The Horseshoe Lake goose hunt continues its slide into history, with a total of only 503 geese reported. It wasn't too long ago when many clubs there regularly brought down well over 1,000 honkers each year. The runaway leader at Horseshoe Lake was the Carter Club with 148 dead birds, and a success ratio of .20. Miller Brothers Club was next with 80, followed by Renaud with 66. Again, judge all these results knowing that many of the former goose clubs now specialize in duck hunts.

Late-season goose hunting means you are going up against geese that have seen it all. Your best chance is to bump into a small flock that is new to the area, and susceptible to making a big mistake. As a result, you must do everything to reassure the birds they have nothing to fear. Keep it very simple.

Do not use a big decoy spread, and do not use junk decoys. Early in the season, old decoys -- or even car tires cut in half -- will make your spread look bigger, and they will work. No more. You are better off with a half-dozen quality decoys than you are scaring the geese off with dozens of beat-up old dekes.

Do not place the decoys too close to your blind or pit. Instead, set them upwind of your hide and hope the geese fly right over your head on their way in. Hopefully, you can get a shot at them before they detect the birds before them are fakes.

Call only when the geese are a good distance out, and don't overdo it. If the honkers work in, shut up and let them do the talking. Remember, they have heard it all many times before, so no matter how good you may be, calling now will not help things.

If you are hunting a club and the decoys have been out overnight, clean them off with a rag or brush. Face them into the wind, and even reposition the spread to give it a different look than it has had for the last two months.

My final piece of advice is if you hunt a club, request a guide. Even if you don't need him, his presence will assure you of being assigned to one of the better pits, which will increase your chance for success. Besides, the guides are nice guys, and their stories will liven up the day. It will be money well spent.

Although the old Quota Zone is a thing of the past, a well-planned southern Illinois goose hunt is still a memorable experience. Be sure to get out there and enjoy it this season.