Mississippi River Pool 16

Location: On the Illinois side of the Mississippi River from Lock and Dam 16 to the I-280 bridge.

Description: The area is comprised of the navigation pool of the Mississippi River formed by Dam #16. Within this pool is timbered islands with sheltered shallow bays, channels, and potholes which provide hunting for puddle ducks. Diving ducks frequent the deeper waters and main channel.

Bottomland forests exist, which provide deer, turkey, furbearer, and squirrel hunting. However, the majority of this habitat is located on islands and shoreline with extremely limited land access. Most access is by boat only. Although pheasant and quail hunting is allowed, habitat suitable for these species is virtually non-existent. Pheasant and quail hunting on this area is considered very poor.

Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.

Available Game Species:

Area Regulations - General

• All hunting is to be with shotgun or bow and arrow only except .22 caliber rimfire rifles may be used for squirrels, raccoon, opossum, coyote, fox, skunk, and groundhog. Air rifles (.25 caliber) may be used for squirrels.
  
• It shall be unlawful for any person to construct or use any tree stand using nails, screws, or wire or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree. Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended from Sept 15 - Jan 31 only if legibly marked with owner's name, address, and telephone number. Only one tree stand or ground blind allowed per deer permit holder.
• It shall be unlawful to possess or consume alcoholic beverages, to include beer and wine, while hunting on the area.
• Non-toxic shot must be used for dove hunting.
• Hunters engaged in rabbit, pheasant, quail and Hungarian partridge hunting must wear a cap and upper outer garment of blaze orange of at least 400 square inches.
• All falconers are required to wear a cap and outer garment of solid and vivid blaze orange only during the upland game season.
• A majority of these areas are accessible by boat only.

Area Regulations - Waterfowl

A - WATERFOWL DEFINITIONS

• Blind Site - A position within ten (10) feet of a numbered stake where a blind may be constructed.
• Blind Builder - A person who has been assigned a blind site in accordance with the following procedures and who builds and maintains the blind and blind site.
• Blind Partner - Person(s) chosen by the builder to assist in the construction and maintenance of the blind and to share its hunting privileges.
• Blind Registration Card - A card issued (after inspection) by the Department and tacked inside each blind listing names and addresses of the blind builder and blind partner(s).
• Completed Blind - A blind with all framework and siding constructed and in readiness for use including final brushing.
• Hunting Party - An individual or group of hunters occupying a single boat, blind, or hunting site.

B - GENERAL AREA LOCATIONS

• Andalusia Refuge - Located west of Loud Thunder Forest Preserve next to and including Dead Slough between river miles (RM) 462 and 463.
• Upper Pool Area - Those portions of Pool 16 above Velie Chute (RM 466 on north and RM 468.4 on south) excluding Goose Pond and Sunfish Slough (Blinds 257-274) and Milan Bottoms (shoreline areas above RM 475).

C - GENERAL WATERFOWL HUNTING REGULATIONS

• Waterfowl hunting is restricted to legal registered blind sites, except that scull boat hunting is allowed pool wide and open hunting is allowed in the Upper Pool Area. A minimum distance of 200 yards will be maintained between hunting parties.
• No person shall buy, sell, or commercialize hunting rights either directly or indirectly.
• No person under 16 years of age shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, on these areas unless accompanied by an adult.
• No person shall perform any weed or brush control around any blind without receiving prior approval from an authorized Department of Natural Resources (IL-DNR) representative.
• No hunting party shall remain in a blind after having taken its daily bag limit of ducks or more than 15 minutes after close of shooting hours on the area.
• No person shall lock a blind.
• All hunting parties shall hunt over a spread of at least 12 decoys. The 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.
• No person shall claim, or attempt to claim, a blind which is legally occupied and/or harass, in any manner, the occupants of a blind which has been legally occupied.
• Blind builders must occupy their blind site one-half hour before the opening shooting hour each day to claim the blind site for that day. After this time, unoccupied blind sites will be available to anyone.
• Statewide seasons, bag limits, and shooting hours shall prevail.

D - TEAL HUNTING SEASON (if season is allowed)

• Regulations shall be the same as the statewide teal hunting season.
• Hunting will not be restricted to blind sites during the teal hunting season.

E - EARLY GOOSE SEASON (if season is allowed)

• Regulations shall be the same as the statewide goose hunting regulations.
• Except in the Upper Pool Area, hunting will be restricted to a blind site, but will not be restricted to a completed blind.

F - WILDLIFE REFUGES - ANDALUSIA REFUGE

• It is unlawful for any person to fish, hunt, trap or trespass on this area from October 1 through December 31.

G - BLIND ALLOCATION

• All blind sites shall be determined by the IL-DNR and marked by a numbered stake, after which it is the blind builder's responsibility to see that the blind site has a visible number. Blind sites will be allocated for a two year period.
• The time and place will be publicly announced by the IL-DNR for the public drawing for allocation of blind sites.
• Registrants for a drawing must be at least 16 years of age and possess a current or preceding year's Illinois Hunting License or Sportsman's License that allows the individual to hunt without additional supervision, a current or preceding year's  Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp unless exempted by law, and a valid photo ID. Persons exempted by law from possessing a hunting license or waterfowl stamp must have a valid photo identification (example: current FOID card or driver's license). Applicants must be present for the registration and drawing to be eligible for allocation of a duck blind site.
• The first name drawn shall have first choice of available sites, 2nd name 2nd choice, etc. until all sites are allocated.
• Any blind sites that were not allocated at the public drawing, will be given away on a first-come, first-serve basis by calling the District office on the Monday following the public drawing from 8 am to 12 pm (phone # 815-273-2733).
• Blinds must be completed, including final brushing, 3 weeks before opening day. Blind inspections will occur at this time. The primary blind builder will receive either a blind card or a rejection letter depending on pass/fail determination
• Blinds not completed 3 weeks before opening day of duck season will be allocated to alternates each year. Alternates will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis by calling the District office 12 days before opening day of duck season, or the next business day if a holiday, from 8 am until noon (phone # 847-608-3167).
• Blind builders shall have until 7 days after the next season's blind drawing date to salvage materials from blind sites. After that date, blind materials on the site become the property of new blind builders.
• Not more than 3 persons shall be registered for one blind.
• A person may not register as a blind builder or as a partner for more than one blind site on all waterfowl management areas managed by the IL-DNR.

H - BLIND CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

• Blinds must be constructed within 10' of numbered stakes, must have minimum outside measurements of 4' x 8' and must be maintained in good condition by blind builders throughout the season. A boat hide large enough to accommodate and hide an 18' boat must be provided. The boat hide shall have a minimum outside measurement of 7.5' x 18'. Blinds must include a dog hide that is on the same level as the blind either as a 20" x 20" hole at floor level or a separate compartment that is attached to the blind. Hides attached to the blind should have a minimum floor space of 2' x 2' and at least 2.5' high with tow openings (one between the blind and dog hid (20" x  20") at floor level and one at water access opening (20" x  20")). Hides either within the blind or attached should have an enforced ramp to water level that is at least 15" wide with cleats every 12'. Openings in the blind must be capable of being closed when not in use.
• Blinds built over water must be of platform construction or they may be floating blinds.
• Blinds must be constructed only on those sites designated as blind sites by Department personnel.
• Blinds must be completed, including final brushing 3 weeks before opening day, at which time the IL-DNR will inspect all blinds and blind sites to determine pass/fail based on blind inspection. The contact person will receive either a registration card or a "Red Tag" letter depending upon pass/fail determination.
• Failure to construct a satisfactory blind will result in loss of the blind site.

Other Facilities: Fishing, boating. (NOTE: No fishing within 250 yards of occupied duck blinds during the waterfowl season)

For further information, contact: District Wildlife Biologist: Beth Weber at Beth.Weber@illinois.gov; Mississippi Palisades State Park, 16327 IL Rt.84, Savanna, IL 61074

Phone: 815-273-2733.