Former Soil Conservation Service employee and longtime writer Mat Taylor offers his outdoors column for Dispatch Record readers. He can be contacted at (254) 518- 2262 or via e-mail at mntaylor@agristar.net. It is hot and very dry. On the east side of the county where I live, we have missed getting any rain from Hurricane Dolly. With 100-degree temperatures, it's difficult to think about it, but the start of the fall hunting season will be here before you realize it.

It doesn't seem possible, but a year has gone by, and it is almost time to purchase new hunting and fishing licenses.

Hunting and fishing licenses for 2008-09 will be available beginning Aug. 15, and hunters are encouraged to buy early and avoid a possible rush heading into the Sept. 1 dove season opener.

Sportsmen are reminded all current annual hunting and fishing licenses (except for the year-to-date fishing license) expire Aug. 31.

Texas issues 2.1 million hunting and fishing licenses annually through 28 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department field offices, more than 65 state parks and at more than 1,500 retailers across Texas.

Because dove season in the North and Central Zones opens on a Monday, Tom Newton with TPWD's licensing bureau predicts there will be a weekend rush to buy licenses.

Last year, more than 350,000 licenses were sold during the fourday period around the opening weekend of dove season. It takes an average of three to five minutes to process a license sale transaction, so it's likely there will be delays if you wait until the last minute.

By comparison, Newton said the department averages less than 20,000 license transactions a day during the two weeks prior to the dove season opener, as opposed to five or six times that number on the days around the opening weekend.

If you don't want to purchase a license in person, another option is available. They can be bought online through the TPWD web site www.tpwd.state. tx.us or by calling 1-800- 895-4248. A $5 fee is charged for either option, and a major credit card is required. License sales call center hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The online transaction system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In addition to a license, all wing shooters need to purchase a game bird stamp. To hunt doves, a Migratory Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required. Duck and geese hunters also need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp and receive HIP (Harvest Information Program) certification. HIP certification will be printed on the license at the time of sale only after the purchaser answers a few brief migratory bird questions.

There are other mandatory endorsements to consider at the time of purchase. An Upland Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required to hunt all non-migratory birds including turkey, quail, pheasant and lesser prairie chicken.

Also, anglers must have a valid fishing license with a freshwater or saltwater stamp endorsement or both to fish in the state of Texas.

One way to make sure you get all the necessary stamps including the archery stamp is to purchase a Super Combo License. If you need a majority of the stamps, this is the less expensive option.

One advantage of being a senior citizen is that I can purchase a Senior Super Combo for about half the regular price, and that is what I have done the past two years and will again this year.

As far as I know, there will not be an increase in license fees this year. Compared to many other states, hunting and fishing licenses in Texas are a real bargain.

Young hunters are reminded that Hunter Education Certification is required of any hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, and who is at least 17 years old. For hunters who are unable to work in a hunter education class before hunting season for whatever reason, TPWD does offer a deferral option.

I will provide more information about Hunter Education Certification in next week's column.

As you prepare for the upcoming hunting seasons by cleaning your firearms and purchasing any needed equipment and supplies, don't forget to purchase the most important item: a new hunting license.