As I write this column, the thermometer on my back porch reads 104 degrees. That is too hot for most people to work outside or to participate in an outdoor activity.

Since the dog days of August are here, it is a good time to do some things indoors to get ready for the upcoming hunting seasons.

One job I recently completed was a list of all my firearms with the name, model, action, caliber and serial number.

I then printed out each entry and took a photo of each gun with a piece of paper that included all the informa­tion on it. I downloaded the photos in my computer and made a copy of them on a CD. Why? Well, I hope no one ever breaks into my home and steals valuable items, especially my firearms. If that happens, however, and if they are recovered, I have a record of the items and it would make it easier to identify them.

It also would be a good idea to do the same thing with other valuables in the home.

If it is too hot to hunt or fish, you can read about it. There are numerous books and magazines about hunting and fishing, and a number of videos show different hunts and fishing trips.

Of course, reading any good book is a great summertime activity.

I am reading “Empire of the Summer Moon” by S.C. Gwynne. The subtitle is “Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History.”

This is the best book I have read about Comanche Indians and the early conflicts between the settlers and Indians. The book traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, and entails one of the most remarkable narratives ever to come out of the West: the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the

Coman­ches.

If you like to read about the history of early Texas, this is a must-have book.

Dove season opens in about three weeks, and now is the time to get your favorite shotgun out and give it an extra cleaning and lubrication. Check to see if you have an adequate supply of shells.

Also, it would be a good idea to pattern the shotgun with the shells you plan to use hunting. On a large white sheet of paper, draw a 30-inch diameter circle with a dot in the middle. At about 30-35 yards, shoot at the dot several times, and then you can tell if the pattern is centered and uniform. If it is not, you might try another brand of shells or a different shot size. I would do this in the early morning or late afternoon when it is cooler.

Don’t neglect your knife. Give each knife you plan to use this hunting season a good sharpening.

Another reminder: Your hunting and fishing license expires Aug. 31. New licenses for 2010-2011 will go on sale Sunday.

Texas Parks and Wildlife issues about 2.1 million hunting and fishing licenses annually through the agency’s 28 field offices, more than 65 state parks and at over 1,500 retailers across Texas. For a $5 administrative transaction fee, licenses also may be purchased online through the TPWD Web site.

There are many different types of licenses, fishing or hunting, and combinations. Additional fees are charged for freshwater or saltwater fishing.

In addition to the hunting licenses, all wing shooters will need to purchase a game bird stamp. To hunt doves, a Migratory Bird Stamp is required. Duck and goose hunters also need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp and receive Harvest Informa­tion Program certification.

An Upland Game Bird Stamp is required to hunt all non-migratory game birds, including turkey, quail and pheasant.

Anyone who purchases the Super Combo license package, for $68, automatically gets these stamps. If you are over 65, you qualify for a discounted Senior Super Combo for $32. This is the license I now will purchase.

For additional information about license fees, pick up a copy of the 2010-2011 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual Hunting and Fishing Regulations booklet wherever licenses are sold.

Hunting and fishing licenses may be purchased in Lampasas at Brown’s Store, Nocked and Locked, and WalMart.

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@wild­blue­.

net.