"Spring Lake Marsh has traditionally been a great area for ducks and has a variety of walking pothole hunting along with boat access on the smaller lakes and larger marshes," La Rue said. "The Lily Lake and Spring Lake marshes have traditionally been great areas for ducks. Early duck hunting anywhere in the Spring Run Complex is generally good, but the late-season hunting may require a little scouting to locate those areas that are being intensively used."

The area primarily holds ducks until the geese arrive later on in the season. Even so, some migrating early geese can be taken on their way through the region.

The complex includes Lily, Pleasant and Prairie lakes with plenty of marshy and upland waterfowl habitat. It's a good area for a retriever if you have one to help find downed birds in the swampy conditions.

The Spring Run Wetland Complex is located three miles east of Spirit Lake on Highway 9 and then 2 1/2 miles south on 280th Avenue.

Call the Big Sioux Unit at (712) 336-3524 for more information.

RIVERTON WA
"Riverton is traditionally one of the primary destinations in the state for snow geese and one of the better ones for ducks," said Natural Resources technician John Ross. "We don't get many Canadas, but we pick up pretty much everything else, and it's a great spot for teal. During the opener, we might have as many as 1,200 ducks harvested by 200 or 300 hunters. Almost all of them will limit out on the first day of the season."

The flight days are the days to be on the area, Ross said. Watch the weather and make sure you're in the field on days when a strong north or northwest wind pushes ducks in. The shooting can be great.

Walk-in opportunities are made easier by the mowed paths leading into the area.

Carl Priebe, the area wildlife biologist, also gives the area high marks. He points out that the main Riverton area, a walk-in 200-acre section immediately west of the main section, and the new Jensen Tract, which lies immediately south of the town of Riverton, all generally have good water conditions and are dependable producers.

Nearby Forney Lake in Fremont County and the Willow Slough in Mills County are also good hunts as long as there's been rain. The spring rains will help conditions this fall and if the water is up, these areas might be good sleeper spots.

For additional information, call the Riverton Unit at (712) 374-3133.

BAYS BRANCH WETLANDS
"This is one of the primary wetlands in Guthrie County and is generally in an open-water condition later on in the season," said wildlife biologist Ron Munkel. "It's a popular spot for mallards and is popular among boat hunters because of the deep water in the fall."

The Canada goose hunting can be nothing short of excellent, Munkel said.

Canadas spend most of their feeding time on wheat, bean or other seed-crop fields. Pre-scouting to see where the birds are feeding can cut down on much of the guesswork when it comes to setting up on the public areas. Canadas will roost on the water and then fly out into the surrounding areas to feed. Early morning and late evening shooting can be intense.

The area covers 842 acres of great goose habitat.

Bays Branch Wetlands is within the Closed Canada Goose Management Zone. The southern part of the area is a refuge.

The area covers 842 acres two miles north of Panora on Highway 4, then 2 1/2 miles east on 190th Street in central Iowa.

For additional information, contact the Bays Branch Unit at (641) 332-2019.D