Section 590.15 Duck, Goose and Coot General Hunting Regulations on DepartmentOwned, -Leased and -Managed Sites Listed in Sections 590.40 and 590.50

Section 590

TITLE 17: CONSERVATION

CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

SUBCHAPTER b: FISH AND WILDLIFE

PART 590 DUCK, GOOSE AND COOT HUNTING

SECTION 590.15 DUCK, GOOSE AND COOT GENERAL HUNTING REGULATIONS ON DEPARTMENTOWNED, -LEASED AND -MANAGED SITES LISTED IN SECTIONS 590.40 AND 590.50

Section 590.15  Duck, Goose

and Coot General Hunting Regulations on Department‑Owned, -Leased and

-Managed Sites Listed in Sections 590.40 and 590.50

a)         Definitions

1)         Blind builder – Person who has been assigned a blind site as a

result of the drawing.

2)         Blind partner – Persons chosen by the builder to assist in

construction and maintenance of the blind and to share its blind claiming and

hunting privileges.

3)         Blind registration card – Card issued by the Department and

tacked inside each blind, or carried on the hunter for claiming hunting sites,

listing names and addresses of blind builders.

4)         Blind site – A position within 10 feet of a marked location

where blind must be constructed.  Sites shall be located and marked by the

Department.

5)         Dog Hide – A compartment or area within or attached to a blind

that houses a dog used to retrieve downed waterfowl.

6)         Drawing – Procedure by which blind sites are assigned.

7)         Herbaceous

vegetation – For purposes of this Section, is a plant species that is not a

tree or shrub.

8)         Hunting

party – An individual or group of hunters occupying a single boat, blind, or

hunting site.

9)         Hunting site – A position within 10 feet of a marked location

where temporary blinds may be used.  Sites shall be located and marked by the

Department.  Temporary blinds must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.

10)       Temporary blind – A place of concealment that is removed in its

entirety at the end of each day's hunt, including boat blinds.

11)       Woody vegetation – For the purposes of this Section, is a

species of tree or shrub

ed location

where temporary blinds may be used.  Sites shall be located and marked by the

Department.  Temporary blinds must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.

10)       Temporary blind – A place of concealment that is removed in its

entirety at the end of each day's hunt, including boat blinds.

11)       Woody vegetation – For the purposes of this Section, is a

species of tree or shrub.

b)         Blind Construction

1)         Blinds must be at least 4 feet x 8 feet, but no higher than 14

feet from the water surface at normal pool level, to the top of the shooting

box, sturdy enough to withstand daily usage, and must be maintained in good

condition by blind builders throughout the duck season.  Blinds shall be

numbered and that number shall be visible from the outside of the blinds.

Blinds must be placed within 10 feet of assigned Department marked site.

2)         Blinds built over water must be of platform construction with

the platform constructed above normal water conditions or they may be floating

blinds.  At Mississippi River Pools 25 and 26, river blinds located on the

Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and at Batchtown management area located on the

river side of the closing levee may also be pull-in boat hide blinds.  Boat

hide blind must have a minimum size of 18' x 7.5', be sturdy enough to

withstand daily use considering conditions of the site, and be maintained in

good condition throughout the season.  Boat hide blinds shall be completed,

including final brushing by four weeks prior to opening day of duck season for

other areas mentioned in this subsection (b)(2).  Failure to meet these

standards shall result in forfeiture of the blind site

e of 18' x 7.5', be sturdy enough to

withstand daily use considering conditions of the site, and be maintained in

good condition throughout the season.  Boat hide blinds shall be completed,

including final brushing by four weeks prior to opening day of duck season for

other areas mentioned in this subsection (b)(2).  Failure to meet these

standards shall result in forfeiture of the blind site.

3)         Except for Chain O'Lakes State Park, Meredosia Bay, Mississippi

River Pools 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24 and the Sparland Unit of Marshall State Fish

and Wildlife Area, blinds must be completed, including final brushing, 3 weeks

in advance of opening date of regular duck season (except at Mississippi River

Area Pools 25 and 26 blinds and final brushing must be completed 4 weeks in

advance of opening date of regular duck season) after which time the Department

shall inspect all blinds and blind sites and issue Blind Registration Cards to

those which pass inspection.  Blind builders shall not gain access to Redwing

Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area until the day following Labor Day.  Blind

builders must post Blind Registration Card in the blind prior to the first day

of regular duck season.  If adverse weather or water conditions make compliance

with this rule difficult the Site Superintendent or the District Wildlife

Manager may grant extensions.

