Lake Shelbyville – Okaw Wetland offers ten waterfowl blinds that will be available on a first-come, first-served basis 7 days a week only during the 2014 Early Goose and Teal waterfowl-hunting seasons. The blinds have NOT been brushed, maintenance to the blinds will take place when time and resources are available. Current water level is significantly low at this time to allow for optimal planting and growing conditions for waterfowl plantings. Hunting hours will be 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset for goose and sunrise to sunset for teal.
Due to limited size of the area, all hunting in the wetland complex will be strictly controlled during the remainder of the waterfowl hunting season. Hunters using the area during the regular waterfowl season are required to have a Special Use Permit in their possession while hunting. To obtain a Special Use Permit initially, all hunters must make a reservation by telephone. Reservations will be accepted Wednesday, October 1, 2014, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Prior to October 1st, no reservations will be taken by mail or in person. Hunters will only be allowed to reserve one block of dates on this day. The telephone number to call when making reservations is: (217) 774-3951 Ext: 7019.
Beginning October 2nd, hunters may secure up to one additional reservation per week for the remainder of the waterfowl season. Additional reservations may be made at one time by calling (217) 774-3951 Ext: 7049 Monday thru Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telephone reservations must be made at least 5 days in advance of the intended hunt date. In person reservations will be accepted Monday thru Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
When making a reservation, hunters may choose which numbered blind they want to hunt, depending on current availability. The wetlands will be hunted Tuesday – Wednesday (odd blinds; 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) and Saturday – Sunday (even blinds; 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) during the waterfowl and goose season. Hunting will not be permitted the other three days to allow the area to rest.
A $30, non-refundable permit issuance fee will be assessed and collected between the time a reservation is made and the time the Special Use Permit is actually issued to the hunter. The Special Use Permit will allow up to two hunters to use a blind for a two-day period. All permits are non-transferable, which means the person obtaining and signing the Special Use Permit must be in the blind while the blind is in use.
Wilborn Creek and Sullivan Beach Recreation Areas will also be open for early goose season. Hunting will be allowed from September 8th until September 15th. All hunting adjacent to these recreation areas must take place from a boat blind and water must be kept between the shoreline and the boat. Dam West Recreation Area is OFF LIMITS to hunting at all times. All statewide regulations shall apply including but not limited to; shooting hours and bag limits.
For additional information, please contact Park Ranger Tyler Goble at the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at (217) 774-3951, Ext. 7019.