Lake Shelbyville – The 29th Annual Deer Hunt for People with Disabilities, hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Wolf Creek State Park will be held November 16 through November 18, 2018. Applications are available for pickup at the Lake Shelbyville Project Office, online at http://tinyurl.com/LakeShelbyville-Hunting, or mail by contacting the Environmental Stewardship Department at 217-774-3951 Ext. 7049.
Applicants must possess a state-issued disabled person identification card or a disabled veteran identification card. This year, 10 spots will be held for Wounded Warriors. All disabled veterans wounded in combat are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted by March 30, 2018 to the Lake Shelbyville Project Office, 1989 State HWY 16, Shelbyville, IL 62565.
On April 2, 2018, 25 applicants will be selected by drawing to participate in the hunt during the first Illinois firearm season. Previous hunter participants have enjoyed morning and afternoon hunts from ground blinds and elevated stands, catered meals, and free lodging. Over the past five years, average success rates per year are near 70 percent.
Without the help of the Whitetails Unlimited Chapter Area 51, the Lake Volunteers Association, the IDNR and numerous volunteers this event would not be possible. Last year, volunteers performed nearly 300 hours of service to help make the hunt a successful experience for individuals that might not get this type of hunting opportunity anywhere else. Some of the tasks carried out by volunteers included getting hunters to and from their blinds, carrying the hunter's gear, handling harvested deer, and setting up meals. For further information on this event, or if you would like to volunteer for this event, please contact Park Ranger Cory Donnel at (217)774-3951 Ext. 7001 or via email Cory.L.Donnel@usace.army.mil.
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Release no. 18-056