The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville is offering additional deer hunting opportunities at Whitley Creek Recreation Area for people with disabilities that have a state issued P2A card. Hunters that are eligible due to their disability will be able to reserve a block of two blinds in the closed portion of the Whitley Creek Recreation Area during archery deer season. In addition, hunters that are eligible due to their disability that have a valid permit for Lake Shelbyville Project Moultrie second shotgun season, which is on December 1 – 4, 2011 or permit for Lake Shelbyville Project Moultrie muzzleloader season, which is on December 9 – 11, 2011 will be allowed to hunt in the Whitley Creek blinds.

Hunting within the Whitley Creek Recreation Area will be allowed by reservation only on Tuesday/Wednesday and Saturday/Sunday throughout the archery season. No hunting by reservation will be allowed in the Whitley Creek Recreation Area during the youth firearm deer season, which is October 8 – 9, 2011 and first firearm deer season, which is November 18 – 20, 2011. Reservations will be taken starting September 12, 2011 by calling (217)-774-3951 ext. 4 or in person at the Lake Shelbyville Project Office, which is located at the east end of the Lake Shelbyville Main Dam off of IL Route 16, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations must be made 3 days in advance of your hunting date. After you make a reservation a special use permit will be issued to you. Only one reservation per hunter may be made at a time and the hunter must have used their previous reservation before signing up for another one.

Additional information and a map of the Whitley Creek Recreation Area blind locations can be found at www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Shelbyville/wildlife.htm . If you have any further questions contact Natural Resource Specialists Lee Mitchell or Ken Pierson at (217) 774-3951.