4)         Sites on which blinds have not been built or registered, as

well as sites on which blinds of an unsatisfactory quality have been built,

shall be reassigned to alternates selected at a drawing or by a first

come-first served allocation held on a day publicly announced by the

Department.  All reassigned blinds must be completed, including final brushing,

7 days prior to the opening date of the duck season on sites posted as being

closed to trespassing 7 days prior to regular duck season

n unsatisfactory quality have been built,

shall be reassigned to alternates selected at a drawing or by a first

come-first served allocation held on a day publicly announced by the

Department.  All reassigned blinds must be completed, including final brushing,

7 days prior to the opening date of the duck season on sites posted as being

closed to trespassing 7 days prior to regular duck season.  At Mississippi

River Area Pools 25 and 26 reassigned blinds must be completed by sunset of the

Sunday immediately preceding the opening day of regular duck season.  On all

other sites reassigned blinds must be completed, including final brushing, by

the day before the opening day of the regular duck season.

5)         Not more than 3 persons shall be registered for assignment of

any one blind site.  Blind builders shall submit partner names on a blind

registration form as designated at the site drawing.  After the designated

time, no changes shall be accepted.  As directed by the information sheet

available at each site, the registration form must be filled out and returned

within 30 days after the blind drawing date.  Failure to do so shall result in

forfeiture of blind/hunting site.

6)         No person shall be allowed to be a blind builder or partner on

more than one public waterfowl blind managed by the Department.

7)         Boat hides are required, except as noted in Sections 590.40

and 590.50, and must have minimum dimensions of 18' x 7½'.  Boat hides shall be

sturdy enough to withstand daily use considering the conditions of the site,

and must be maintained in good condition throughout the season, and shall be

completed including final brushing by 3 weeks prior to the opening day of duck

season, except at Mississippi River Area Pools 25 and 26 boat hides and final

brushing must be completed 4 weeks prior to the opening day of duck season;

failure to meet these standards shall result in forfeiture of blind site

of the site,

and must be maintained in good condition throughout the season, and shall be

completed including final brushing by 3 weeks prior to the opening day of duck

season, except at Mississippi River Area Pools 25 and 26 boat hides and final

brushing must be completed 4 weeks prior to the opening day of duck season;

failure to meet these standards shall result in forfeiture of blind site.

8)         Previous year's blind builders shall have until 7 days after

the next allocation period drawing to salvage materials from their blinds

except as indicated in Sections 590.40(a) and (b) and 590.50(a) and (b).

9)         Blinds must include a dog hide that is on the same level as

the blind.  The dog hide can either be incorporated into the blind by providing

a hole at floor level that measures at least 20 inches high by 20 inches wide

or by providing a separate compartment that is attached to the blind.  Hides

attached to the blind should have a minimum floor space that measures 2 feet by

2 feet and should be at least 2.5 feet high with 2 openings.  One opening

should be between the blind and the dog hide, should measure at least 20 inches

by 20 inches, and should be constructed at the same level as the blind floor.

The water access opening should be at least 20 inches wide and 20 inches high.  Hides

either within the blind or attached should have an enforced ramp to water level

that is at least 15 inches wide with cleats every 12 inches.  Openings in the

blind must be capable of being closed when not in use.

c)         Use of Blinds or Areas Located Near Blinds

1)         Attempts to claim blinds/hunting sites by any manner other

than actual occupation shall be considered in violation of this Part.  The

insertion of a boat into the boat hide and/or the spreading of decoys before a

blind shall not be considered legal occupation of a blind

n the

blind must be capable of being closed when not in use.

c)         Use of Blinds or Areas Located Near Blinds

1)         Attempts to claim blinds/hunting sites by any manner other

than actual occupation shall be considered in violation of this Part.  The

insertion of a boat into the boat hide and/or the spreading of decoys before a

blind shall not be considered legal occupation of a blind.

2)         No person shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, except from within a

registered blind, except for Chain O'Lakes State Park, Meredosia Bay, Mississippi

River Pools 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24 and the Sparland Unit of Marshall State Fish

and Wildlife Area.

3)         Persons under 16 years of age shall not hunt, or attempt to

hunt, unless accompanied by an adult due to safety factors.

4)         Blinds shall not be locked.

5)         Claiming or attempting to claim any blind that is legally

occupied, and/or harassing, in any manner, the occupants of a blind which has

been legally occupied, is unlawful.

6)         No person shall violate Section 590.11 or be located within

250 yards of an occupied blind within the hunting area, except for those

authorized to occupy the blind and Department employees.

7)         All hunting parties shall hunt over a spread of at least 12

decoys during duck season and Canada goose season.  The decoys shall be staked,

placed, or floating, be individually visible, be at least 8 inches long, and

not be within a boat, blind or container.

8)         At sites where a manned check station is in operation, hunters

are required to show their hunting license and Federal and State Migratory

Waterfowl Stamp.  Persons exempt by law from having a hunting license and an

Illinois stamp must show valid photo identification (example:  Firearm Owner's

Identification Card, driver's license, etc.).

