Beep! Beep! Beep! The alarm loudly jolts me out of my dreams and I knock the repeating racket off the nightstand. Rubbing my eyes, still heavy from slumber, the trek outside and to put on my camouflage gear begins when I remind myself, “Don’t forget the turkey vest.” After gathering the necessary shells, guns, and calls, I start the truck, close the door, and plug in my phone in an effort to stay awake on the drive to the woods. While driving I look out my windows gazing upon the wilderness and the vast fields, realizing that at this very moment the birds and I are the only beings awake. Finally, after 30 minutes of driving I arrive to the spot I scouted all year. I turn off the truck, look at the clock and see 4:30 a.m. glowing in the twilight. Turkey hunting consists of more than just waking up and going out into the woods. A true hunter must learn the bird, their travel patterns, the appropriate calls, and most importantly, the nightly roost. Learning a turkey’s travel pattern truly challenges one’s patience. A hunter must scout all year; and that means [just like turkey hunting] getting up early. Turkeys are creatures of habit. One must understand the birds’ daily activity and know where the activity takes place for the remainder of the year. Learning the bird’s morning routine demands diligence. A sportsman must slowly walk along paths, wood lines, and fields looking and listening for turkey evidence: prints, dropped feathers, and clucks to discover exact trails and destinations. While maneuvering both quietly and covertly is essential, it is also a learned skill and requires persistence, perseverance and, most importantly, practice. Do not ask me how I know that any misplaced step or sound allows a turkey to spot the hunter, cluck and run. Calling a turkey is both methodical and strategic. A hunter must think like a turkey and actually put himself in the bird’s position. It is the old boy pursues girl syndrome.