Goose Lake Prairie - Heidecke Lake Hunter Fact Sheet

WATERFOWL HUNTER FACT SHEET

2012 - 2013 Season

MAP

INTRODUCTION: The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for providing outdoor recreation opportunities for the residents of the state. Of particular concern is providing adequate safe hunting areas on public lands throughout the State. This Hunter Fact Sheet contains information relating to most of the hunting programs at Heidecke State Fish and Wildlife Area. The area is marked by scrub timber and marshy prairie areas east of the Collins Power Generating Station. The hunting area itself is a perched lake used for power generating at Colloins station and is adjacent to the Illinois River. Extreme caution must be used during times of even moderate winds and during changing weather conditions.

DIRECTIONS: Southeast of Morris, on Pine Bluff/Lorenzo Rd. 7.5 miles west of I-55.

General Hunting Regulations

  1. All regulations found in the Illinois Wildlife Code of 1971, Administrative Order 510, and Federal Regulations apply, unless area regulations are more restrictive.
  2. It shall be unlawful:
    1. For any person to possess or consume any alcoholic beverage, including beer or wine, prior to or while on any site for the purpose of hunting.
    2. To hunt on any site with a manned check station without first declaring game killed on a previous hunt and in possession either on the hunter's person or in his vehicle.
    3. To hunt in restrictively posted areas or in developed recreation areas within 100 yards of construction sites, residences, and developed recreation areas.
    4. For unauthorized persons (non-hunters) to use or occupy in any manner designated hunting areas during the hunting season, when authorized hunting is in progress.
    5. To hunt outside designated areas at the site (see attached map).
    6. To use any weapon other than a shotgun.
    7. To hunt in standing crops.
    8. To leave the site before checking out. Check out is required within 60 minutes of completion of a hunt.
    9. To hunt any species of wildlife except waterfowl.
  3. No hunting is allowed on Mondays and Tuesdays Christmas or New Year’s Day.
  4. Blind sites will be allocated by a daily drawing.  The daily drawing will be held 90 minutes before shooting time.  Blind sites not selected during the drawing will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Vacant blind sites will be allocated drawing until 1 hour after legal sooting time.  Further, no blind will be allocated after
    10:00  a.m.
  5. Hunters wishing to move to another blind site must obtain permission for this move from the check station attendant, in person, before such a move is made.
  6. Hunters shall register as a party of one to three hunters for the drawing. When a party is drawn only those names registered in that party will be allowed to hunt from that blind. If any person in the party is under 16 years of age, he must be accompanied by an adult before hunting due to safety factors.
  7. Daily shooting hours will be statewide opening to 1:00 pm.
  8. Each hunting party is required to hunt over a minimum of 12 decoys. Hunting over decoys means the decoys shall be staked, placed or floating, be individually visible, be at least 8 inches long, and not within a boat, blind, or container.
  9. Cutting of natural vegetation for any purpose will be unlawful.
  10. This area is closed to fishing ten days prior to the central dusk season through the close of the central canada goose season season.
  11. In the event of adverse water and/or weather conditions, such as flooding, high winds, unsafe ice or heavy fog, hunting is prohibited.

WATERFOWL HUNTING REGULATIONS:

  1. To hunt waterfowl in this area, all watercraft have to be at least 16 ft.long and 60 in. in beam and powered by a gasoline motor.
  2. All hunting must be from an anchored portable boat blind, within 10 yds. of the assigned numbered blind location. Portable boat blinds must have been completed, including final brushing, before entering the area, and removed at the end of each hunting day.
  3. All water areas not posted with blind site numbers shall be refuge and are closed to all boat traffic.
  4. Access to water blind sites will be by boat only and from designated boat launch sites.
  5. Shoreline dike blinds will only be open on Saturday and Sunday. NOTE: the dike is a road, and it is not permitted to shoot on or over a road.
  6. No guns may be carried from water blinds to retrieve waterfowl that fall on land.
  7. Only federally Approved Non-toxic Shot only, for use in waterfowl hunting.
  8. This site is not open to the September Teal and Goose seasons or hunting snow geese past the close of the legal canada goose season for this site.

Low water conditions may exist at the boat ramp, launch at your own risk.

Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source’s civil rights office and/or the Equal Opportunity Officer, IDNR, 1 Resource Way, Springfield, IL 62701-1787; (217) 785-0067;
TTY (217)782-9175.