Pre-hunt scouting at the twin lakes is important for any of these species. With such a huge expanse of water, ducks and geese can move, feed and roost at will. You can easily waste a lot of time looking for birds in unproductive spots. So the savvy sportsman gets out there early to do his homework. Scout numerous locations, and have back-up plans in case other hunters get to these locations first. Be prepared to move around as the season progresses.

Not all areas of these lakes are open to hunting. Most hunting is done by boat, but limited walk-in hunting is also available. Prior to hunting, you should familiarize yourself with those regulations specific to Kentucky and Barkley lakes.

YATESVILLE LAKE
Over in the eastern part of the state, September waterfowlers may want to look to Yatesville Lake for some great action. This Lawrence County property provides lots of opportunity.

Regional biologist Rick says that a population of resident geese at Yatesville numbering around 80 to 100 birds. These birds are always in the area, but may not be constantly on the lake. Mauro says they may be present at Yatesville one day, and then be over at the Big Sandy the next.

These birds use Yatesville Lake primarily as a resting and roosting site. During the daytime, they will often fly off to feed in the surrounding agricultural areas and then wing back in the evening to roost.

Hunters can target these flight paths and intercept moving birds. Obviously, learning these flight habits by scouting prior to hunting is vitally important to success.

Mauro says there’s also a fair number of wood ducks at Yatesville. These birds can be found in the upper portion in shallow embayments and where various creeks feed into the lakes. Wood ducks can even be found up the creeks in the more secluded locations.

Blue-winged teal visit the lake, too, but they are much more sporadic and hard to predict. The upper portion of the lake north of Blaine seems to be the best for teal, but they may be found anywhere on the lake at certain times. Teal prefer areas of the lake that are not wooded and have very shallow water. The backs of bays are prime areas to target.

Some parts of Yatesville Lake are closed all year to waterfowl hunting. Primarily, this means the area around the state park and the marina, but you should check current regulations for any other closures. More information on hunting at Yatesville Lake may be obtained by phoning Rick Mauro at (606) 686-3312.

OHIO RIVER
The entire northern stretch of Kentucky is bordered by the Ohio River. Waterfowlers across the state have learned that the river can be a tremendous location for targeting ducks and geese. In September, resident geese are especially numerous along the river corridor.

Resident geese might be found anywhere along the river. They especially like to associate with some of the power plant areas, and are often seen flying back and forth across the river from Kentucky and Indiana.

Geese really take to the river, offering hunters a lot of opportunity. But again, scouting is very important. The birds often develop travel patterns to area fields to feed, then returning to the river later in the day. They will sometimes stay on the same pattern for several days unless hunting pressure or other circumstances push them away. Learning these flight patterns is critical for success.

There are a lot of embayments and flooded areas along the Ohio River, many of which may attract September wood ducks and teal. For teal, hunters should again look for areas that are not wooded, but have lots of shallow water. Of course, wood ducks prefer much more heavily wooded and secluded areas.

Near the river, there are a lot of these types of areas that also attract waterfowl. Sometimes these backwater areas are more productive than the river itself. Some WMAs and other public lands are in close by the river, and can be real hotspots at times.

If one of these areas is near you, trying phoning the WMA office and ask about opportunities for early-season waterfowl.

The early season can be a great time for waterfowlers. But not all areas of public land are open during the early season. Some WMAs and lakes also have closed areas and special hunting regulations. Always know all the legalities of the area before going hunting.