Central Texas sports legend Butch Henry always predicts rain for the opening of dove season, and like most things the longtime coach, official, commentator and talk show host says, it usually happens.

Of course, dove hunters will have mixed emotions if it rains, since the flight and feeding patterns that have been established and observed over the past month will be suddenly changed. But who in their right mind would complain about rain with the drought and record heat we’ve been going through?

Some things to keep in mind when dove hunting:

* Dove hunts are typically social events, and there are usually a lot of people within range of a 12-gauge, so keeping guns pointed in safe directions at all times is vital to maintaining the good time. Also be aware of houses and roads. It’s against the law to shoot in a direction that causes your shot to cross a fence or roadway.

* Be sure your shotgun is plugged so that it will hold no more than three shells at a time.

* Be aware of the limits on specific dove species and when you dress out your birds, leave a wing attached in case a game warden asks to check your bag.

* Proper handling will ensure that your dove is as tasty as it can be. Leaving birds for hours in a game bag doesn’t do much good for flavor. During a lull in the shooting, dress your birds and put the breasts in a cooler.

* Make sure you’re legal to hunt — get a license with all the necessary bells and whistles. Also, anyone born on or before Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete a hunter education course.

* It’s probably going to be hot during afternoon hunts, so staying hydrated is important to your health and the safety of others. And remember, beer doesn’t hydrate, so bring along some water or sports drinks, too.

I’ve found good numbers of doves on my recent scouting trips through Central Texas, with a mixture of mourning, white-winged and white-tipped doves populating the area.

Dove season opens Sept. 1. Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual for more information.

Transfer fishing

This is the time of year when back-to-school, football and dove season are on people’s minds, but it’s a great time for anglers to do something I call “puddle-jumping.”

During the hot, dry Texas summer, water evaporates from shallow streams and isn’t usually replenished by rains. This results in streams drying up to the point where all that’s left is a series of water holes of varying sizes and depths.

Some of these puddles are filled with stagnant water teeming with mosquito larvae, leeches and other vile things, but there are some larger, deeper holes that hold fish that were trapped when the water level dropped too low for them to escape.

I’ve never shot fish in a barrel, but catching fish from these deep pools is pretty easy. The food supply is limited and any new entry into the ecosystem’s food chain is met with aggressive feeding. In fact, I’ve found myself pulling the bait away from smaller fish to allow the bigger ones to get a shot at it.

The water quality isn’t what I’d trust to eat any of the fish I caught, but if you’re inclined to do a good deed and transfer your catch from the puddle into the main river or lake, you never know what karma might do for you on your next fishing trip.

ShareLunker program

Ever caught a fish worth $100,000? Well, here’s your chance.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is proud to introduce the first-ever ShareLunker Club Tournament on Lake Conroe, Oct. 1–21. This unique tournament allows the everyday angler to compete like a pro for the chance to win $100,000.

To participate in the tournament, interested anglers need to register and become an SCT member, and then fish on Lake Conroe any time between Oct. 1–21. A $100 contribution is required to become a member of the SCT, and only preregistered members will be eligible for the $100,000 prize.

The member that catches the largest Toyota ShareLunker from Lake Conroe during that time will win a cash prize of $100,000. A portion of the proceeds from the program will benefit the TPWD’s youth outreach programs.

A Toyota ShareLunker is defined as any legally caught largemouth bass that weighs at least 13 pounds and is accepted into the program. The contest will be limited to the first 1,000 anglers signed up.

Go to toyotatexasbass classic.com to download a registration form and submit the membership fee.

Encounter with skunk

As we continue our journey through the blast furnace we call Texas in August, pay close attention to where you’re stepping — even if you live in town.

Wildlife across our area are suffering through the heat and drought, too, and some of our furry and scaly friends aren’t the kind you’d want to invite over for Sunday supper.

My dog met one such creature the other night, as I discovered by the knockdown odor delivered to her by a skunk.

So I went through my notes and got the recipe out for neutralizing the funk of a skunk. Here it is, just in case your dog is as stupid as mine.

* 1 quart hydrogen peroxide

* 1/4 cup baking soda

* 1 teaspoon dish soap

Mix the ingredients together in a bucket and shampoo the dog with it while the mixture is bubbling. Work the lather down to the skin and let it stand for 10 minutes. Make sure to cover your dog’s eyes if you’re washing its head.

If you’re soft-hearted, don’t look directly into your dog’s eyes for the entire 10 minutes.

Then, rinse the dog thoroughly, again being careful not to get the mix into the dog’s eyes.

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