A Georgia Power Company reservoir lying just north of Milledgeville, Lake Sinclair spans 14,750 acres along the Oconee River, just downstream of Lake Oconee. Both ducks and geese congregate on the north end of the lake just downstream of Lake Oconee's Wallace Dam. In the early-morning hours, waterfowl can be intercepted as they both depart from and return to the lake.

Setting up a blind on main-lake points or around the few islands can pay off. But make sure to stay back 300 yards from boat docks, marinas and houses.

Lake Juliette is another Georgia Power impoundment situated in Monroe County, just northwest of Macon and due east of Forsyth. Built in 1980, it spans 3,600 acres.

At Juliette, ducks move in from the ash ponds of Georgia Power Company's Plant Scherer on the north side of the impoundment or from the nearby Ocmulgee River. The birds usually fly to the upper end of the lake, near the Holly Grove Public Use Area boat ramp.

Canada geese can often be found grazing in the nearby grass fields around the lake or lounging in the backs of coves.

NORTHWEST
In northwest Georgia, hunters may find a few ducks and geese on 3,220-acre Carters Lake between Calhoun and Ellijay. Another option is the Tennessee Valley Authority's Lake Nottely. The impoundment in Union County covers 4,180 acres. According to WRD biologist Scott Frazier, the ducks are found at both of these lakes primarily in backwater coves.

Another good opportunity exists at Rocky Mountain PFA near Rome. Both Antioch and Heath lakes host duck hunts on the area. Antioch is open for shooting during Monday to Saturday in January, while Heath is open for the entire statewide duck season. You must sign in before hunting either impoundment.

NORTHEAST
According to WRD biologist Alex Coley, who works out of the Thomson Office, hunters can find a few ducks along the Georgia-South Carolina border. Check out the backwater coves and creeks of 71,535-acre Clarks Hill Lake or 26,655-acre Lake Richard B. Russell, but it is hit or miss most of the time on these reservoirs.

"A lack of food is the main problem on big lakes," he offered, "and much of the better duck hunting in the area is to be found in lowland creek and beaver ponds when ducks -- primarily wood ducks -- have access to acorns, edible plants and seeds."

The area has many wood duck nesting boxes that were monitored in the spring of 2007, with 300 young woodies banded in the process.