Living in a land of expansive rice fields and marsh leases with access to few public hunting properties, many southwest Louisiana sportsmen rarely hunted last season. Some didn't even bother. Those who did hunt often found excellent shooting in areas that provided good food and roosting conditions.

Hurricane Rita closed the three federal refuges -- Sabine, Lacassine and Cameron Prairie -- near Lake Charles. The 124,500-acre Sabine National Wildlife Refuge near Hackberry usually offers some of the best public waterfowl action in southwest Louisiana, but it probably won't open during the 2006-07 season. Debris still clogs many access canals, making boating in these waters extremely treacherous. Some people reported seeing entire 18-wheel tractor-trailer rigs disappear into the muck.

"Sabine NWR was hit very hard by Rita," Reynolds said. "Cameron Prairie NWR closed last year because of some levee breaches, but those breaches were repaired. Lacassine NWR didn't really have to close for long, but officials there were concerned about the hunting pressure if they opened and Cameron Prairie and Sabine remained closed. The Lacassine headquarters was destroyed, but they should open this season."

Near Lake Arthur, Lacassine NWR provides 35,000 acres of fresh and brackish marshes. Federal officials normally allow duck hunting on about 3,300 acres north of the Intracoastal Waterway and 6,000 acres south of the waterway. With about 9,600 acres, Cameron Prairie normally only allows limited youth hunts by lottery.

For booking trips in southeast Louisiana, call Herrmann at (504) 256-7226. To hunt with Hackberry Rod and Gun Club, call 1-888-762-3391 or (337) 762-3391; on the Internet, check out www.hackberryrodandgun.com.