IDNR Announces State and Federal Sites to be Open for Youth Waterfowl Hunting Seasons

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 2012 North Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt, Central Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt, South Central Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt and South Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced today.  Federal sites that fall under the IDNR waterfowl administrative rule that will be open for the youth seasons are also listed below.

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.

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 have 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 www.dnr.illinois.gov.
     
The lists of state and federal sites to be open during the Youth Waterfowl Hunts in the North, Central, South Central and South zones are below.

2012 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
Sinnissippi Lake Wildlife Area
Mississippi River Pools (All located in North Zone)
WilliamW. Powers State Recreation Area (SRA)

2012 Central Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Oct. 20-21) – State and Federal Sites Open
Anderson Lake SFWA
Banner Marsh SFWA
Braidwood Lake SFWA
Clinton Lake SRA
Coffeen Lake SFWA
Freeman Mine
Henderson Creek SFWA
Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County)
Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) (Gabaret, Mosenthein, Chouteau Island Units)
Kankakee River State Park
Marshall SFWA
Marshall SFWA - Sparland Unit
Marshall SFWA - Duck Ranch Unit
Mazonia SFWA
Meredosia Lake
Mississippi River Area (MRA) - All sites managed by MRA
Mississippi River Pools (All located in Central Zone)
Momence Wetlands State Natural Area (SNA)
Pekin Lake SFWA
Quincy Bay
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

2012 South Central Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Nov.3-4) - State and Federal Sites Open
Campbell Pond SHA
Carlyle Lake SFWA
Kaskaskia SFWA
Kinkaid Lake SFWA
Mississippi River Pools (All located in South Central Zone)
Oakwood Bottoms
Pyramid SRA (Captain, Denmark, Galum, and East Conant Units)
Rend Lake Project Land and Waters
Ten Mile Creek SFWA

2012 South Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Nov. 10-11) – State and Federal Sites Open
Cache River SNA
Cape Bend SFWA
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Cypress Pond SNA
Deer Pond SNA
Devil’s Island Wildlife Management Area
Dog Island Wildlife Management Area
Horseshoe Lake SFWA (Alexander County)
Mermet Lake SFWA
Mississippi River
Peabody River King SFWA
Saline County SFWA
Sielbeck Forest SNA
Union County SFWA

For more information on Illinois waterfowl seasons, check the IDNR Digest of Waterfowl Hunting Regulations 2012 -13, which will available at IDNR offices and online through the IDNR web site at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/DigestWaterfowlHuntingRegulations.pdf

For hunter fact sheets online go to http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/hunter_fact_sheet/index.htm