EASY-CHAIR SCOUTING
The DNR posts a weekly "Minnesota Waterfowl Migration and Hunting Report" at www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/waterfowl based on field observations by area wildlife biologists and managers. The report is usually posted by Thursday and is the most comprehensive report out there that focuses solely on Minnesota. It includes information on habitat conditions, weather conditions, migration observations and reports from hunters.

Another very effective online tool for scouting geese can be found at www.waterfowler.com. The site offers a GIS real-time migration mapping system that features reports provided by over 100,000 waterfowlers. Anybody can file a report as long as they pledge to be accurate, and preferably provide regular information.

Hunters who access www.waterfowler.com can choose from six different maps and read the specifics of each report. The map averages the input from all participants, and it updates every 15 minutes. The map is purged of data at midnight each night. Sawyer said he highly recommends waterfowler.com as a comprehensive clearinghouse of information.

The only word of caution about www.waterfowler.com is that the information posted is done by individuals rather than by agencies that are required to post credible information. Another thing to remember is that the DNR is going to post reports good or bad, while most hunters aren't too eager to let everybody in on a hot location until it begins to cool down.

One of the problems with both of those Web sites is they tell you what happened, not necessarily what is going to happen. Careful observers can interpret what's going to happen, but the best tools are found at www.weather.com or at www.weather.gov. Watching the weather for wind direction and movements of fronts are keys for waterfowling. Don't forget to keep an ear open to the latest agricultural reports, too. When the grain is harvested, it is a sure bet that the geese will be on the fields for the dinner bell.

As good as all this is, there is still no beating the scouting that can only be done in the field. Checking out the lakes and wetlands at dawn or the crop fields during the day is still the best way to determine where the geese are holding up. Find them a few days before your hunt and you'll have time to find landowners in the area willing to let you hunt or public hunting lands that are less crowded.

A good map such as the Public Recreation Information Maps (PRIM) published by the DNR can make in-the-field scouting considerably easier. Plat book maps can help determine property designations and ownership, but door knocking, a friendly demeanor and good hunting ethics tend to remain the time-tested approach. Landowners like hunters they can trust on their land. Make a good relationship this season and you may have a location for years to come.

STAY ETHICAL AND LEGAL
Resident waterfowl hunters over age 16 must have a valid Minnesota Waterfowl Stamp signed across the face, a valid federal Migratory Bird Hunting Conservation Stamp signed in ink across the face, proof of Minnesota HIP registration and, an eligible license such as a small-game license. Check the regulations for prices and information on HIP certification.

Some of the more common violations include having more than three shells in the gun at one time, possessing toxic shot, having an overlimit of an individual species, improper licensing and wanton waste. To avoid the last one, waterfowlers need to make sure their shotgun has been properly patterned, that they are taking shots within range and that they make an effort to retrieve downed waterfowl.

A good hunter always reads the regulations each season, so be sure to pick up or download a copy. There really is no excuse for not being up to date on the regulations and bag limits.

Hunting geese during the cold weather of November and December can be pretty comfortable when sitting in a pit either on a field or wetland. The air is cold but the ground is still holding on to some warmth, enough to make it worth checking out. But whether sitting in a pit or a makeshift blind, get out there to hunt those Minnesota geese. There are plenty of them, and it's the best waterfowling opportunity available here in honker heaven these days.