East of the Susquehanna, between Haldeman Island and Mahantango Mountain, you'll find a plethora of Farm-Game properties that are visited by Canada geese that roost on the river. Look for these properties along Route 225 from Powells Valley to Fisherville. Another good concentration of birds may be found along Route 25 from Killinger to Berrysburg.

BLUE MARSH LAKE
A few miles north of Reading in Berks County is 1,150-acre Blue Marsh Lake, which lies in the Atlantic Population Zone. Including the lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages a total of 6,173 acres as part of the Blue Marsh property. Much of the land and water here is open to hunting. In addition, SGL 280's 2,630 acres abut the Blue Marsh acreage, adding even more open area for hunters to access.

Much of the Blue Marsh and SGL 280 land is planted each year with crops, such as alfalfa and corn. It is in these fields that December goose hunters should set out a spread of decoys.

On the north side of the lake, check out the SGL 280 lands north of Route 183 and on both sides of Bright School Road. You'll find a series of farm fields in this area, all of which can be goose magnets this month.

Another good bet is the farmland between Rebers Bridge Road and the Blue Marsh Lake dam west of Tulpehocken Creek. Or there's a series of farm fields, separated by tree lines along the west shore of the main body of the lake, which is adjacent to the dam. Hunters may reach these fields via Highland Road, off Brownsville Road.

For information on hunting Blue Marsh Lake property, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office at (610) 376-6337. For information on hunting SGL 280, contact the Game Commission's Southeast Region office.

LAKE NOCKAMIXON
In the northern end of suburban Bucks County -- in the Atlantic Population Zone -- hunters will find the 5,283-acre Nockamixon State Park, which surrounds and includes 1,450-acre Lake Nockamixon.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bucks County has one of the highest populations of resident Canada geese in the state. Add those birds to the fall migrants and you can count on seeing hordes of geese in December all over Bucks County -- and especially at Lake Nockamixon.

The largest impoundment in Bucks County, Lake Nockamixon is just a few miles from the Delaware River, which acts as a natural funnel for migrating Canadas. Birds traveling on the river regularly swing over Lake Nockamixon as they search for feeding areas.

About 3,000 acres of Nockamixon are open to hunting, including sections of the lake. If you divided the lake into four parts, the center and westernmost sections are the areas closed to hunting.

The eastern end of the lake is a good bet for waterfowlers looking for a hunt on the water. Put your boat in at the Haycock launch off Route 563 and head either north or south to one of the bays jutting off the lake. Geese seek out these "dents" in the lakeshore to get away from wind and boat traffic.

Gas-powered engines used on Lake Nockamixon cannot be more than 18 horsepower. For a map of Nockamixon, call the park office at (215) 529-7300.

For assistance with lodging, meals and other amenities in the Harrisburg area, contact the Hershey Capital Region Visitors Bureau at (800) 995-0969. In the Lancaster-Lebanon-Berks area, contact the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) PADUTCH; and in the greater Philadelphia area, contact the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation at (215) 599-0776.