In northeastern Oklahoma, a lot of doves have been seen, but they are not concentrated in any numbers. The reason is said to be the wet summer the region experienced this year. A lot of the crops, primarily corn and milo haven't been harvested yet. "Usually by now the milo and corn have been cut, and the left over droppings concentrates the birds," says Craig Endicott, Northeast Wildlife Supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife. To be successful on dove season opening weekend, hunters need to get out and scout trying to find freshly cut fields that the birds are concentrating on. Check last year's fields first where you were successful. If no birds, start driving the section lines, locate doves, then get permission from the landowner. The primary dove specie for this area is the mourning dove. Endicott says it's very unusual to have any white wings, but there are growing numbers of the Eurasian Collared dove. The Eurasian is larger and a lighter tan than a mourning dove. At first glance you might think they are pigeons. "There is no limit on them as long as you leave the bird intact so the game warden can identify them," says Endicott referring to the Eurasian Collared dove. The Oklahoma Hunting Regulation handbook on page 29, reads that the head or one fully feathered wing has to remain naturally attached to the carcass. The mourning dove, white-wing aggregate limit is 15. Something to look for this season are banded doves. In the last few years the US Fish & Wildlife Service have increased dove banding activities. Endicott says look closely at your birds because the bands are small. If you do get a banded bird there is a phone number on the band to call and report information such as when and where the bird was taken. "The information is what helps us manage the birds." Dove hunting tips: You want to be where you see birds, not a week before, but a couple of days before your hunt. On opening day juvenile birds are not particularly weary. You can stand out there in bright orange T-shirts and a lot of times the birds will still fly over you. Wear camouflage or at least clothes colored to blend in with adjacent vegetation. Water...have lots of water for your dog. In dogs overheating can happen quickly. More than one person has lost a dog to overheating during dove season. Make sure you have insect repellant...self explanatory. Have good dove load shells. Sometimes people tend to buy the cheaper shells. In a 12 gauge shell, a good load has at least an ounce and a eighth of shot. You are only going to get so many shots in a day and you want to make every one count. Use decoys. Static dove decoys clipped on a fence or in the branches of a dead tree or shrub can draw the attention of passing doves. If you are hunting in the afternoon, it's usually to your advantage to hunt near a body of water. Doves head to the nearest watering hole for a drink before they roost. The best times to hunt doves is early in the morning when the birds are leaving their roost in search for food. Oklahoma has the birds, but the hunting is going to take a little more work this season. Make sure you get out and do your preseason scouting. Photos: Milo is always a good place to look for doves. The doves are here, but not yet concentrated.