Youth hunting weekend in northern Illinois announced

An egret flies over the backwaters of the Mississippi River near Lock & Dam 13.

PRINGFIELD – Areas that will participate in the North Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt were announced on Thursday by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

As part of the Youth Hunt, hunters ages 17 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 North Zone hunting areas are open Saturday and Sunday at Chain O’Lakes State Park,

Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area, Heidecke Lake SFWA, Lake DePue SFWA, Sinnissippi Lake SFWA, Mississippi River Pools and William W. Powers State Recreation Area.

Interested persons should familiarize themselves with rules and regulations governing youth hunting.

Special youth hunts taking place through the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Permit or other youth-only hunts at IDNR sites, are open only to youth hunters ages 10–17. These 2021 special hunts include: Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area (Oct. 23, 24), Black Crown Marsh (Oct. 16, 17), Clinton Lake State Recreation Area - Salt Creek and Disabled units (Oct. 23), Donnelly/DePue SFWA (Nov. 7), Larry D. Closson State Habitat Area (Oct. 23), Marshall SFWA – Duck Ranch Unit (Oct. 23, 24), Spring Lake SFWA – Spring Lake Bottoms Unit (Nov. 14), and Southern Illinois youth waterfowl hunt – Union County and Horseshoe Lake SFWA (Dec. 28).