When our 2015 mourning dove hunting season opens just after six o’clock in the morning on Sept. 5, hunters from all over North Carolina will be heading out the door with shotguns in hand, pockets full of shotgun shells and a dog by their side. Perhaps 50 percent of these outdoor sportsmen will have some youngster in tow.

It might be a good idea if these hunters stopped for a few minutes before getting in the car to be sure they have all the little odds and ends that bird hunters need before they really load their guns and formally begin this first hunting trip of the year.

1) Be sure that you have your current hunting license on your person. It’s not unusual for a hunter to assume that last year’s license in still in effect, so check the license for the expiration date. In addition to the hunting license, hunters are required to carry an identification card with a photo on it. A current driver’s license is usually good enough to satisfy a game warden.

2) Be sure that your HIP permit (Harvest Information Permit) is current for 2015-16.

3) With your shotgun pointed in a safe direction, safety on, try and push more than two shotgun shells into the magazine. If more than two shells can be loaded in the magazine, your shotgun is not “plugged” properly and if you hunt migratory birds like ducks or dove, you may be in violation, since your shotgun is capable of holding more than three shells (one in the chamber and two in the magazine). This is a common violation that game wardens encounter and I’ve seen several experienced hunters receive a ticket because they didn’t check their shotgun properly.

4) Be sure that you are well dressed for hunting under the existing conditions. Most opening-day dove hunts are notoriously hot, so lightweight clothing is recommended. Hot weather also means insects such as mosquitoes and chiggers, so be prepared with insect repellent. Remember that many repellents contain chemicals that will remove or damage a gun’s finish. Like fishermen, dove hunters need to wear protection against the sun too. A high-SPF sun lotion is a good idea too.

5) Opening day dove hunters learned years ago that it’s a necessity to take along a small cooler with water for not only the hunters, but the dog as well. On one very hot opening day’s hunt several years ago, dogs actually died from heat exhaustion, so be prepared to look after “Rover.” Since dogs don‘t sweat like us humans, it’s a good idea to pour a little water over the dog’s head once in a while to help the dog to cool off.

Dogs that retrieve are a real bonus for dove hunters and even if the dog isn’t a properly trained retriever it may run out and bark at a downed dove so the hunter can pick the bird up.

That cooler is also a great idea to deposit the dead dove after its been retrieved. It doesn’t take long for these birds to spoil under a hot sun. Mourning dove are one of the very best tasting of all wild game birds and they shouldn’t be wasted.

6) Be very aware that the individual hunter’s daily bag limit on mourning dove is 15 birds per day. If you do not want to retain some of the dove that you’ve taken, remember that if you give them to someone else without having them properly tagged the receiver could be charged with going over the bag limit.

Many of these new hunters are under the age of 16 and technically exempt from having a license. Here’s an actual quote from the NCWRC’s 2015-16 Regulations Digest:

“Youth under age 16 are exempt from the requirement of a hunting license provided they comply with the following: Youth who have not obtained a Certificate of Competency showing their completion of the hunter safety course must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult then hunting. Youth who have obtained this certificate, may hunt without being accompanied by an adult, but must carry their certificate while hunting. Youths exempt from the hunting license requirement must obtain a ‘License — Exempt Big Game Harvest Report Card’ when hunting deer, bear or wild turkey. Youth hunting bear must also obtain a ‘Bear Management E-Stamp.’

“Anyone 16 and older may hunt without hunter education certification when in possession of a Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permit, proper hunting license(s) and any other required permits, so long as accompanied by a licensed adult within sight and hearing distance.

“It is also an individual hunter’s responsibility to observe all regulations and local restrictions, as stated in the current Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest.”

All licenses and permits may be obtained online, directly from the Wildlife Resources Commission in person at NCSU Centennial Campus, 1751Varsity Drive, Raleigh, N.C., by mail, or via wildlife service agents throughout North Carolina.”