How to hunt a goose club depends on whether you are assigned a guide, a caller or left on your own. If a caller is present, just sit back and enjoy the show. Most are expert goose hunters, and they greatly enhance your chances of success. Be sure to tip him generously for his efforts, even if the geese don't cooperate.

Hunting without help isn't that hard. Usually, all the decoys will be in place at your pit or blind. Check out the spread and stand up any that fell over during the preceding night. If there is snow or frost on the decoy's backs, brush it off. A "borrowed" towel from the motel works nicely for this. If there is a strong wind, turn most of the decoys to face into it.

Police the area around your pit. Pick up any trash or empty shell casings lying about. Inspect the covering on the pit or blind and fix it up as much as possible, taking care to cover any exposed lumber, and giving yourself overhead cover to hide under when the birds approach.

Any 12-gauge shotgun will do the trick on geese. You won't need a cannon, and you won't need anything more than 3-inch shells throwing either BB or BBB steel -- or one of the new variety of synthetic substances. I like Federal Tungsten BBs, which provide dependable quality at a reasonable price. Don't go cheap on shot shells since you won't be doing a lot of shooting, and a quality product could make the difference between a goose on the table or BLTs.

Goose calling can be horribly overdone, especially late in the season when the geese have heard it all. Here are some tips from topnotch experts.

"Practice, practice, practice," said Field Hudnall, the 2004 World Goose and Live Duck Calling Champion. The more familiar you become with whatever call you are using, the better it is going to sound under hunting conditions. Most hunters buy a call and don't spend enough time learning to make the sounds that will convince geese to come to the decoys.

Kelly Ross, a five-time New Jersey and Ohio duck and goose calling champion said to pattern your calling to what the birds are saying. If the geese are very vocal, then your calling should be equally aggressive. Similarly, when the birds approach quietly, tone down the volume and intensity of your calling.

"Buy a call that works, or as some would say, a call that 'has a goose in it,' " said Fred Zink, call maker and champion of the Avery International, World Open, Grand National and Grand American goose calling contests. For beginning hunters, that can be difficult since they can't pick a call in a store and determine if the goose is really "in it." In that case, ask an experienced friend to help choose a good call, or have an employee at the store demonstrate the call's capabilities. Obtain a good instructional tape to guide your progress.

The recommendation of the three experts, and one with which I fully agree, is for beginners to start with Mick Lacey's Big River Goose Call or a P.S. Olt A-50. These are inexpensive flute-style calls that most beginners can learn to play well in a very short time. The next step up would be a short reed call, such as Jeff Foile's Strait-Meat Model or Tim Ground's Half-Breed call.

Has SIQZ goose hunting become a thing of the past? Heck, no! It has just changed, and if you change with it, you can add a great deal to your waterfowl hunting season. Happy honking!