THE LIVING BLIZZARD
If you've done much December driving anywhere in the Arkansas delta, you've seen the huge flocks of snow geese that winter there. These huge swarms of birds make all kinds of opportunity available to hunters willing either to shoulder the dual burden of the considerable expense and legwork of freelance goose hunting or to book a hunt with an established goose outfitter.

There are three basic difficulties inherent in the free-lance route: scouting the geese and figuring out where they're going to go; securing access to hunt the private ground they inhabit; and dealing with the huge decoy spreads required for snow goose hunting. More than a few hunters do this successfully, so it's far from impossible.

If you want to give it a try, put together the largest decoy spread your finances and the volume of your hunting vehicles will permit. A minimum spread size is 500 decoys or so; three times that would be better. Now, start driving the back roads to locate fields in which snow geese are feeding. Find the landowner and get permission to hunt (this usually isn't hard for snow goose hunting); then, set out your decoys. Snows will usually hit a field for two days or more, but basically until the food supply is gone.

Calling can help, but since a flock of snows will kick up an awful lot of racket on its own, the more callers you have going, the better off you are. Encourage everyone in the hunting party to call. Talent doesn't make a lot of difference here: It's quantity and volume that count. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to hunt, since snows usually return to their loafing and staging areas during midday. BB or BBB shot is usually the best choice for snow geese, especially considering that larger white-fronted geese (specklebellies) and even Canadas will sometimes decoy to your spread.

Wear white painter's coveralls and use a camo or brown ground cloth or mat to remain relatively dry, or invest in a good layout blind.

Unless you have a lot of time and inclination to work hard and spend a big chunk of money, though, by far the cheapest and easiest way to experience a good-quality snow goose hunt is to go with someone in the business. One such outfitter is Goose Busters -- www.goosebustershoot.com, (731) 593-0767 or (870) 992-3423 -- which has been in the game for more than 20 years.

Whether you freelance or use an outfitter, the bother and expense are worth it. There's really nothing to compare with being at the bottom of a funnel of several thousand gabbling snow geese as they settle into the grain stubble around you.

LEARN TO HUNT EFFECTIVELY
Of course, just because you're hunting ducks or geese in Arkansas doesn't mean you're going to kill a limit every time out. You need to know what you're doing as well as where to do it.

"Learn to call as well as you can, and practice as often as you can," advised Jim Ronquest, himself a champion caller who holds many regional and national titles. "Nash Buckingham once said, 'A duck call in the wrong hands is a conservation tool.' And he was right."

But calling alone won't make you effective. "Learn to read maps and navigate strange water," Ronquest offered. "Study up on duck habits. Learn how to rig your decoys for the most effective setups for shallow and deep water. Do your homework; do your scouting. Those are the things that make the difference between the wannabes and the good hunters."