A lot of hunters during this time period are in the blinds and pits going after both ducks and geese, which is why a good count is tough to reach. The 2005 season has some adjustments from last year in that some of the restrictions around in 2004 were loosened up. In 2003 there was a production failure of migrant geese on the tundra, but they fared better in 2004.

The December hunt is something a lot of diehard goose hunters seem to live for every year. Maxson said the 2005 season should look the same as in years past, and that it seems to be an underutilized time to go after geese.

FOLLOWING THE MIGRATION
Paul Sawyer travels all around the country to film hunts as part of his duties as founder of Knock'm Down Productions. A great deal of that time is spent waterfowling, but he's lost some time this year because he's been busy promoting Knock'm Down's first video "Stranglehold." The video tells the story of the traveling waterfowler -- which is a role he fits perfectly -- and when people find out he's from Minnesota, the first question they ask him is, "What about that Minnesota goose hunting?" All he can do is shake his head, smile and tell them how great the opportunities are, whether you go up to Lake of the Woods for early-season goose or down to Rochester for a classic late-season hunt.

"What seems to intrigue them the most is our late season in December, which I absolutely love hunting," Sawyer said.

When you consider the fact that Sawyer has hunted waterfowl all over North America and South America, it's pretty amazing that there are few other places he would rather spend a December day than a pit in the fields around Rochester.

"The action really gets going in November when the corn is being harvested, and the grain fields are definitely the place to be throughout December," he said.

The Rochester area is such a great hunting opportunity because upward of 40,000 birds winter in town and feed in the adjoining fields during the day. This is not something only found in Rochester, but the combination of available hunting land and sheer numbers is tough to beat. Similar conditions can be found around the Mississippi River in the southeast portion of Minnesota, and any place where open water exists throughout the month.

If the cold doesn't seem as good as it does to Sawyer, there are plenty of opportunities in October and November. Depending on how the fall migration is going, there can still be some great hunting in the north around Lake of the Woods since it is a natural staging area for the giant geese as they make their migration south. Most of the birds have cleared out by November, so be sure to check the most up-to-date reports.

Sawyer said a good location for honkers in October and early November are the fields around Fergus Falls where big migrators are actually coming back to hang out before making another push south. Later in the season he likes the area around Lac qui Parle in southwestern Minnesota.

Rookie goose hunters in Minnesota tend to have a difficult time, but seasoned hunters know that chasing geese is only as difficult as you make it. Understanding the biology, habitat and behavior of Canadas is the key, and this can be done either through individual study or by tagging along with a seasoned hunter. Hiring one of the numerous outfitters or hunting guides can help figure out great places to start and make the climb up the learning curve a smoother one.

If tagging along with a hunter is not possible, you can certainly check out one of the controlled hunts at Lac qui Parle, Roseau or Thief Lake WMAs. These are DNR-sponsored hunts that only allow a certain number of hunters -- selected by a daily lottery -- to hunt from permanent pits or blinds.