SOUTHWEST
In southwest Georgia, reported WRD biologist Brandon Rutledge, the top waterfowl area is Lake Seminole. The 50-year-old U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment at the junction of the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers covers 37,500 acres, with a lot of that water shallow and loaded with hydrilla -- both factors attractive to waterfowl.

"The primary species is wood ducks, but some mallards, canvasbacks, redheads and mergansers also show up in the mix," Rutledge noted. "Hunters should get out and scout the lake and use binoculars to do some long-distance viewing to determine the lake areas, sloughs and creeks the ducks are using."

In that same quadrant of the state, another spot for ducks is Walter F. George Reservoir -- "Lake Eufaula," as it is often known. Another Corps project, it floods 45,180 acres to the south of Columbus and stretches for 85 miles along the Chattahoochee River, with 640 miles of shoreline on the Georgia-Alabama border. It all provides a lot of room for those targeting ducks and geese.

The impoundment is adjacent to the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. According to Greg Balkcom, the backwaters of Pataula, Drag Nasty, Soapstone and Bushahatchee creeks are best for ducks, while geese can sometimes be intercepted around the main-lake islands as they move up and down the reservoir. It's always a good idea to keep a good pair of binoculars in the boat to observe the waterfowl travel patterns and see where they are flying from in the mornings.

The Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge is known as a premier duck-hunting location in this region of Georgia. It has an active waterfowl management program, which involves drawing down ponds for planting small grains for ducks.

In the Georgia portion of the refuge, on the Bradley impoundment, duck hunts are held on Saturdays until noon during the state season. All other areas within Eufaula Refuge are closed to waterfowl hunting.

Overall, hunters visiting Eufaula NWR can expect good duck hunting. During the 2006-07 season hunters in 15 blind locations -- each with up to three hunters -- harvested 1,020 ducks in the Georgia section of the refuge.

Hunting blinds are available on the NWR through a quota system. Hunters may apply for the quota hunts from Aug. 1 to Sept. 15. Standby hunters may fill unclaimed blinds by random draw the morning of each hunt. Those drawn must pony up a $15 fee per hunter; this is payable only by check or money order -- no cash payments accepted.

Check out all available hunts online at www.fws.gov/eufaula, or call (334) 687-4065 for more information.

MIDDLE GEORGIA
Greg Balkcom pointed to lakes Juliette, Oconee and Sinclair as the best bets for ducks and geese in the mid-state region.

Lake Oconee's 19,050 acres stretch across portions of Greene, Hancock, Morgan and Putnam counties. The upper end of the lake on the Oconee River arm is situated within the Oconee National Forest, while a portion of shore near the Wallace Dam on the lower lake is in the Oconee Wildlife Management Area.

For the best waterfowl action, try the upper end of the lake, north of Interstate 20. Concentrate your efforts in the shallow water bordered by lands of the Oconee NF. You may have to use a flat-bottomed johnboat with a push poles and paddle to access the better areas.

One of the best opportunities for duck hunting at Lake Oconee is on the Dan Denton Waterfowl Area, in the Oconee WMA just downstream of Wallace Dam. This impoundment attracts ducks, but also strong demand for the available quota slots. The chance of being drawn for a hunt slot is about 25 percent, but with a reject slip, your chances increase each year you apply. Complete information on these hunts can be found at www.gohuntgeorgia.com.