Do I Need To Dry Wood Before I Work With It How Do You Dry Hickory Wood?

How do you dry hickory wood? - do i need to dry wood before i work with it

I cut part of a branch of a walnut and I try to carve a pipe of the same thing. I've never drying of wood before, but I'm from the research I have found in Google gives it an exact science. If anyone knows how dry walnuts? :)