The beauty of the area is not only that it draws lots of geese, but also that hunters aren't limited to just one type of shooting. Open-water boating, deploying shoreline decoy spreads or jump-shooting are all popular approaches to putting a goose in the bag. Laydown blinds are becoming popular with hunters who prefer to stay high and dry; set out a large spread of Canada decoys and ambush birds as they come in to check out the pickings.

The Dunbar Slough WMA in Greene County in the central region of the Hawkeye State. The concentration of open fields and shallow, marshy areas is a draw for migratory geese; you never know just how many birds will be flying in.

For additional information, contact the Bay's Branch Unit at (641) 332-2019.

BLACK HAWK LAKE WMA
"I'd recommend Black Hawk Lake Wildlife Management Area if the water isn't frozen," said biologist Mike Mahn. "Some years we have a significant buildup of Canada geese, while most of the other areas in Sac County like the Kiowa Marsh and Tomahawk Marsh wildlife areas are frozen up this late in the season."

Black Hawk WMA and Blackhawk Lake both offer outstanding late-season hunting. According to Mahn, the large watershed offers both walk-in and boating opportunities for those looking for some of the best winter shooting in the unit. The lake's big enough to accommodate boats larger than most of the other areas can handle.

Generally, the aeration systems operated by the fisheries division keep pockets of water from freezing over entirely, barring severe winter weather. These holes in the ice are magnets for geese, as they provide places for them to congregate for the night.

"The goose hunting is sometimes better later on in the year at Black Hawk than it was earlier in the season," said Mahn. "The aeration systems designed to prevent fish winterkill usually helps keep the water open in spots, and the Canada geese will use it. They'll usually make outbound flights a couple of times a day."

Blackhawk WMA covers 975 Sac County acres, about half of which are upland habitat, with the rest in marsh and forest. For more information contact the Black Hawk Unit at (712) 657-2639.

UNION HILLS WMA
"I'd focus on the bigger areas like Union Hills when it comes to winter geese," said WMA supervisor Jim Jansen. Lots of room and plenty of grass make Union Hills WMA a popular gathering spot for late-season geese, primarily Canadas.

Most of the area habitat is of an upland type, which is the preferred sort of winter feeding ground for geese. A large section of marshy ground provides additional options for the birds.

Frigid weather forces the geese to consume more calories in order to keep their core temperature stable. Roosting or feeding together can create a little protection from plummeting temperatures, but their best defense against hypothermia is to increase food intake. Canada geese will be looking for grain crops and will spend a lot of time eating the same. Hunters with decoys, laydown blinds, flags and calls can score big -- if they hit it just right.

Concealment is crucial. These birds are edgy, as they'll have been shot at several times by this point in the season. Canada geese have an uncanny instinct for detecting threats, and a flock will have several birds on sentry duty while most of the rest are concentrating on feeding. One startled lookout can translate into spooked birds.

The Union Hills WMA covers 1,989 acres in Cerro Gordo County. The area is four miles north of Thornton on SR 107, then two miles west on county Route B55. Contact the Big Marsh Unit for more information at (515) 532-2765.

MORSE LAKE WMA
Owing to its great habitat, this is another of Jansen's top picks. The area, part of the 25-county area in northeastern Iowa that's supervised by Jansen, is well worth mentioning.