"When we do aerial flight surveys during the season, you'd be surprised how many V-formations we see on pond surfaces that tell us a group of ducks are there. But you'd otherwise not know it from normal ground level observation, until they fly up in front of you," said Pritchert.

Some of our management areas have several small impoundments and creeks that run through the property. It might not be a bad idea to investigate those spots, too, for a slip-in hunt. Sometimes when you get up a little bunch of birds unexpectedly, they will come back in a little later, and give you good shots. You just have to keep your eyes open and hang around a while, or take a walk and come back ready next time.

PAINTSVILLE & CAVE RUN LAKE WMAs
If you go to the southeastern part of Kentucky, you can just about count on one hand how many waterfowl permits are sold each year. There's just not much duck hunting going on.

In the northeastern region, bigger reservoirs like Cave Run Lake and Yatesville Lake get some action when conditions are right, much of which happens in timbered coves on these waters.

If you can make the time to visit these lakes and motor around on them a little, it shouldn't take you too long to determine if birds are using these lakes for stopovers. What's great about these places is that there are hardly any special requirements for duck hunting other than the statewide season laws on these lakes, which gives hunters maximum versatility.

"There are times when flights of birds show up around these lakes and other nearby bodies of water, and they usually wind up lounging in the tree-lined coves for the most part," said Pritchert.

Most hunters will watch for a higher traffic pattern of movement, get in position to intercept, get settled and try to work passing birds into shotgun range. After a while, they may relocate to another embayment where they've noticed activity and hit several locations within a morning's time.

No matter which tactic you use, if you choose to hunt a public waterway or wildlife management area, it's imperative that you review the laws for each place. On larger WMAs, you'll generally find an area manager stationed on site, or a public lands biologist, who can help you with details and sometimes waterfowl usage reports.

Above all, keep tabs on the weather. A day or two after a good hard cold snap to the north is usually your best bet for finding migrating ducks and geese coming through. You just have to get out there and see if they show up sometimes, using the best available knowledge you've got.

Complete late waterfowl hunting season information is published in the 2006-07 Kentucky Waterfowl Hunting Guide, available online at fw.ky.gov under "Hunting," or by calling the KDFWR Information Center weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern, at 1-800-858-1549. You may also want to request the agency's Guide to Wildlife Management Areas, and perhaps the booklet on Kentucky's Boating and Fishing Access Sites for getting on public waterways this winter.

Last of all, please remember that cold weather dictates outfitting with a particular type of clothes and shoes, and that boating in cold weather means taking no chances. You don't want to be miserably uncomfortable out there. Should a problem come up, not a lot of other people are going to be on the water in December and January if you need help.

Have your equipment in good working order, and leave someone else with your hunt plan and an estimated return time. Be sure your personal floating devices are at hand, should anything unexpected occur.

It's not often that something other than the ducks and dogs wind up in the water. But better to over-prep a little than take unnecessary risks.