Kentucky's long-time ardent waterfowlers have found in recent years that hunting ducks in December and January has been much more productive than chasing Canada geese. Weather and habitat changes over the last decade have changed the face of waterfowling from what many sportsmen knew years ago.

And since duck hunting has proved best to pursue on most of the state's suitable public lands versus geese, it makes good sense to consider a visit to some of the better wildlife management areas this month and see what you can find.

Kentucky offers about a dozen different locations that attract ducks under certain conditions. Yet, no matter where you choose, the key is scouting ahead of time, watching the weather and being flexible enough to get out there quickly. You'll find action when it's cold to the north, flooding occurs and "freeze-overs" happen on the smaller, still water ponds and lakes. It may be in timbered backwater, or on big, open expanse of lakes across the Commonwealth.

Let's peruse what's available at a few of the most consistent duck holding wildlife management areas (WMAs) Kentucky has, so you can go in knowing how to plan for a morning or two this season when things get right. We'll select one area from east, central and western thirds of the state and compare how these spots stack up.

The very first thing duck hunters must do is to get a hold of the current Waterfowl Hunting Season Guide. It spells out season dates and all other restrictions or special processes hunters have to follow for duck hunting on public lands. You may also want to give the WMA manager a call for any spot you want to try. He or she will be the best source of immediate condition information.

GRAYSON LAKE WMA
In eastern Kentucky, Grayson Lake WMA is the first decent-sized hole of water south of the Ohio River corridor that ducks come across in their southern migration. The nearly 8,000-acre waterway in Carter and Elliott counties is covered with a good bit of timber, and is prone to some flooding of embayments, which draw ducks of various types under cold weather conditions to the north.

Grayson Lake WMA does not have a great deal of development along its shoreline, nor much wintertime fishing activity to disturb waterfowl that swing in for a few days before moving on. The lack of well-developed interior roads knocks back the number of hunters as well. It's not a bad spot to try when conditions are favorable.

About the only thing to stay clear of here is the marina near the dam, Deer Creek Fork of the Lake and the shoreline of the KDFWR's summer conservation Camp Webb. Otherwise, woody coves or main lake banks are available for boat hunting, or there are some spots you can set up on land in standing water bottoms on the area.