That don’t involve the turkeys. Mine would have to be morels followed closely by ramps.

If the timing is right, my buddy's place in central Wisconsin can be full of Morels! And in certain spots, you know you're in ramps as their aroma is almost overpowering! Another thing, seen some incredible sunrises in the turkey woods. Then last year on a setup, a bunch of deer came by pretty nervous. The wind was in our favor, so they didn't smell us and we were trying to figure out why they were so nervous. All of a sudden they blew hard and were gone and then some coyotes came running up. A hard putt stopped the coyotes and my buddy Jerry took one of them out, 12ga 3-1/2" #4's rolled it at about 25 yards and then the rest were gone in the blink of an eye. Lots of neat "other" stuff out in the woods.

Last year on my property in SW Door County in Wisconsin, walking out in the dark, I did hear a sound I couldn't identify. And it was pretty creepy too! Lol!

The sunrises.

I look forward to hearing the call of the whip-poor-will each morning as the woods wakes up. Nature has a way of informing us as we enter into its world as it sleeps and slowly then begins opening its eyes and provides us with the first rays of light and sounds. I do not like to be late each morning as I pursue this ole bird....fear I will be missing out on what I consider is most important part of the day.

Trout season and digging ramps

Quality time with friends and family

The woods just feel different in the spring. The sunrises mixed with (hopefully) warmer weather along with new blooms of dogwoods, rhododendron, wild cherry, apple trees, tiger lily's, trilliums, and countless other flora and fauna are all part of what makes spring gobbler season my favorite.

Agree.

Glad to see I'm not the only one that takes pictures of the new spring flowers out in the woods!

And there was a gobbling turkey just 75 yards beyond it, couldn't help myself but stop and snap that picture as I was crawling along.

I love that sound. The incessant call of the whip poor wills. And listening to the owls talk to one another. I get to the woods more than an hour before sunrise. I get out of my truck and prep and then just stand there for awhile, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. I love it when the sky is clear and the stars are out and I can see the Milky Way, or satellites passing by. I can see to the north so far I can see aircraft going into the northern Virginia airports.

I enjoy the Wippoorwills a lot

In the woods in the springtime hunting.

Also watching the prairie, swamps, and woods coming alive after a long winter.

^^^^^^
Yep

That first gobble in the morning!
The first sight of a fan or bobbing white head.

The redbirds and owls calling at the break of dawn. Finding a morel patch is always a added treat.

We used to have tons of those things.

Rarely hear them any more. In fact I honestly don't remember the last time I heard one.

Spending time with my hunting buddy and watching the woods come alive

Hate them dang Wippoorwills, the set in a tree above my tent and keep me awake all night . When I get to a place where I can hear and am waiting for the first gobble, you guessed it. Dang Wippoorwills going to town so loud you can not hear squat.

But do enjoy having a gobbler cut me off 1/2 way through my call. Then hear the drumming, and wonder where he is. Then you see the fan. Will not be long

C'mon now! OP said "that don't involve the turkeys"! Lol! Getting me all riled up and my seasons aren't until May! Our turkey camp is such a good time. The 4 of us have been chasing turkeys around for decades together. And yes, we tease each other about how much we've slowed down and do a lot of reminiscing! Wouldn't trade it for anything!

Me and you have a lot in common lol. I’ve got many pictures just like those.

Watching the sun rise & hearing church bells on an Easter morning.

In the words of Jim McKay " the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat "

I like the noise it makes when an arrow hits one

What's the green stuff?

Just watching and hearing the world wake up.

Spring turkey means crappie are on fire and morels are popping.

Used to really like listening to the Royals on the radio while we were in camp. Fire going, old timers telling stories....

I am an early morning person......well, used to be. Work shift killed that, just now starting the coffee pot!!

Ramps. Wild member of the leek family. Kind of a cross between garlic and onions . Great in fried potatoes, scrambled eggs , or even pickle the bulbs. Grows in the Appalachian mountains and maybe elsewhere.

All over central Wisconsin too...

Yup ----Waiting for the 10:00 am round two with the Toms --- I harvest some-- Home fries and eggs later-- love the green part

The sights, smells. and sounds of spring mornings in the Texas Hill Country. Watching the cows and goats make their morning travels, the school bus on it's route, axis bucks roaring at each other. Gray foxes heading to their dens for the day. Damn ! I can't wait till it gets here.

There's wolf's now where I turkey hunt in Central Wisconsin. Gives a whole new perspective to going outside the cabin at night to take a leak....

Haven't heard any wolve's howling yet. But hear coyotes and bobcats all the time.

As much as I like turkey hunting, what gets me almost as wound up is going out with my recorder and umbrella mic and recording turkeys.

Tomorrow will be my first time out this season. I was out last week and heard a mess of them down in one of the hollers. That's where I'm going tomorrow morning.

When I'm doing my pre-season recording, I try my best to hide from the birds as best as I can. However, I've had instances where the boogers will try and make love to my microphone.

You can hear the results of my efforts on my podcasts:

Shamanic Podcasts

Then again. . .

I'm back in from my trek out to Hootin' Holler. Nary a bird heard. Still, I had a nice sit, drank some coffee, and had turkey buzzard drop by and check me out. He seemed genuinely disappointed when I looked up and wished him a good morning.

My two sons and I still hunt together, so my favorite part of turkey season is the time spent with them. Coming in second would be the time before daylight when I step outside the truck and listen to the world wake up, followed by that first gobble of the morning. It's a great time of year.

Couldn’t agree more!

Great pictures Shrapnel.

Those are the our prettier than our turkeys!!

Peace.

Just nothing like the spring woods, gobbling turkeys and sunrises