Portable Ladder-- I have only hunted ducks, and have only been hunting them for a few years now. I know there is quite a bit of goose action depending on the weather on the Sloughs public area just outside of Henderson. They have a large refuge with limited hunting around it (predrawn hunts with stand-ins allowed if the blinds are not occupied by 30 minutes before shooting hours) and quite a few first-come first-served blinds on other tracts. Much of it is directly across the river from Hovey Lake if you are familiar with that area. You can find more info on the KDFW website. Good luck in Illinois.

Yellow Lab- Hate it for you that you guys are frozen up, but that is the best way for us to get the birds down here. Hope you left a few for us good ole boys down south. Good luck in 10 mo's.