Mazonia State Fish & Wildlife Area Hunter Fact Sheet
WATERFOWL

2010 -2011 Season

P.O.BOX 126 , BRACEVILLE, IL 60407
PH: 815/237-0063

MAP

INTRODUCTION: The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for providing outdoor recreation opportunity 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 the waterfowl hunting program at the Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area. Mazonia is characterized by extreme topography characteristic of strip mining operations. Numerous bodies of water ranging from .2 to 30 plus acres are found throughout the site. Access is limited to foot traffic only over a large portion of the area. Waterfowl hunting is only allowed from designated blinds. One wheelchair accessible blind is available on a daily basis, contact the site office for information.

DIRECTIONS: 3 Miles south of Braidwood just off Rt. 53, and within easy access of I-55.

DESCRIPTION: Total Acres- 2150
Huntable Acres- Only in areas designated as open on the areas map on back.
Habitat Types- Timber& Shrub 730
Grassland and Agricultural 940
Wetlands 480

SECTION A. GENERAL HUNTING REGULATIONS
All applicable regulations found in the Wildlife Code of 1971, Federal Regulations and Administrative Order 510 apply on this area. Special area regulations established under the authority provided in the above acts may be more restrictive and must be observed.

SECTION B. WATERFOWL DEFINITIONS

1. Blind Site - A position within 10 feet of a numbered site where a blind must be constructed.
2. Blind Builder - person who has been assigned a blind as a result of the drawing.
3. Blind Partner - person(s) chosen by the blind builder to assist in construction and maintenance of the blind and to share its hunting privileges.
4. Drawing - procedure by which blind sites are assigned.
5. Blind Registration Card - card issued by the Department and tacked inside each blind listing names and addresses of
   blind builders.
6. Completed Blind - a blind with all framework and siding constructed and in readiness for use, including final brushing.

SECTION C. BLIND CONSTRUCTION AND ALLOCATION OF BLIND SITES

1. Blind Sites shall be determined by the Department and marked by numbers.
2. All blinds will be allocated for a one-year period by a public drawing. Time and place for the drawing will be publicly announced by the Department of Natural Resources.
3. Registrants for the drawing must be at least 16 years of age and possess a current or preceding year's Illinois hunting license, a current or preceding year's Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp and a current or expired (within 12 months prior to the drawing) Firearms Owner Identification Card. Persons who are under 21 years of age who do not have a Firearms Own Card must be accompanied by an adult who has a valid Firearms Owner Identification Card in his possession at the drawing. Applicants must be present for the registration and drawing to be eligible for allocation of a blind.
4. Blinds must be placed at or within 10' of IDNR marked site, be at least 4' by 8' (except blind 19 must be 8' X 8' and set to shoot out of front and back of blind (see site superintendent for details), sturdy enough to withstand daily usage, and must be maintained in good condition by blind builders throughout the season. Boat hides are required to blinds 4, 7, 18, and 19 and must have minimum inside dimensions of 15' X 5' and shall be sturdy enough to withstand daily use, and must be maintained in good condition throughout the season, and shall be completed including final brushing by three weeks prior to the opening day of waterfowl season; failure to meet these standards will result in forfeiture of blind site.
5. Blinds built over water must be of platform construction with the platform constructed above normal water conditions or they may be floating blinds.
6. Blinds must be completed, including final brushing, 3 weeks in advance of opening date of waterfowl season, after which time the Department of Natural Resources will inspect all blinds and blind sites and issue Blind Registration Cards to those which pass
   inspection. Blind builders must post the Blind Registration Card in the blind prior to the first day of duck season. If adverse water conditions make compliance with this rule difficult, the District Wildlife Manager may grant exceptions to the schedule.
7. Sites on which blinds have not been built, as well as sites on which blinds of an unsatisfactory quality have been built, will be reassigned to alternates selected at the drawing. All reassigned blinds and boat hides must be completed, including final brushing, in advance of the opening date of the waterfowl season.
8. Previous year's blind builders shall have until February 1 of the following year to salvage materials from blind sites. On February 2 of the following year, blind materials on site become property of the Department of Natural Resources.
9. No more than 3 persons shall be registered for assignment at any one blind site. Blind builders shall submit partner names
   on a blind registration form as directed by August 31. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of blind. After August 31
   no changes will be accepted.
10. No person shall be allowed to be a blind builder or partner on more than one Waterfowl Management Area in Illinois.
11. 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 measure 2 feet by 2 feet and should be at least 2.5 feet high with two 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.
12. Remove all debris and spent shells fromt he blinds.

SECTION D. WATERFOWL HUNTING REGULATIONS

1. All hunters must report to the check station to fill out information cards and to turn in hunting licenses or Firearm Owner's Identification cards before proceeding to blinds.
2. Registered blind builders or partners desiring to claim their blinds must report to the check station at least one hour before shooting hour each day and occupy that blind for at least one hour. Hunters wishing to move to another blind during their daily hunt must report back to the check station for reassignment.
3. All hunting will be from registered blinds only and hunters must occupy their blinds within one hour after registering at the check station.
4. Hunting is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Hunting hours are legal opening to 1:00 pm.. All hunters must be checked out by 2:00 P.M. At this time waterfowl and coots bagged must be checked and hunting licenses or Firearm Owner's Identifications Cards will be returned.
5. It shall be illegal to fish or trespass upon the designated waterfowl hunting area or waterfowl refuge beginning ten days prior to the Central Zone Duck Season, until the end of Central Zone Duck Season.
6. No person shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, waterfowl and coots except from within a registered blind.
7. No person under 16 years of age shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, unless accompanied by an adult.
8. All hunting parties shall hunt with at least 12 decoys. 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.
9. No person shall trespass, for any purpose, on areas posted as Refuge or Waterfowl Rest Areas.
10. Not more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time.
11. Blinds shall not be locked.
12. Claiming or attempting to claim a blind which is legally occupied, and/or to harass, in any manner, the occupants of a blind which has been legally occupied is unlawful.
13. During Duck Season, blinds not claimed by the builder or partners by one hour before shooting time will be assigned by a drawing at this time. No blinds will be assigned after 9:00 A.M.

SECTION E. OTHER SEASONS

1. There is no early teal season at this site.
2. There is no early canada goose season at this site or canada goose or snow goose season beyond the close of the central duck
   season.

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, 524 S. 2nd, Springfield, IL 62701-1787; (217)785-0067; TTY (217)782-9175.