9)         Cutting of woody vegetation greater than 4 inches in diameter

at breast height (d.b.h.) is prohibited.  No cutting of oak trees of any size

is allowed

and Federal and State Migratory

Waterfowl Stamp.  Persons exempt by law from having a hunting license and an

Illinois stamp must show valid photo identification (example:  Firearm Owner's

Identification Card, driver's license, etc.).

9)         Cutting of woody vegetation greater than 4 inches in diameter

at breast height (d.b.h.) is prohibited.  No cutting of oak trees of any size

is allowed.  Killing or harming herbaceous vegetation, including but not

limited to herbicide treatments or natural vegetation killers, or otherwise

damaging or destroying habitat on Department managed lands by any means is

prohibited.  Planting crops or other vegetation, as well as spreading mineral

supplements, including but not limited to salt, is prohibited on lands

controlled by the Department.  Violations of these rules without written

permission of the Site Superintendent will result in loss of the blind for the

current allocation period for that site.

d)         Public Drawing

1)         Time and place for all sites holding drawings shall be publicly

announced by the Department.

2)         A registrant for a drawing must:

A)        be 16 years of age or older;

B)        possess a current or preceding year's annual Illinois hunting

license that allows the individual to hunt without additional supervision;

C)        possess a current or preceding year's Illinois Migratory

Waterfowl Stamp unless exempted by law; and

D)        possess a valid government issued photo identification

(example: Firearm Owner's Identification Card, driver's license).

3)         Persons exempted by law from possessing a hunting license or

waterfowl stamp must be 16 years of age or older and have valid government

issued photo identification.  In order to be an eligible applicant for the

drawing, the participant must not at the time of the drawing have his/her

hunting privileges suspended or revoked by the Department or any other

jurisdiction

ver's license).

3)         Persons exempted by law from possessing a hunting license or

waterfowl stamp must be 16 years of age or older and have valid government

issued photo identification.  In order to be an eligible applicant for the

drawing, the participant must not at the time of the drawing have his/her

hunting privileges suspended or revoked by the Department or any other

jurisdiction.  Applicants must be present for the registration and drawing to

be eligible for allocation of blind sites.

4)        No person is eligible to draw for a waterfowl blind or hunting

site who has had his or her hunting privileges suspended by Illinois or any

other state, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a conviction for

violation of a State or federal law, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm

by action of law regardless of conviction status (such as homeland security,

under order of protection, etc.).  Any ineligible person who submits an

application to draw for a waterfowl blind or hunting site shall be refused, if

known by the drawer at the time to be ineligible, or shall have his or her draw

declared void upon discovery of ineligibility by the Department.  A refused or voided

application shall be referred to the appropriate State's Attorney for possible

prosecution under the Criminal Code of 2012 [720 ILCS 5].

e)         Flood Rules

1)         Unless site-specific flood rules are listed in Sections

590.40, 590.50 or 590.60, in the event that State managed sites are flooded to

the point that public waterfowl blinds cannot be constructed or waterfowl

blinds are no longer usable during a flood, or if the receding flood water does

not allow for Department blind inspection under subsection (b), the Department,

by public announcement and/or posting, may permit waterfowl hunting under one

of the following subsections:

A)        If the check station for that site is open, all rules apply,

except that hunting will be allowed from boat, platform or floating blinds

which must be located w

, or if the receding flood water does

not allow for Department blind inspection under subsection (b), the Department,

by public announcement and/or posting, may permit waterfowl hunting under one

of the following subsections:

A)        If the check station for that site is open, all rules apply,

except that hunting will be allowed from boat, platform or floating blinds

which must be located within 10 feet of the marked blind site.

B)        If the check station is not operable, all rules apply except

that hunting will be allowed from boat, platform or floating blinds which must

be located within 10 feet of the marked blind site.  Additionally, rules listed

in Section 590.40(b)(1), (2), (3), (4) and (9) shall not be in force.  Rules

concerning blind claiming as listed in Section 590.50(b) shall apply.

C)        If blind sites have not been marked and no check station is

operable, the area will be open to hunting from platform, floating or boat

blinds or by walk-in hunting, anywhere on the area except refuges and closed

waterfowl rest areas.  Preplacement of unattended decoys and/or unoccupied

blinds or boat hides do not constitute lawful possession of a hunting site.

All hunting parties must remain 200 yards apart and follow normal closing hours

for the site.

D)        In all above flood circumstances, regulations requiring the

construction of a separate boat hide and regulations regarding the minimum

standards for blind construction and inspection shall be suspended for that

season.

2)         Hunting locations allocated via public drawing shall be

retained by blind registrants despite the lack of a completed blind.

f)         Only flu flu arrows may be used by bow and arrow hunters;

broadheads are not allowed.