The Duck Blind

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Area Info

Herrin Ducks Unlimited
Rend Lake
Crab Orchard N.W.R.
Pyramid State Park
Horseshoe Lake
Cache River

Maps

Helpful Links

Ducks Unlimited
USFWS
Ducks At A Distance
Sunrise & Sunset Tables
Current MS Streamflow
TerraServer Images
MapTech Topo Images

DNR Sites

Site Information

Welcome to the Duck Blind. This site is best viewed at 1024 x 768. If your not sure what you are set at scroll to the bottom right and it will tell you. Ok now that's out of the way. My name is Tony AKA Sio greenhead. I am 32 years old and have been hunting as long as I can remember. I hunt just about any thing that fly�s but I would have to say waterfowl hunting is my passion. I am a member of Ducks Unlimited and committee member of the Herrin Ducks Unlimited. In 1999 and 2000 a Bronze Sponsor of Ducks Unlimited. I wish I was able to continue to sponsor but with the way finance are now days all I can afford is my time. If you would like to be a committee member or just help sell tickets Contact me and I will introduce you to the right people. I have built the Duck Blind to try and help out local hunters with info and links to helpful sites. You will find maps of area lakes and rivers. you will also find Pictures and news. Most of the info was obtained from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Digest Of Waterfowl Hunting 2003-2004.

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Countdown till duck season!!

Season Dates

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a 60-day duck season with a daily bag limit of six ducks. However,there will be a 30 day season for canvasbacks and pintails this year.

The proposed 60-day season dates are as follows:

North: Oct.16 Dec.14
Central: Oct.23 Dec.21
South: Nov.20 Jan.18

The daily limit for ducks is 6, which may include no more than 4 mallards (one hen), 3 scaup, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads and 1 black duck.

The proposed 30-day season dates for canvasbacks and pintails are as follows:

North: Oct.16 Nov.14
Central: Oct.23 Nov.21
South: Nov.20 Dec.19

The daily bag limit is 1 canvasback and 1 pintail within total daily bag limit.

The statewide teal season is Sept. 6-21 from sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit is four teal with a possession limit of eight.

Waterfowl News

The 2003 Season:

Most hunters are aware of the fact that heavy late spring precipitation broke the drought on the duck breeding grounds. In addition, more ducks were counted on the breeding grounds this spring than in 2002. Therefore, Illinois duck hunters will once again be offered a 60_day season. This is the 7th year in a row we have been offered a liberal 60-day duck season. We anticipate a fall duck flight larger than last year's. Because of the improved status of pintails and increased pond numbers in their primary breeding areas Illinois has decided to open the season on pintails fo(30 days as allowed by federal regulations. MVP Canada goose breeding numbers are up considerabl from last year and banding crews reported good numbers of goslings this year. The new MVP harvest strategy called for increasing the flyway-wide quota from 200,000 to 300,000 MVP geese this season.

Duck Populations :

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's annual survey of key nesting areas indicated 36.2 million breeding ducks, compared to last year's 31.2 million birds. The mid-continent mallard fall flight forecast is 10.3 million birds, compared with 8.9 million last year. The fall flight index predicts 1.5 million young mallards will fly south this year compared to only 400,000 last year. That is a 275% increase over last year. Concern about scaup populations continues because they remain well below their long-term average population despite a small increase in population from last year.

Pintails:

The pintail population increased by43% to 2.6-million compared to only, 1.79 million last year. However, pintails remain 39% below their long-term average so the Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a 30-day season again to help speed the recovery of the population Illinois decided to offer a 30-day pintail season as allowed by federal regulations due to the large population 'increase and vastly improved pond numbers in their prime breeding areas of Canada. The pintail season will be-during the first 30 days of duck season in each zone and will coincide with the canvasback season.

Canvasbacks:

The canvasback population increased from 487,000 in 2002 to 558,000 which is 31 % higher than last year. The Service has offered a 30-day canvasback season this year because a 50-day season is projected to 'harvest too many "cans" to stay above the population goal of 500,000 next spring. The canvasback season will be during the first 30 days of duck season in each zone and will coincide with the pintail season.

US National Weather Service Maps & Images

Check your local weather online...
The United States Weather Service offers a great weather forecasting tool for the avid waterfowl hunter. Check local forecasts, local weather warnings, satelite maps, and active warnings such as Flash Flood, Flood, Non Precipitation, and Severe Storms headed your way.

Visit the US Weather Service website,better look at this. before you head out to the blind!

How's The Weather?

Image Gallery

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