Green Bottom is much more open than McClintic and does not have much tall tree habitat. The area has much more marsh and button bush swamp habitat. These sections are highly attractive to waterfowl; water manipulation and vegetation management further enhances the area.

WMA personnel have the ability to pump water at Green Bottom. Some 125 acres can be manipulated in this manner. Certain sections are dried out in summer and allowed to grow up in natural vegetation such as smartweed. There are also crop fields that are planted in corn and winter wheat, which are highly attractive to migratory and resident geese. There are approximately 60 acres planted in corn and another 100 acres in winter wheat.

There are four separate areas that can be pumped. Actually, one of these usually doesn’t need to be pumped. The other three will typically be dry if not artificially flooded. There are 73 to 75 acres that are backed up by a beaver pond. The lower 60 acres or so are flooded with water from the Ohio River. The upper end of the property is primarily natural wetlands, while the lower end is manmade wetlands constructed by the DNR and the Corps of Engineers.

As with McClintic, the controlled hunting is over at Green Bottom by the time the second segment of the season begins. Hunters may freelance with no requirement for checking in or out. Most hunters access the WMA by walking or wading because most of the wetlands and water-holding areas are very shallow. There is some boat access for those who do not wish to wade or hunt a ground blind.

So there you have it, five top WMAs in the Mountain State to find ducks and geese right now, especially if the weather cooperates. Sometimes the main ingredient to a successful hunt is being there. After all, you won’t shoot many waterfowl by sitting in front of your fireplace.