In college, my spring break is usually around the 15th or march. This year it starts in the 20's. I'll start then. I usually check out new areas I've never been too first. I can pretty much tell by the country if there will be birds in there in the season. OH and sign too. I don't really have to hear a gobble early. My experience with scouting early varies. Last year I scouted two spots on like March 18th. The first spot I heard 5 gobblers. The second I heard four. During the first bit of the season, the first spot gobblers had moved about 2.5 miles but the second spot gobblers stayed in the same spot all the way into May. This was all in the same county, just different elevations. I knew the first spot gobblers would move, and where too. I guess its all about spending a lot of time getting to know your birds.