Like Ballard WMA, these large bodies of water rely heavily on migrant geese from the north to really heat up the hunting opportunities.

There are local birds that use the area, however, and as the temperatures drop and the smaller lakes and ponds start to freeze, more birds will concentrate on the open waters of the big lakes.

Several refuge areas are located on these lakes, so be sure to pick up a map at the Land Between the Lakes office before heading afield.

WEST-CENTRAL GOOSE ZONE
The West-Central Goose Zone includes Muhlenberg and Ohio counties south of the Rough River; Butler County west of Highway 79 and north of state Route (SR) 70; and Hopkins County east of SRs 813 and 109, south of U.S. Route 41 and Madisonville. This zone basically encompasses the public lands of Peabody WMA.

Peabody WMA consists of approximately 40,000 acres of reclaimed strip-mined land, dotted with numerous ponds and pits where birds will rest and roost.

Some of the land that was formerly leased by the KDFWR has changed hands in recent years. Two areas on the WMA are now set aside as a waterfowl refuge, so a good map and some on-the-ground scouting are in order to locate the most productive public land areas.

All hunters using Peabody WMA must first obtain a $12.50 user permit. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until 2 p.m. daily. Maps are available from area stores, as well as from the KDFWR by calling 1-800-858-1549.

EASTERN GOOSE ZONE
By far the largest of the five, the Eastern Goose Zone encompasses the entire state east of the Pennyroyal/Coalfield Goose Zone, with the exception of the small, four-county Northeast Goose Zone.

Most of the hunting opportunities in this zone center on private lakes and ponds, or the agricultural fields close to them.

Fortunately for hunters, most farmers don't care much for the local geese or are indifferent to them. Getting permission to hunt is not nearly as difficult as if you were asking to hunt deer or turkeys.

A little time spent driving back roads and scouting the area should be enough to pinpoint some potential locations for a productive hunt.

Even if you don't have access to private land for yourself, all hope is not lost. A couple of U.S. Army Corps of Engineer lakes in the area have huntable populations of resident geese. And as with Kentucky and Barkley lakes to the west, once the cold weather hits and the small farm ponds freeze over, these lakes can become magnets for local birds.

One such place is Taylorsville Lake in Spencer, Nelson, and Anderson counties. Located just 30 minutes southeast of Louisville, the 3,050-acre lake provides goose-hunting opportunities from either a boat or from a temporary day blind along the bank.

Keep in mind that many of the lake's banks are steep and the water gets deep quickly, so use caution when placing decoys from the bank. Eastern Goose Zone season dates apply, and all blinds must maintain a distance of 200 yards from any other blind. The area east of the Van Buren boat ramp is closed from November 1 to March 1 as a waterfowl refuge.

Another alternative in the Eastern Goose Zone is Green River Lake WMA in Taylor and Adair counties. At 8,200 acres, the lake is much larger than its counterpart to the north, but should offer similar goose hunting opportunities.

As on Taylorsville Lake, hunters on Green River Lake may hunt from boats or temporary day blinds on a first-come, first-served basis. Shooting hours at Green River Lake end at 2 p.m.