April 28, 2021 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District, Wallisville Lake Project, Waterfowl Management Program is accepting seasonal duck blind drawing submissions by mail from May 1 to June 30, 2021, for the upcoming 2021/2022 waterfowl hunting season.
A total of 50 seasonal duck blind construction permits will be offered along with 20 standby positions for this upcoming season.
“This year we have incorporated a standby process into our drawing, which has been one of the most requested changes to our waterfowl program” said Mark Tyson, natural resource specialist with the Galveston District.
Applicants may only apply for the duck blind drawing by mailing a 3X5 white notecard containing their name, address, telephone number and email. Notecards must be mailed to Wallisville Lake Project Attn: Duck Blind Drawing P.O. Box 293 Wallisville, TX 77597. Applicants are encouraged to purchase delivery confirmation to ensure their application was received, as there will be no way for the Project Office to confirm receipt once the notecard is placed into the drawing bin.
No other form of application (previous years applications, letters, in-person visits, etc.) will be accepted. All applicants must be at least 18 years old, and only one application per household address will be accepted. Notecards received after June 30, 2021, will not be included in the applicant pool.
“A random drawing will be held July 1, 2021, to select 50 permit winners and 20 standby positions,” said Tyson. “Permit selectees and standbys will be notified in mid-July by email and provided further instructions.”
According to Tyson, a blind location-selection meeting will be held in August 2021 via telephone. All blind selectees who compete the required paperwork will be called via telephone to select a blind location, be issued a duck blind permit, and a USACE hunting permit. No make-up meetings or appointments will be offered to select a blind or to receive a permit.
Local, state and federal laws are enforced on all USACE-managed lands at the Wallisville Lake Project. Tyson urges hunters to know and understand the rules and regulations before heading to their favorite hunting spots and offers the following guidance:
Located 40 miles east of downtown Houston at the Trinity River and Interstate 10, the Wallisville Lake Project is designed primarily to prevent the intrusion of saltwater up the Trinity River in order to conserve fresh water and to protect fresh water intakes for local municipalities, including the City of Houston. In addition to protecting the fresh water supply, the project supports navigation of commercial and recreational boats, serves as a water supply, is a favorite recreational destination among Houstonians and supports an array of fish and wildlife habitats.
For more news and information, visit the Galveston District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict.