I.m not sure of what the pros do but this works for me.

I gather seed here in Southwest Missouri the last of September or early October. Good seed are still hanging on the tree. I let them dry for a few days and then place in a ziplock bag and store in a cool dry place. The week before Christmas I soak the dry seed in cups of warm water for 24 hours. After they have soaked I lay them out on papertowels for an hour or two to soak up the excess moisture. I then place the seed in ziplock bags full of slightly damp peat moss and place in the crisper of the refrigerator. Mark your calendar because those seed will start germinating in 90 to 110 days from the time you placed them in the refrigerator. Once you see germination has started I plant them about a quarter inch deep in good potting soil in small individual containers. New seedlings need to be in a shady spot for the first growing season. I let them break dormancy in a brighter spot the following year.

Hope that helps.

Lee