The goose season looks a little more promising for this year, as initial reports show conditions are looking more favorable in the northern breeding grounds. Warmer temperatures have resulted in an early snowmelt, allowing the birds to begin nesting sooner, and providing better overall breeding conditions than in 2004.

As with duck hunting, a good goose season depends heavily on the right weather conditions. A year of normal precipitation and some unusually cold weather up north could be just what the doctor ordered to provide Bluegrass State hunters with some fantastic waterfowl hunting this winter.

So just where should Kentucky's hunters go to get in on some excellent waterfowl hunting? Chances are they won't have to travel far because some great opportunities exist in every region of the state. Here are this year's top picks for waterfowl hunting action in your area.

PURCHASE REGION
It is nearly impossible to carry on a conversation about waterfowl hunting in Kentucky without the mention of Ballard WMA. This 8,373-acre area, 30 miles west of Paducah in Ballard County, is synonymous with excellent waterfowling -- and for good reason. Its prime location along the Ohio River, along with its agricultural base and refuge areas, provides an ideal resting spot for migrating ducks and geese.

Hunting on Ballard WMA is tightly controlled, and hunters must apply during September to ensure they are able to hunt from one of the KDFWR's permanent blinds on their specified dates. However, those who did not put in for the drawing, or those who failed to draw a blind, still have an opportunity to hunt the WMA as a standby. Standby hunters fill the blinds of those drawn hunters who have not checked in by 4:30 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST). All standby hunters must be registered by 5 a.m. CST on the day of the hunt.

Hunting on Ballard is allowed from one-half hour before sunrise until noon, Wednesday through Sunday. The area is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. No more than four hunters may occupy any blind, and each is limited to 25 shotgun shells per day. For more information on hunting Ballard WMA, contact the area office at (270) 224-2244.

For Purchase Region hunters not wanting to deal with the hassle of applications and standby hunting, Pritchert recommends Obion Creek WMA in Hickman, Fulton and Carlisle counties. The 3,521-acre bottomland hardwood swamp can hold good numbers of waterfowl when conditions are right, and the area provides hunters with a unique opportunity for a flooded-timber hunt.

Obion Creek WMA is open to waterfowl hunting under statewide regulations, except that shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. For more information on Obion Creek WMA, contact the local KDFWR office at (270) 753-6913.

GREEN RIVER REGION
Moving east into the Green River region of Kentucky, hunters will find another legendary waterfowling hotspot in the Sloughs WMA. Covering a total of 10,600 acres spread over five separate management units in Henderson and Union counties, the Sloughs terrain consists of alternating ridges, sloughs (as the name implies), woodlands, brushy areas and open fields.

As with Ballard WMA, waterfowl hunting on the area is tightly controlled, and varies from unit to unit. The Duncan II and Crenshaw tracts are set up in a similar fashion to Ballard WMA and require an advanced application where hunters are drawn for two- or three-day hunts. Blinds that are not occupied by one-half hour before shooting time are filled by standby hunters on a first-come, first-served policy.