JOHNSTOWN — For waterfowl hunters, a trip to the Pennsylvania Game Commission's two waterfowl management areas — Pymatuning in the Northeast and Middle Creek in the South central — is a dream come true.

Opportunities to hunt the goose-rich areas are so much in demand that the agency holds a drawing to decide who gets to use a blind for a day, and it has been estimated that only one in 15 applicants is successful.

But each hunter whose name is drawn can take three others along.

When veteran Somerset County waterfowler Tony Marich of Markleton was drawn for an opening-day goose blind at Pymatuning this year, he chose to invite three acquaintances with limited duck- and goose-hunting experience, none of whom had ever hunted at Pymatuning before.

Although it involved a round trip of nearly 400 miles, Jeff Romesburg of Rockwood jumped at the chance.

"I've heard a lot about it, and didn't know that much about it, but it as soon as the opportunity presented itself, I thought 'Absolutely,'" Romesburg said. "I love hunting with new people, so it was just a great opportunity for me. I was hoping I could learn some things — which I have. That's the basic part of it."

Valley Forge resident Howard Coffey was hunting pheasants in Somerset County when Marich extended an invitation.

"I've heard about Pymatuning for years and never been there. I've traveled and hunted in a lot of different areas, but I've never been there. I was curious to see the area, and I was really interested in seeing how the hunting went on."

Jerry Bish, in charge of the Pymatuning facility by virtue of his job as the Game Commission's land management group supervisor for western Crawford County, said a day of hunting on the management area is an excellent experience for beginners.

"It's a good way to introduce someone to waterfowl hunting because a lot of the stuff is provided for you, like the blind," Bish said. "You can rent decoys right here at the building. Basically, be properly licensed, show up, and you have a place to hunt. Bring your gun, your license and some clothes, and that's all you need."

Bish said the waterfowl area began with construction of a dam in the 1930s.

"We have about 5,000 acres that we own and about 5,000 acres that we lease," he explained. "The controlled shooting program started in 1962 for ducks and geese and has been in operation ever since. It's been a very popular program, obviously, to have lasted this long."

Bish said the controlled goose hunting area accommodates up to 160 hunters each day it is open during the season, with another 85 people on average each day in the designated duck-hunting areas.

"We can't guarantee everybody a goose," Bish said. "But I can guarantee everybody a place to hunt, and hunting is a lot more than getting a goose."

Bish said it is important for first-timers to have an experienced person along, not only to make sure they get through the registration and check-in processes correctly, but to offer advice on ammunition, placement of decoys and whether birds are close enough to shoot.

"Identifying what you're shooting at is very important," said Bish. "A lot of things aren't in season — there may not be a season on them at all — and you have to identify those birds in the air. So it's always good to come with a seasoned waterfowler who can help you out on that."