OTTER CREEK MARSH
"One of the largest areas I have in my unit is Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County," said Rick Trine, wildlife management biologist for the Otter Creek Unit. "The hunting is good if the water is open, and that all depends on the weather."

Shooters can either walk or boat into the area. Most of the area's 3,400 acres are wetlands, but forest and open land are mixed in as well.

"The marsh is usually frozen up in December because the marsh is shallow," Trine stated. "If the area is frozen over, the geese will usually move off to nearby lakes such as Diamond, Ponderosa and Holiday lakes. These lakes will usually have open water through December, and can get good concentrations of birds if Otter Creek Marsh is frozen. Holiday and Ponderosa lakes are privately owned, so guys field-hunt around them on private property. Diamond Lake is owned by the county, and is located outside Montezuma in Poweshiek County."

The determining factor in winter goose location is open water, noted Trine. "Field-hunting is generally what goes on around here this time of the year," he said. "The same thing happens around several pits near Marengo in Iowa County. The hunters chase the geese out and field-hunt them."

Experts like Alicie recommend doing things a little differently when geese are being difficult. He's found calling to be very effective, but puts a spin on it that most of us wouldn't consider using: When calling to passing geese, he starts out slow until the geese begin to show some interest. "The calling should be minimal until they get close," he said. "Then let them have it."

What Alicie is trying to communicate to the arriving honkers is that the area's taken, and that the newcomers should just keep right on flying -- not exactly the message most callers are trying to send. In goose-speak, the message is clear: I've got something that I don't want to share. The new arrivals invariably decide that they're going to do just the opposite and stop by to see what's on the dinner table.

"I keep this up until I shoot," Alicie said, "and it works great!"

The Otter Creek Marsh is a mile northwest of Chelsea on E66. Diamond Lake is two miles east, then two miles north of Montgomery. Only electric motors are allowed on the lake. For more information call the Otter Creek Unit at (641) 752-5521.

INGHAM-HIGH WETLANDS COMPLEX
"The Ingham-High complex," said wildlife management biologist Bryan Hellyer of the Ingham Management Unit in Estherville, "consists of a mix of restored and remnant prairies and prairie wetlands, which are very attractive to migrating waterfowl.

"December goose hunting consists primarily of field-hunting within cropfields outside of the closed area. Distances vary greatly depending on the availability of food, weather conditions and staging areas. For the most part, geese can be successfully hunted within about six miles of the closed area which provides a lot of opportunities for hunters."

The 17-square mile Canada Goose Closed Area within the wildlife unit in Emmet County is a major staging area for geese, reported Hellyer. The closed area has numerous picked cropfields, and is an important factor in holding migrants. Depending on weather conditions, numbers usually range between 10,000 and 15,000 Canadas from late October through December.

Access to the Ingham-High Wildlife Unit is five miles east of Wallingford on A34. The unit covers 3,119 acres.

Nearby West Swan Lake is another Emmet County hotspot. The 1,000-acre lake can draw loads of honkers.