Islands, omnipresent in the bays in this region, are another good type of spot to hunt. The prime spot is toward the tail of an island, in the soft water between the tail and the main current. Usually the best duck shooting time is early and after 9 a.m. as the birds return to the main bay after a morning feed in the marsh.

Ducks typically trade back and forth and up and down the marsh most of the early morning; then, as they feed in fields, there's a lull, followed another burst of activity in late morning.

Besides the actual quality of hunting, a couple of other points are contentious along the coast -- one of them dogs. "You just can't beat a Lab," said Kenny Pigg who operates a huge lease along the Louisiana-Texas line in Cameron Parish. "There are lots of good dogs out there but Labs are the most loyal and deliver most of the time."

Labrador retrievers are indeed hard workers eager to please their owners, and they're probably the best-natured of all of the big breeds. In my time I've met a very few mean Labs, and a number of them that were maybe overprotective of their owners' vehicles -- but most of the time they're sweethearts and have more fun than even the hunters out in the field.

My father's late friend had a Lab that was so eager to get into the water; he had to tie it in the boat while riding down the river. That is not exactly desirable behavior, but you have to respect the enthusiasm.

Labs are great dogs for most hunting applications you would find in Louisiana from dry ground goose hunts to hunting ducks in the coastal marsh, which is probably why they are the top choice for hunters along the western coast.

Chesapeake Bay retrievers, which were bred to hunt in the North's most hostile conditions, have a growing cult following in Louisiana. According to owners, they're excellent retrievers whose intensity can't be matched.

"We're starting to see more Chessies in this area," Lamont said. "And they are excellent dogs, and cut out for our difficult terrain and open water."

Strong swimmers, Chesapeakes can handle multiple retrieves in deep and even current-laden waters. They are great dogs for those hunting big, open water, as their swimming skills are second to none. Not ultrafriendly dogs in the way of most Labs and goldens, they can indeed be aloof around strangers and other dogs. Their reputation as perhaps too aggressive is not necessarily deserved; they just aren't that impressed with people outside their families.

"Chessies are all about work," Lamont said, "and that's why they are such great dogs. If you want a dog to play with get a Lab, but if you want one that is going to keep going like the Energizer Bunny get a Chessie."

Another debatable point is the best type of hunting blind, which differs between the two coastal regions.

Probably the most common blind choice for hunters on the eastern coastline is their boats. If you are hunting on the main body of a reservoir on in a bay, it's not always possible to have an actual blind. Boats come in handy in these situations. Some hunters, as I mentioned earlier, simply cover their boats with cane; others use "fast grass" -- woven marsh grass or a synthetic substitute that goes around the boat to make it look like a natural structure. Another possibility: units like the Flexi-Blind, which has spring-loaded support poles that raise up camouflage netting or canvas to hide the boat. These units can be pricey, but are generally convenient.

My favorite type of blind, which is commonly used in agricultural fields and marshes, is the pit blind, which is popular on the west side. They are usually made of concrete or a hard plastic and sunk in a key waterfowl feeding area or travel route. These blinds require serious labor to install, and so are generally used on private leases on which a lot of hunting will be taking place; they're not worth the effort for other applications.