Drawings announced for duck blinds

With excitement building over the upcoming season, duck hunters should be aware that drawings for permanent duck blinds will be held at various locations around the state on Sat., Sept. 23.

Although permits are not required for temporary blinds that are removed at the end of a day's hunt, some hunters prefer to hunt from the comfort of a permanent duck blind.

*Anyone interested in applying for a permanent blind must appear in person at the drawing site.

*Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.

*Unless exempt, applicants must have a valid state waterfowl license and federal duck stamp, as well as a valid Oklahoma hunting or combination license.

*Anyone applying for a blind must have a valid Harvest Information Program Permit.

*Only one duck blind permit is allowed per person.

Drawings for permanent blinds at lakes Eufaula, Webbers Falls and Fort Gibson will be held at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Northeast Regional Office near Porter.

The drawing for blinds at Ft. Gibson Lake will be held at 8:30 a.m.

followed by drawings for Lake Eufaula at 10 a.m., and Webbers Falls at 11:30 a.m.

Registration begins one hour before each drawing. For more information about the drawings for these lakes, call the Department's Porter office at (918) 683-1031.

Drawing requirements and information about blind permits for other lakes are outlined below: Hulah Lake - Registration begins Sept. 23, at 8 a.m., followed by the drawing at 9 a.m. at the Copan/Hulah Lake Corps of Engineers project office (located just west of the intersection of Highways 10 & 75). For more information, contact Bill Sartin, Wildlife Department wildlife biologist, at (918) 349-2281 or (918) 629-5108.

Waurika - Permits are unlimited, but a drawing will be held for hunters to select the site of their choice Sept. 23 at 9 a.m., at the Waurika Corps of Engineers project office.

Additional drawings will occur for W.D. Mayo, Canton and Ft. Supply Lakes, but information on dates, times and drawing locations for these lakes are not available at this time.