are not hunting other species. Youth hunters age 15 or younger are not required to have a state or federal duck stamp.

All waterfowl hunters, including those participating in the Youth Hunt, are required to register with the Harvest Information Program. In order to register with HIP, hunters will need to have their hunting license number available. Hunters should register for HIP at the license vendor when they buy their hunting license or by calling 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648) or online through the IDNR website at http://dnr.state.il.us.

The lists of state sites to be open during the Youth Waterfowl Hunts in the North, Central and South zones are below.

2007 North Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Oct. 13 -14) - State Sites Open
Chain O’Lakes State Park
Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area (SFWA)
Lake DePue SFWA (Due to low water levels, the blinds on DePue might not be accessible)
Lake Sinnissippi Wildlife Area
Mississippi River Pools (All located in North Zone)
William W. Powers State Recreation Area (SRA)

2007 Central Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Oct. 20 - 21) - State Sites Open
Anderson Lake SFWA
Banner Marsh SFWA
Braidwood Lake SFWA
Clinton Lake SRA
Coffeen Lake SFWA
Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County)
Kankakee River State Park
Marshall SFWA
Marshall SFWA - Sparland Unit
Marshall SFWA - Duck Ranch Unit
Mazonia SFWA
Meredosia Lake
Mississippi River Pools (All located in Central Zone)
Momence Wetlands State Natural Area (SNA)
Pekin Lake SFWA
Ray Norbut SFWA
Rice Lake SFWA
Sanganois SFWA
Sangchris Lake State Park
Shelbyville SFWA
Spring Lake SFWA
Starved Rock State Park
Weinberg-King State Park - Spunky Bottoms Unit
Woodford SFWA

2007 South Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Nov. 10 - 11) - State Sites Open
Carlyle Lake SFWA
Cache River SNA
Cypress Pond SNA
Deer Pond SNA
Kaskaskia SFWA
Kinkaid Lake SFWA
Horseshoe Lake SFWA (Alexander County)
Mermet Lake SFWA
Mississippi River Pools (All located in South Zone)
Pyramid State Park
Rend Lake SFWA
Sielbeck Forest SNA
Union County SFWA

For more information on Illinois waterfowl seasons, check the IDNR Digest of Waterfowl Hunting Regulations 2007-08, which is available at IDNR offices and online through the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/
waterfowl/07_08_waterfowl_digest.pdf