**Hunting by Permit Only**
Waterfowl Field Sites
Hunting Begins October 17th
| Brookdale - Paulsen | Coon Creek | |||
| Zone 1 | Open | Zone 1 | Open | |
| Zone 2 | Open | Zone 2 | Open*** | |
| Zone 3 | Open | |||
***due to wet conditions, pit blind has not been installed on Zone 2 |
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| Pleasant Valley - Henrici | ||||
| Zone 1 | Open | Lussky | Open | |
| Zone 3 | Open | Kishwaukee Corridor - Rose | Open | |
| Kishwaukee Corridor - Gieske | Open |
Hunter Input Questionaires
Safety Education Requirements
| General Information and Fees |
| Important Dates |
| General Location Map |
| FAQ's |
| Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Contact Us: |
The successful completion of a state hunter’s safety education course is a requirement of the program, regardless of age. To find out about class availability, call the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Safety Information Hotline at 800-832-2599 or check the IDNR website at dnr.state.il.us.
Packet Availability
If you don’t want to print the information and application from the website, you can pick up a packet at Brookdale, 18410 US Highway 14, Woodstock, from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday or at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake, from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday or at the Lost Valley Visitor Center, 6316 Harts Rd, Ringwood, from 8 am to 6:00 pm daily.
Notification of Selection Status
Applicants will be notified by mail of their status within 30 days of the application deadline. Those selected in the lottery will receive additional information at that time.
HUNTING PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY
The McHenry County Conservation District supports hunting practiced in a legal, responsible, safe, and ethical manner. Regulated hunting is the utilization of a renewable resource and fits within the definition and framework of conservation.
The District’s hunting program operates on the basis of three philosophies. The philosophies serve as the foundation of the program and are as follows:
Safety is the top priority of the hunting program. The highest standards of safety are demanded from all participants and staff involved in the program. Safety shall not be compromised.
Only ecologically self-sustaining wildlife populations are included in the scope of the program. The definition of “ecologically self-sustaining” is those populations naturally found in viable numbers on District sites. These are populations that, through their own natural reproductive rates, can sustain their population.
The District strives to integrate hunting into the list of recreational opportunities available on various sites it owns and manages. The activities of the hunting program will be tailored to prevent significant changes to the District-established pattern of public use on its sites.
Archery Hunting | Combo Hunting | Firearms Hunting | Waterfowl Hunting