The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the drawing for Potter’s Marsh waterfowl hunting sites will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at Majestic Pines, 11503 Three Mile Road, Thomson, IL 61285. Applications will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with the drawing to be held at 1:00. A $10 application fee is required. You must apply in person and must be present at the drawing.
When your ticket is drawn in the lottery, select your choice from the 49 available sites. A $100 non-refundable fee is charged for each applicant that receives a hunt site. Applicants are required to show the following information:
1. photo identification
2. 2023 Hunting or Sportsman’s License
3. 2023 Federal Waterfowl Stamp
4. 2023 State Duck Stamp
5. valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card (Illinois residents only.)
Residents under the age of 21 do not need a FOID card, but they must be accompanied by an adult (21 years of age or older) who has a valid card. Non-residents can provide a current-year license and State Duck Stamp from their resident State. Applicants must be a minimum of 16 years of age. For additional information and copies of the regulations, call the Refuge Office at 815-273-2732, or stop in the office at 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson, IL 61285.
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the most-visited refuge in the United States. The refuge extends 261 miles along the Upper Mississippi River from Wabasha, MN, to Rock Island, IL, protecting and preserving habitat for migratory birds, fish, and a variety of other wildlife. In addition, the “Upper Miss” Refuge has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 11 locks and dams, within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 306 species of birds; 119 species of fish; more than 300 active bald eagle nests; thousands of heron and egret nests; spectacular concentrations of canvasback ducks, tundra swans, and white pelicans; several threatened or endangered species.