Wichita resident Doug Duncan is lucky enough to be able to hunt the Canadas that he calls "city geese" near his home. Photo by Marc Murrell.

Kansas' pheasant and quail hunters wouldn't think of missing opening day of their seasons. Deer hunters, both the archery and firearms kind, feel just about the same, and can't wait until the first legal opportunity to chase their favorite game. But goose hunters?

Except for the unpleasantness of having to wear a suit, they likely wouldn't even mind if they had to attend a wedding on that particular day. Kansas' goose hunting can be very worthwhile on opening day -- but chances are good that it's going to get a whole lot better later on.

"I don't get too fired up about going out opening day," stated veteran goose hunter Doug Duncan. "I like to bowhunt, and November is a great month to do that. We really don't have a lot of geese down normally where I hunt in south-central Kansas, so it just doesn't make much sense."

Duncan isn't alone. It's hard for a waterfowler to get fired up when so many migrating geese are still up north as the goose season kicks off. In fact, it's common for geese numbers to remain low until well after Thanksgiving -- or even Christmas, during a mild fall. And since Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks officials moved the closing date for the dark goose season back into February, there's plenty of time left to hit them while the hunting is good.

And that time is right now!

Where you'll find geese depends almost entirely on the weather. Balmy temperatures find huge wetland complexes still open and reservoirs are good bets, too. But many times these options aren't available, and wintering geese move to flowing water in sizable rivers. And still others seek refuge in the city limits of major metropolitan areas like Wichita, Topeka or Kansas City, flying out only to feed in grain fields in the morning and evening. So depending on the hand dealt by Mother Nature, here's a look at some tips and tactics that may help you add more geese to your bag this month.

WETLANDS, WATERSHEDS AND RESERVOIRS
Shallow-water marshes can hold hundreds of thousands of geese like whitefronts, Canadas and snows if they remain open during the latter part of the season. Two of the most notable are Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. However, several others deserve mention as well and can be equally productive. Neosho, Jamestown and Marais des Cygnes wildlife areas can hold plenty of geese under the right conditions.

Any one of Kansas' 24 reservoirs has plenty of potential for providing goose-hunting opportunity. While many hunters prefer the upper reaches of these reservoirs, still others hunt the open water of the main body. Points extending well into the lake are often preferred for spreads. These shotgunners feel that as these areas are more visible to geese coming back to the reservoir after their morning breakfast, the birds will actually decoy better to many of these areas.

Hunting in either of these locales typically requires the use of a boat. Most of the marshes require some type of mud motor, as they're generally less than 2 feet deep in most instances. Goose hunters using a reservoir oftentimes get by using a small outboard, depending on water levels.

Boats are also handy to carry the large numbers of decoys often required to hunt these waters. Floaters are the norm, while some hunters might opt for a few full-body decoys if there's dry land available. Numbers of decoys used typically is dictated only by the amount a boat can carry. Hunters wanting to use a huge spread often take several boats and pool their resources.

Watershed lakes (large ponds) can be accessed by boat, or many can be hunted from shore. Getting decoys into and out of these areas can be tricky. One inventive goose hunter found just the ticket. Rodger Farmer restored an old Coot (the original ATV) and it worked like a charm. It's got seating for two but others can ride. The bed can be stacked high and tight with bags of decoys. With an added trailer, Farmer can bring most every decoy he owns.