William W. Powers State Recreation Area
Site Contact Information
Office Phone: 773-646-3270
Office Address: 12949 South Avenue O, Chicago, IL 60633
Site Coordinates: 41.65979 -87.5391
County: Cook
Site Map
Site Specific Application
The Archery Deer Application is now available. Only one application is allowed for each individual. Illinois residents only. Applications must be received by August 15th.
Site Characteristics
Huntable Acres: 459
Habitat: The majority of the site exists as open water acres, of varying depth, in the form of Wolf Lake. During turbulent conditions on Lake Michigan, waterfowl frequently come inland to Wolf Lake, and other areas, to find shelter and food. The remaining land portions of the site are predominantly forested. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site, including prescribed burning.
Site/Species Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations, in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, apply at site unless noted hereafter.
A waterfowl hunter check-station is operated by IDNR site staff at the site’s south entrance on 130th Avenue. Waterfowl hunters are required to check-in, and report waterfowl hunting effort/harvest, in order to check-out each day. For more information, see the waterfowl section below.
Waterfowl blind specifications are provided at annual duck blind drawing (last Saturday of the last full weekend in July). See all general Waterfowl Regulations here.
Deer archery hunters selected via lottery will be required to record hunting effort and harvest on a site issued Windshield Card for each day hunted. For more information, see the deer section below.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Archery hunting opportunities are allocated through a site-administered lottery. Lottery applications may be submitted by Illinois Residents only.
- Fillable PDF application forms are available in the Site Specific Application section above during the open application period. Application forms may be submitted via email (preferred), or by mail. During the application period, hardcopy application forms may also be available at the William W. Powers site office.
- Two-week hunting periods will allocated to successful applicants.
- A mandatory meeting will be held annually for all successful applicants and drawn alternates. Applicants must attend the meeting and be present to accept the opportunity. Current year’s Illinois Hunting License and Habitat stamp must be brought to the meeting. Archery deer tag(s) will need to be purchased prior to hunting (per statewide regulations).
- Each archery hunter will be assigned a specific hunting period. All hunters must be able to show proof of a current Illinois hunting license, archery deer permits, and site-issued deer hunting permit upon request during their hunt.
- Successful applicants will be given a Site Windshield Card/Hunter Harvest Card at the mandatory meeting. This card must be visible through the vehicle windshield while hunting.
- Hunters must maintain accurate records of each hunt. The Hunter Harvest Card (back of Windshield Card) must be returned to the District Wildlife Biologist by February 1. Failure to submit report will result in the loss of eligibility for future hunts.
- Stands/blinds and gut piles must be a minimum of 75 yards from designated trails.
- Hunters may leave stands unattended, but stands must be marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number.
- Stands/blinds may be setup on the first day of assigned hunting period by each hunter and may remain the entire assigned period.
- Stands/blinds must be removed on the last day assigned to each hunter.
- Spectators are not allowed in the area unless assisting or mentoring the hunter (the assigned hunter is the legal hunter)
Chronic Wasting Disease:
- Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in Cook County. All harvested deer should be tested for CWD. Further information regarding CWD, including sampling locations, may be found here.
- CWD sampling: A barrel is located within James Pate Philip State Park (at the IDNR Region 2 building in Bartlett) by the employee entrance. If it is outside of normal hours (or the biologist is not present), please deposit the head (with upper few vertebrae left attached) in the barrel and fill out the necessary paperwork. Feel free to call/email the District Wildlife Biologist to possibly schedule a sampling opportunity. Alternatively, vendors for sampling can also be found here.
Firearm
Not available at this site.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Not available at this site.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Turkey
Not available at this site.
Waterfowl
Ducks/Coots/Mergansers
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting occurs Wednesday through Sunday during the regular waterfowl season.
- Hunting is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
- Hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. each hunt day.
- Early teal season hunting is not available at this site.
Hunter Registration/Check-In Procedures:
- Hunters must check-in at the IDNR waterfowl hunter check-station located at the 130th Avenue entrance (South Gate, Ranger Station). Check station opens at 5 a.m. each operational day on a first-come, first-served basis.
- One traffic line will be marked for “Blind Builders” who intend to claim their blind.
- A second traffic line will be marked as “Standby” for all other hunters. (Standby hunters are those who do not own their own blind, as well as blind builders wanting to hunt out of a blind not their own)
- All hunters must check-in at least one hour prior to shooting time each day.
- Hunters on standby will be checked-in after those hunters who own blinds.
- Registered blind builders or partners desiring to claim their blind site must occupy their blind within 30 minutes prior to legal opening time.
- Sites left unclaimed on any given day will be assigned to “Standby” hunters for the day. Blind sites not legally occupied by hunters by 30 minutes prior to legal opening time may be claimed on a first-come, first-served basis during the hunter check-in process.
- Hunters wishing to move to another blind during their daily hunt must report back to the check-station for reassignment.
- No person shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, waterfowl and coots, except from within a registered blind site. Due to sudden drop-offs in subaquatic terrain, a boat or dog is required as a retrieval system.
