Keep in mind that birds will usually be closer together when the snow is flying or the temperatures are nose-diving. When the skies are clear and the sun is shining, the Canadas tend to spread out, a characteristic of feeding birds that you need to make note of. The ratio of feeding birds to sentries should be low to imitate a sense of security, as edgy birds don't draw much company. Your goal is to tell passing birds that they're missing out on the easy pickin's down below.

When there's snow cover, Knight takes the feet off his full-bodied decoys to create the appearance of birds that are relaxed and sitting while feeding.

Canadas need to land into the wind. If conditions are calm or the wind is light, they may land without circling from the direction of their approach. Put the sun behind you and the wind on the side when you can. If you have to decide between the two, opt for the sun behind your back.

It's all good, according to Mike Schoof, the assistant property manager. The Stucker Fork FWA covers 1,528 acres near Scottsburg.

Scott, Jennings and Jackson counties lead the region with easements that can be hunted. These properties provide excellent sources of food and draw in flights of both migrants and resident geese.

When everything is frozen, you'll need to find open water wherever the opportunity presents itself. Canada geese readily take advantage of the power plant cooling ponds and other open-water sections of the larger river systems.

For more information on Stucker Fork, contact the Crosley FWA at (812) 346-5596 or District 14 at (812) 346-6888.

Tourism information is available from the Greater Scott County Chamber of Commerce at (812) 752-4080 or online at ???.

LAGRANGE COUNTY
Adam Phelps, the state's Waterfowl Research biologist, gives the Pigeon River FWA a thumbs up as a winter goose destination. It may be the only significant spot in the county open to public hunting, but it's a spot that makes LaGrange worth mentioning.

The area is large and you'll need the right equipment to bring down a goose on a distance shot.

"Late-season geese will have fattened up and have a heavy layer of down," Knight said. "I like to use larger shot and high-velocity loads, and the ones on the market today are excellent. Make sure you've already patterned your gun with the actual load and choke combination you'll be using. Not patterning their guns ahead of time may be the biggest mistake goose hunters make."

Canadas will be looking for harvested grain fields of soybeans, corn, winter wheat or alfalfa. Once they start feeding on a field, they'll keep returning to it until the field is used up or they've been chased off one time too many.

The best shooting will be during the morning flights out to the fields. The colder the weather, the better the hunting will usually be. Geese use up a lot of energy to stay warm and have to move out into the fields to eat.