Photo by Mark Fike

While not exactly on par with duck hunting paradises like those along the Mississippi Flyway, Georgia does offer some worthy waterfowl hunting opportunity. Although the best is often found on private lands, some public lands offer good possibilities, but these may get overlooked, being better known as perfect places for casting a plastic worm up next to a stump than as sites good for calling a flight of mallards into a decoy spread.

In an effort to offer the most opportunity on state-managed lands, some facilities operated by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division’s Fisheries Management Section are also open to waterfowl hunting. It just makes sense: Fish like water; ducks do, too. So it’s not surprising that what’s good for one can attract the other.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PFA
Our first fishing hole for duck hunting is the state’s largest public fishing area. Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area is a few miles north of Rome in Floyd County. The tract is part of Plant Rocky Mountain, an Oglethorpe Power Corporation hydropower project. Two lakes on the area are open to the public. Heath Lake covers 202 acres, and Antioch Lake spreads across 357 acres.

These lakes are the centerpiece of the recreational facilities at Rocky Mountain, which also include paved boat ramps, fishing jetties, hiking trails, an archery range, picnic facilities, and both tent and RV camping.

Antioch Lake is open during the statewide season waterfowl season on Monday through Saturday in January only, requiring that hunters sign in. Heath Lake is open during the entire statewide season; hunters must sign in.

Both lakes are popular with waterfowl, and Canada geese, gadwalls, ringnecks, American widgeon and mallards can all be found on the lakes. Also, thousands of coots make Rocky Mountain their winter home every year. Other species that show up in the harvest are wood ducks and green-winged teal. Throw in the occasional diver like redheads or bluebills and the waterfowling at Rocky Mountain offers quite a mixed bag.

Although both lakes are open to waterfowl hunting, Antioch and Heath lakes are different in several ways. A road divides Antioch Lake into east and west sub-impoundments. Both of these pools are mostly open water with a few coves and several acres of standing timber. On the other hand, standing timber covers 58 of Heath Lake’s 202 acres, and the lake has two islands. One island is very small, but the other is large and has plenty of room for several hunting parties to set up and not be in each other’s way.

Although ducks and geese frequent both lakes, Heath Lake is probably the favorite with both the hunters and the hunted. Regulars who use the area have learned to hunt conservatively by keeping the decoy spread small. A dozen or so decoys, mostly mallards with a few wood ducks thrown in, is a good set up.

Resist the temptation to call too much. Give them “Hi — how ya doin’?” and leave it at that. The area gets moderate but steady hunting pressure, and most of the birds you see are residents. Try getting too cute with these birds and they’ll just blow on by.

The best hunting is on the worst days, weather-wise. On sunny days, hunt the morning flight; then, pack up and make a late appearance at work. As the season progresses, fewer hunters are afield, especially on weekdays, and you can have a good steady hunt if the weather keeps the ducks flying and you’ll probably have the area mostly to yourself.