- At the time of check-in, all hunters must acquire a daily harvest report card.
Hunter Check-Out/Harvest Reporting Procedures:
At the end of each hunt, all hunters must check-out by returning their issued harvest card by 2 p.m.:
- Hunters must deposit their “Harvest Card” into the box (below the mailbox) at the William W. Powers Visitor Center (near Smokey the Bear), even if no waterfowl were harvested, by 2 p.m. each day.
ATTENTION: Waterfowl Hunter Safety and Etiquette Rules:
- No person shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, duck/coots/mergansers/geese, except from within a registered blind site.
- Due to sudden drop-offs in subaquatic terrain, a boat or dog is required for harvest retrieval.
Once all hunters have signed out, hunters may use the State Line Road Hunting area to work your hunting dogs. - All shots must be subject to the following shooting orientation, failure to obey the assigned shooting orientation of your blind location will result in forfeiture of blind, banned from entering next years’ blind drawing, and possible law-enforcement citations. See below:
Blind #1 (permeant): North
Blind # 2 (permeant): North
Blind # 3 (permeant): North, East, West
Blind # 4 (permeant): North
Blind # 5 (boat): West
Blind # 6 (boat): South
Blind # 7 (boat): North
Blind # 8 (boat): West
Blind # 9 (boat): West
Blind # 10 (permeant): East
Blind # 11 (boat): East
Blind # 12 (boat): East
Blind # 13 (boat): East
Blind # 14 (boat): Northeast
Blind # 15 (boat): Northwest
Blind # 16 (boat): West
Blind # 17 (permeant): West
Blind # 18 (permeant): West
Blind # 19 (permeant): West
Blind #20 (permeant): South, East
Goose
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting occurs Wednesday through Sunday during the regular goose season.
- Hunting is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
- Hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. each hunt day.
- Early season Canada goose hunting is not available.
- Conservation Order Light Geese season hunting is not available.
Hunter Registration/Check-In Procedures:
- Hunters must check-in at the IDNR waterfowl hunter check-station located at the 130th Avenue entrance (South Gate, Ranger Station). Check station opens at 5 a.m. each operational day on a first-come, first-served basis.
- One traffic line will be marked for “Blind Builders” who intend to claim their blind.
- A second traffic line will be marked as “Standby” for all other hunters. (Standby hunters are those who do not own their own blind, as well as blind builders wanting to hunt out of a blind not their own)
- All hunters must check-in at least one hour prior to shooting time each day.
- Hunters on standby will be checked-in after those hunters who own blinds.
- Registered blind builders or partners desiring to claim their blind site must occupy their blind within 30 minutes prior to legal opening time.
- Sites left unclaimed on any given day will be assigned to “Standby” hunters for the day. Blind sites not legally occupied by hunters by 30 minutes prior to legal opening time may be claimed on a first-come, first-served basis during the hunter check-in process.
- Hunters wishing to move to another blind during their daily hunt must report back to the check-station for reassignment.
- No person shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, waterfowl and coots, except from within a registered blind site. Due to sudden drop-offs in subaquatic terrain, a boat or dog is required as a retrieval system.
- At the time of check-in, all hunters must acquire a daily harvest report card.
Hunter Check-Out/Harvest Reporting Procedures:
At the end of each hunt, all hunters must check-out by returning their issued harvest card by 2 p.m.:
- Hunters must deposit their “Harvest Card” into the box (below the mailbox) at the William W. Powers Visitor Center (near Smokey the Bear), even if no waterfowl were harvested, by 2 p.m. each day.
ATTENTION: Waterfowl Hunter Safety and Etiquette Rules:
- No person shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, duck/coots/mergansers/geese, except from within a registered blind site.
- Due to sudden drop-offs in subaquatic terrain, a boat or dog is required for harvest retrieval.
Once all hunters have signed out, hunters may use the State Line Road Hunting area to work your hunting dogs. - All shots must be subject to the following shooting orientation, failure to obey the assigned shooting orientation of your blind location will result in forfeiture of blind, banned from entering next years’ blind drawing, and possible law-enforcement citations. See below:
Blind #1 (permeant): North
Blind # 2 (permeant): North
Blind # 3 (permeant): North, East, West
Blind # 4 (permeant): North
Blind # 5 (boat): West
Blind # 6 (boat): South
Blind # 7 (boat): North
Blind # 8 (boat): West
Blind # 9 (boat): West
Blind # 10 (permeant): East
Blind # 11 (boat): East
Blind # 12 (boat): East
Blind # 13 (boat): East
Blind # 14 (boat): Northeast
Blind # 15 (boat): Northwest
Blind # 16 (boat): West
Blind # 17 (permeant): West
Blind # 18 (permeant): West
Blind # 19 (permeant): West
Blind #20 (permeant): South, East
Snipe/Rail
Not available at this site.
Youth Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland/Small Game
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Hunting
Not available at this site.
Trapping
Not available at this site.
Amenities
- Boat ramp
- Trails
- Hunting
- Fishing
- More information