COLUMBUS, OH -- Hunters wishing to apply for a permit to set up a blind to hunt ducks at an Ohio State Park during the 2003-2004 waterfowl hunting season must enter a lottery drawing to be held at selected state park offices on Saturday, August 16.

A limited number of duck blind permits are available at 18 state park locations throughout Ohio. To enter the lottery, applicants must appear in person at a participating state park office and show proof of a 2003 Ohio hunting license, along with a signed 2003 federal duck stamp and 2003 state wetlands stamp endorsement in the applicant's name. Applications will be taken beginning at 7:30 a.m. at most parks, with the lottery drawing at 8 a.m. Exceptions are Deer Creek and A.W. Marion state parks in Pickaway County, where the lotteries will be held at 9 a.m.

Each entrant can apply for only one duck blind permit. No one can apply or draw for another person. There is a $50 non-refundable permit fee for lottery winners. Lottery winners have 45 days to construct their blinds. All blinds must be dismantled by March 15, 2004.

Participating state parks include Portage Lakes and West Branch in northeast Ohio; East Harbor and Lake Loramie in northwest Ohio; Dillon in southeast Ohio; Buck Creek, Caesar Creek, Cowan Lake, East Fork, Hueston Woods, Kiser Lake and Rocky Fork in southwest Ohio; and Alum Creek, A.W. Marion, Buckeye Lake, Deer Creek, Delaware and Indian Lake in central Ohio.

2003 Ohio State Park Duck Blind Lottery Park # Avail. Address Phone County Details Alum Creek 20 3615 South Old State Rd Delaware, OH 43015-9673 (740) 548-4631 Delaware A.W. Marion 3 7317 Warner-Huffer Road Circleville, OH 43113-9235 (740) 869-3124 Pickaway Drawing at 9 a.m., August 16 Buck Creek 20 1901 Buck Creek Lane Springfield, OH 45502-8801 (937) 322-5284 Clark Buckeye Lake 14 2905 Liebs Island Road Millersport, OH 43046-0488 (740) 467-2690 Fairfield Licking Perry Caesar Creek 22 8570 E. State Rte. 73 Waynesville, OH 45068-9719 (513) 897-3055 Warren Clinton Meet at the Main Beach--Beach House Cowan Lake 10 729 Beechwood Rd. Wilmington, OH 45177-9737 (937) 289-2105 Clinton Deer Creek 14 20635 Waterloo Road Mt. Sterling, OH 43143-9501 (740) 869-3124 Pickaway Fayette Drawing at 9 a.m., August 16 Delaware 25 5202 U.S. 23 North Delaware, OH 43015-9714 (740) 369-2761 Delaware Taking applications at 7 a.m. on August 16;Drawing at 8 a.m. Dillon 6 5265 Dillon Hills Drive Nashport, OH 43830-9568 (740) 453-4377 Muskingum East Fork 24 3294 Elklick Rd. Bethel, OH 45106-9327 (513) 734-4323 Clermont East Harbor 5 1169 North Buck Rd. Lakeside-Marblehead, OH 43440-9610 (419) 734-4424 Ottawa Hueston Woods 12 6301 Park Office Rd. College Corner, OH 45003-9040 (513) 523-6347 Preble Butler Indian Lake 34 12774 State Rte. 235 North Lakeview, OH 43331 (937) 843-2717 Logan Kiser Lake 10 4889 North State Route 235 Conover, OH 45317 (937) 362-3822 Champaign Lake Loramie 19 4401 Ft. Loramie Swanders Rd. Minster, OH 45865-9311 (937) 295-2011 Shelby Auglaize Portage Lakes 29 5031 Manchester Road Akron, OH 44319-3999 (330) 644-2220 Summit Rocky Fork 16 9800 North Shore Dr. Hillsboro, OH 45133-9205 (937) 393-4284 Highland Meet at Campground Amphitheater West Branch 16 5708 Esworthy Road, Route #5 Ravenna, Ohio 44266-9659 (330) 296-3239 Portage Meet at the West Boat Launch Ramp

For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:
Jean Backs, Ohio State Parks
(614) 265-7077
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860