There is no other sound in wildlife like one hears as the sun rises, the woods come to life and the first turkey gobble is heard in the morning, according to 20-year turkey hunter J. Dale Manning.

“Anyone would find turkey hunting fascinating,” Manning said. “Whether you’re a hunter, a bird watcher. Anyone would enjoy hearing those sounds.”

Manning hunts in several areas through Beaufort, Pitt and Martin counties and carries on the tradition his father and grandfather passed to him. He, too, passes that tradition on to his daughter and son, promoting both hunting and wildlife conservation, he said.

Not only does it get children away from television and other technological distractions, but it also teaches life lessons, providing a means for mentorship, Manning said. However, it’s never too late to get involved with hunting, according to Deet James, hunting heritage biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) Wildlife Education Division, lifelong hunter and wildlife conservationist.

The sport facilitates wildlife education, hunters’ camaraderie and many other benefits, according to both hunters. But a hunter must know the ins and outs of the hunt and their prey to make a successful harvest, Manning said.

“If a turkey could smell like a deer (can), you would never kill one,” Manning said, comparing success in deer hunting versus turkey hunting. “(Turkeys) can see and they can certainly hear well. A deer’s sense of smell keeps them alive most of the time.”

With turkey season approaching from April 9-May 7, the NCWRC, in partnership with the National Wildlife Turkey Federation (NWTF), is offering 24 free turkey-hunting seminars across the state. The previous week, April 2-8, is allotted as a youth-only week of the season. The nearest offerings in the series of seminars are at Tidewater Research Station in Roper on March 2-3 and Pitt County Extension Center in Greenville on March 9-10, according to a NCWRC press release.

James said the seminars are an expansion of skill-based hunting seminars offered through the NCWRC and its conservation partners like NWTF, in this case.

“This is the second year in a row that we’ve held these turkey seminars across the state in an effort to increase awareness of wildlife-associated recreational opportunities,” James said. “Because they were such a huge success and filled up so quickly, we expanded the locations from eight to 12 this year.”

The seminars focus on recruitment of new hunters, young and old, retention of those who hunt and reactivation of those who hunted at one time but for whatever reason stopped doing so, according to James.

“Over 70 percent of funding for conservation and wildlife management has come through hunters and anglers,” James said. “That’s what keeps (hunting) going. Not only does it fund conservation, but it also adds to the economy. It’s a 365-lifestyle and part of a tradition. Our mix (in seminars) is 90-percent hunters and 10-percent new. We want to see the recruitment factor increase.”

“It’s a tradition that is shared within the family,” Manning said. “Hunting has taught me several life lessons. Hunters are some of the biggest conservationists there are. We enjoy the sport and want to make sure it’s around for years to come. (The seminars) provide new ideas, new ways of doing things, and they keep you abreast of the new tactics and products out there. It creates a forum of hunters. When you’re in a seminar in a room with these other guys, you learn through each other’s mistakes and successes. You learn things in the field and share a bond with your friends and family.”

Introductory and advanced level seminars are offered and open on a first-come, first-served basis to all ages, although participants 16 years and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Though introductory seminars are geared for novice turkey hunters, all are welcome to attend. Attendees will learn about hunting methods, calls and decoys, firearms and ammunition selection, camouflage and other aspects, the release said.

Advanced seminars are designed for the experienced hunter and focus more on advanced biology, complex hunting tactics, calls and decoys and includes tips and strategies for dealing with stubborn, hard-to-hunt gobblers, as well as cleaning and cooking techniques.

“I think anytime you can promote hunting, in general, it’s a good thing, especially if it has to do with getting children involved,” Manning said. “The conservation and the wild turkey population has done well over the last few years thanks, in part, to our state resources and the NWTF.”

Pre-registration for the turkey hunting seminars is required and participants must register online ncwildlife.org/sbs. For additional information, contact Walter “Deet” James, the NCWRC’s hunting heritage biologist, 919-707-0059; mobile, 984-202-1387 or hunting.heritage@ncwildlife.org.