Our chapter always likes to get the banquet done and over with before the season begins. We usually begin our donation collecting efforts in October, November, December and January of the following year and host the banquet in February or March. The season kicks in on April 15th and we have our banquet done and can concentrate on turkey hunting. Trust me...it works out really well to not have the banquet " hanging over your head" while your trying to concentrate on filling a tag.