The official start of turkey season isn’t until March 15, but local hunters are prepping guns and calls in anticipation of harvesting a large gobbler this spring.

Tim Wood, general manager of the Central Alabama Farmer’s Co-Op, said turkey season is his favorite time of the year and he can’t wait to get into the woods.

“I would go every day if I could,” Wood said. “Just hearing them in the woods gobbling and knowing it’s a one-on-one whether you can bait him to come in, it really is to me the ultimate challenge.”

Wood isn’t the only one with the turkey hunting fever. Jere Peak, who served as president of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation from 2004-2006, is a turkey hunting fanatic.

“You kind of either have the disease or you don’t and I was afflicted with the disease,” Peak said, describing his passion for turkey hunting.

Peak, who still serves on the board of directors for the NWTF, said turkeys are a lot harder to kill than deer, which adds to the challenge.

“It takes more land to able to hunt and the fact is that it is hard,” Peak said.

Of course, the challenge also stops some hunters from going turkey hunting. Peke said the national average of turkey hunters is around 3.5 million, while there are 15 million deer hunters. He said that average should remain true in Selma.

Peak is also preparing for the Hunting Heritage Banquet Friday night at the Old National Guard Armory, hosted by the Blaster chapter of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation.

Peak, who is president of the Blaster chapter, said the banquet is always created with family fun in mind. Friday’s event is no different, with all-you-can-eat seafood and special speaking guests.

“We are real excited about Friday night,” Peak said. “We are having Michael Waddell. He’s sort of the Tiger Woods of outdoor hunting. He has a television show and he is kind of the rock star.”

The cost of admission is $85 for couples, single adult tickets are $60 and tickets for children 17 and under are $25. Doors open at 6 p.m.

“It is a good time to have some fun in a family atmosphere and raise some money for conservation in the wild turkey,” Peak said.

One hunter —15 years or younger — will win a 20-gauge shotgun, a hunting outfit, and be on Waddell’s show “Bone Collector.”

Saturday, March 8 marks youth turkey hunt weekend.