Doves represent the first hunting opportunity of the fall. Unless you hunt turkey, you likely have been away from the hunting field since the spring goose seasons ended. Here are a three things that Bill Miller, Outdoor Hub writer recommends to put on your checklist to enjoy the opener to its fullest.

ShockEater Recoil Pad
Hopefully you will be doing a lot of shooting opening day of dove season. The new ShockEater Recoil Pad incorporates Nano-Poly Technology resulting in a wearable pad weighing only 1.4 ounces and just 8mm thick. It’s so thin, it doesn’t significantly affect length of pull, and it’s so flexible you’ll hardly know it’s there. The ShockEater is built to fit in the pad pocket on a variety of shooting vests. It’s one of those you-have-to-try-it-to-believe-it products because it’s so thin, you won’t think it could possibly curb felt recoil.

ThermaCELL
Opening day is usually hot and sticky and that means mosquitoes. Make sure you have a ThermaCELL device and an ample supply of butane cartridges and repellent pads. When you set up in a fencerow along a feeding field or next to a watering hole, fire up the ThermaCELL next to your hide and you’ll have a 15-foot zone of protection from mosquitoes and other flying insects in 10 minutes.

The right shells
More shells are fired at doves in the United States than at any other feathered species. Even experienced dove shooters seldom achieve success much above 50 percent. If you take a limit of doves with a box of shells, consider yourself a pro. Pick the lightest loads you can find to minimize recoil. Sub-gauges are excellent choices. If you’re hunting public land you’ll need non-toxic loads, so go with steel #7s for effectiveness and economy.