Ideally, hunters should scout their areas before opening day. Look for flight lines the doves are taking into the field. Breaks in tree lines are primary routes you can expect the doves to take. Doves often will use staging areas before flying down to feed; power lines and dead trees with lots of limbs on the edge of a field are preferred.

GUNS AND AMMO

If hunted correctly, early-season birds will be right on top of you. Light shot and an open choke will give you the most birds per box of shells. A 12- or 20-gauge shotgun with an improved cylinder choke loaded with No. 8 shot is the best combination for opening day.

Later, as the birds begin to get more wary, switch to No. 7 1/2 shot with a modified choke for longer shots.

PREPARE FOR THE DAY

Even though opening day signals the beginning of the fall hunting season, we will still be in summer, and you need to prepare for it. Odds are it will be hot and muggy, so pack a cooler and lather up in bug spray.

Ticks and chiggers are notorious for feeding on hunters, so spray your clothing with a product containing permethrin and your skin with a product containing DEET; this combination should make your days after the hunt itch-free.

If you take your dog, find a shady spot to sit, give your dog plenty of water and watch for signs of heat exhaustion, such as rapid panting, excessive salivation, glazed eyes or disorientation and staggering around.

HIDE AND WAIT

Two critical keys to success are complete head-to-toe camouflage and patience.

Every year, I see hunters who think camo is unnecessary. They are wrong. Just watch these hunters for a while, and you will see flock after flock flare away from them, making their shots much more difficult.

The other most common mistake is not being patient and letting the birds get close in before taking the shot. A well-concealed hunter who keeps still until the birds are close will get many more birds per box.

USE YOUR DECOYS

Decoys can be highly effective. Place them in high visibility areas such as dead trees on the edge of fields and some on the ground in a feeding position.

One good trick for reaching higher limbs is to tie some monofilament fishing line to the decoy, add a lead sinker to the other end, throw the sinker over the limb, haul the decoy up and tie it off.

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