DUNBAR SLOUGH COMPLEX
"The Dunbar Slough Complex is the largest of the Bays Branch Unit's managed waterfowl areas," Munkel said. "The complex is a combination of state WMAs, federal WPAs, county conservation board and privately owned properties. The private areas are leased and off-limits to hunters, but the rest of it is open to public hunting. There are opportunities for every type of waterfowl hunter and include everything from walk-in to big-boat hunting and early mixed duck to mid- and late-season mallards and Canada geese. When nature cooperates with the management approaches used on the various wetlands in the complex, there can be some outstanding duck and goose hunting opportunities."

Hunters can also boat in with decoy spreads or use laydown blinds on dry ground. For hunters wanting to experiment with different types of hunting, such as flagging, jump-shooting or calling, Dunbar Slough is an ideal place to try them.

Along with the Dunbar Slough complex, Greene County in the central Iowa region presents some of the state's finest waterfowl hunting.

Call the Bays Branch Unit at (641) 332-2019 for additional information.

GOOSE LAKE/FINN POND
These areas aren't far from the Dunbar Slough complex in Greene County but are definitely worth mentioning, especially when hunting pressure is moving the ducks and geese around on Dunbar Slough.

"Goose Lake and Finn Pond are great for those hunters who enjoy the prairie marsh hunting experience," Munkel said. "Finn Pond is a small walk-in area and is usually a good early-season spot, but because it's a small area it can't handle a lot of hunters all at once. Goose Lake, on the other hand, is a larger marsh and is best hunted from a boat. Goose Lake is a heavily hunted area because of the easy boat access and due to its longstanding history of being an excellent waterfowl destination."

There are limited walk-in opportunities, but parts of the area can be hunted without a boat.

Water levels can be a problem, Munkel cautioned, and it's good to check ahead before trailering a boat all the way to the area and then finding that the water levels have dropped. Goose Lake can usually handle larger boats without a problem.

Remember the 50-50-50 rule when on the water this fall. The rule is that if the water temperature is 50 degrees and you fall in and have to swim 50 yards, you only have a 50 percent chance of living. Hypothermia is sneaky even on warmer days.

For more information, call the Bays Branch Unit at (641) 332-2019.