DOVES ARE FAIR GAME NEXT WEEK HUNTERS TUNE UP FOR THEIR FAVORITE SEASON.

Byline: Randy van Vliet Special to the Daily News

The sun was just about ready to make its daily appearance from above the eastern horizon, the sky a bright yellowish orange, partially shrouded by what would later in the afternoon become thunderheads.

A little short on sleep after the drive to Blythe from L.A. the night before, I was ready to join a large group of my hunting buddies for the traditional opener on September 1 last year.

I soon sighted a dove and mounted my little 20-gauge Browning over under, trying to track him, to get the barrels to come up behind him and swing through before sending my payload of 7 1/2s on their way. I had loaded up a full ounce in the hulls of my reloads, as extra insurance against such contorted fly behavior.

The bird dipped, dived for the deck (where it's unsafe to take a shot without peppering another hunter), then gained altitude. I fired.

All I had to show was two smoking barrels, a couple of tail feathers that floated lazily from the sky and a lot of verbal abuse from my buddies.

Doves, arguably the most sporting birds, become fair game on September 1.

The big three ammo manufacturers must make a mint on these migratory birds from the sale of shells alone. I know guys that will hunt doves after work almost every day of the 15-day season and will go through a case (250 shells). Considering it takes the average hunter one to three boxes of shells to get a limit of doves, which is 10, it's no wonder everyone savors starting the hunting season with a dove shoot.

Equipment needs are simple: a shotgun, either pump or semi-auto in 12, 16, or 20 gauge, or perhaps your over under if you want to limit your shots to two instead of three per bird, shells in the matching gauge with anywhere from 1 1/3-ounce handicap trap loads in 7 1/2's for your 12 gauge on down to as light as 7/8-ounce loads with 8s for your 20 gauge. For the hot shots, a little .410 with half-ounce of 9s for shots up to 30 yards is most sporting.

Every year I'll see a newcomer standing in a field looking like a beacon of light in his white T-shirt and fluorescent orange cap, not getting any gunning in and wondering why.

Birds see in color, so when they see something that looks out of place, they take a detour around it. You can actually use these newcomers as blockers to divert the birds your way.

The preferred attire is camouflage shirts and vests or game/shell bags, along with matching hat, preferably in a color that blends in instead of standing out in the area in which you will be hunting. Don't forget your boots because many of these areas are favored by rattlesnakes, which prey on the various rodents that can frequent grain fields the birds like.

Bring lots of water, as temperatures can reach triple digits.

Finding a place to hunt is like finding an area to start your own business: location, location, location.

Doves need food, usually in the form of grain, gravel - so they can consume some grit to aid in digestion in their gizzard - and water. Find all three of these ingredients in close proximity and you are well on your way to a good hunt. Talk to the land owner or manager, get written permission, do your scouting beforehand, and pray that the weather stays hot.

One little cold snap, below 60 to 62 degrees at night, and the doves will fly into warmer Mexico.

While you are searching for birds, here's what the game wardens will be looking for:

Over limits, littering (pick up your trash, including empty shells and ammo cartons), wanton waste of game, not making a reasonable effort to retrieve your birds, trespassing and a current license and tags.

If you have a cell phone, you might want to add the DFG CALTip number (1-888-334-2258)to your list.

If you see any violations, observe what the person is wearing, what type of violation and, most important if you can, obtain the model, year and color of the vehicle they drive and the license-plate number and report them.

Next week, recommended areas to scout for birds.