What’s been bad for the farmers this year could be good for the hunters. Missouri’s fall hunting season unofficially kicks off on Thursday morning at dawn with the opening of the three-month dove season. Jim Low with the State Conservation Department says this year’s dove hunting could be helped by the drought and the damage done to the corn crop. Low says doves are very prolific, raising several clutches every year. He says the average hunter takes four to five shots to get just one bird. So that means plenty of empty shells when the day is done. Low says pick those up. Low says doves are good eating, with a variety of ways they can be served.