The forecast is for snow -- lots of snow -- in the Louisiana Gulf Coast region.

Actually, the chances for frozen precipitation in the Bayou State are all but nil. But waterfowlers will find plenty of snow in the fields and marshes in the region. This is the prime time for bagging snow geese, which have become extremely common in the area over the last decade.

At this time of year, snow geese migrate in unusually large flocks of up to 1,000 birds. These, according to a release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, consist of many family groups.

"The families will stay together through the migration. During the flights south, birds fly between 40 and 50 miles per hour. Their average altitude is around 3,000 feet, but radar has recorded geese as high as 20,000 feet. The flocks usually fly in a peculiar undulating fashion. Individuals fly at staggered heights, and rise and descend slightly, giving rise to one of their names, 'wavie.'

"The snow geese also fly in imperfect V's, which distinguishes them from Canada geese. There is usually a leader at the head of the formation, but this position changes frequently among the flock. A migrating flock of snow geese will usually begin their trip at sunset, and may continue both day and night.

"Although many geese will stop at rest areas, some geese will make the entire flight from the breeding grounds to the wintering grounds of the Gulf Coast or Mexico, in one continuous flight. Snow geese have been known to fly as long as 70 hours and 1,700 miles in continuous flight."

I mention this because during December, Louisiana will be getting some flocks of "new" birds -- birds that've made their way down from other parts of the Mississippi Flyway. Those are hungry, tired birds, and you can score on them if you're ready.

"Some of the best hunting is around the cold fronts in December," says Capt. Buddy Oakes of the Hackberry Rod and Gun Club, 1-888-762-3391. "Watch the weather, and when you see a big northern front -- not a Pacific front -- blasting through, grab your guns and decoys."

Generally, geese migrating into Louisiana will begin stopping along the southern tier of the Interstate 10 corridor. Look for some of the hottest action to be in the parishes of Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis and Lafayette and in the northern reaches of Cameron Parish just after fronts early in the month. After that, much of the action shifts much closer to the Gulf Coast in southern Cameron Parish, Plaquemines and wherever a combination of marshes and agriculture beckons the birds.

Hunters wanting to cash in on new migrants should focus on fields producing rice and other grains that are close to fresh water. Setting up on these fields should be done with large decoy spreads capable of totally distracting the geese. You've got to walk a fine line this month, because (as you'll see later in the story), big spreads can work against you at times. However, if you're looking for birds migrating in when they're in smaller groups, monster spreads are the ticket. A minimum: 300 dekes.