Important tips, reminders ahead of dove hunting season

License, check.

Shotgun and shells, check and check.

Lightweight clothes to keep the sun at bay, check.

Sunscreen and water, check and check.

That pretty much covers everything you’ll need for North Zone opening day of Texas dove season next Sunday, Sept. 1 .

There are other things you might need to store in the truck, such as your dog, decoys and snake boots, if you worry about things like that. Otherwise, it’s time to dust off the old game bag and enjoy the season.

This one will be like all the others that went before it: Where there’s food, there will be doves. They might not stick around long once the shooting starts, but they will be there the first couple of days.

Be sure to keep up with the number of birds you’ve taken and stop when you get to 15. Keep your doves separate from your companions' and remember the possession limit. No more than 15 birds per day per hunter.

The only exceptions would be if you wind up with a bunch of collared doves , which are considered invasive and have no bag or possession limit. You might want to leave a wing on them after cleaning just to be able to prove to a warden that they aren’t a whitewing or mourning dove .

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. Opening day in Texas is always hot and dangerous for anyone who doesn’t take in enough water.

When we were in high school, we would have football practice in early mornings and then take off for the dove field to hunt through the middle of the day before returning for our afternoon practice.

Young and stupid is no way to go through life, but somehow we managed.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Important tips, reminders ahead of dove hunting season