By Brian Pearson

Springtime for me is without a doubt my favorite time of the year. This is for two reasons. Spring is the time when the woods come to life after a long winter, and most importantly, it is the time of the year when gobblers begin to gobble.

Tom Kelley writes in The Tenth Legion that "the waiting" begins after deer season ends and continues until the first redbird sings on opening day of turkey season. It is "the waiting" that separates turkey season from all other sports in the outdoors.

"The waiting" is when I begin walking in the mornings. I will revisit some new and old turkey spots and begin both getting in shape for the season to come. It's when I begin preparing mentally for the long season ahead and when I get outside and spend time where turkeys live. It's when I find out what is going on and where they are staying and spending their day.

The woods in the spring are constantly changing and it is very hard to jump on at the middle of the ride. So many people do not set foot in the woods until the day before season. For me this would be like trying to jump on a merry-go-round midway through the ride. Sure you can do it, but it is not nearly as much fun.

"The waiting" is a great time to begin pulling out the calls. It doesn't matter whether you use a mouth-call, slate, box or any other call. Just get it out and play with it from time to time. Watch some of the many turkey hunting videos available today. Go to some of the many turkey calling contest around and listen to turkeys both real and imitators. I hear so many people at the beginning of the season say, "I wish I sounded as good as I did at the end of the season last year." Well the reason was they had been yelping and listening to turkeys all season. You do not have to yelp constantly and drive everyone in your office or family crazy. Just get the calls out and get into the routine of turkey hunting.

Turkey hunting plays a big part in my life. I enjoy the preparation and anticipation of the upcoming season as much as I do the season itself. One of the greatest comments that I have ever heard that sums up turkey hunting came at a hunting camp when I was retelling the morning events of being outsmarted by a gobbler. An old turkey hunter who was listening said, "the problem is you are a part-time turkey hunter and he is a full-time turkey."

Even today, running a hunting lodge, I have the privilege of chasing turkeys everyday of the season all over the country. I still love and enjoy every day, and yet I learn something every time I come up against a gobbler. The best advice that I can give you is to go hunting every chance you get.

Brian Pearson is the lodge manager of The Roost