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Post by jimstc on Jan 19, 2016 17:46:05 GMT -5
I am sitting at my computer and get an e-mail from NWTF entitled " Five Reasons To Hunt Turkey In Florida". Opened it up and read it and then started doing research. The FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website is awesome. Gave me a ton of data regarding harvest by area and where I can hunt without the lottery quota permits. Decided on the Lower Suwannee NWR and Devils Hammock WMA. While researching the turkey hunt I see that feral hogs are the #2 hunted animal in FL behind Whitetails. So I started doing some research on that topic. Got to thinking that I need some guidance on this as I have never hunted hogs. Found a place near Starke, FL that offers semi-guided and unguided hunts. Their property is fenced. Ok, it isn't a hog hunt but maybe a hog slaughter. Don't care about the ethics of killing pigs too much. If you disagree, that is your choice and right. Wanted to learn then I will go unguided in a FL WMA or NWR.
So, we are leaving mid march for 10 or so days. My wife is working on lodging near or on Cedar Key. That location will put her on the gulf. That is near my turkey hunting area but is a two hour drive to the hog "slaughter". Figured I'd kill hogs one day and hunt turkeys for 5 or so days. Season bag limit is two males. I will be hunting the Osceola species. Season is 3/19-4/24.
I am such a sucker for compelling e-mails......
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Post by GS1 on Jan 19, 2016 18:09:21 GMT -5
Hunting Florida is Awesome. Completely different than here, obviously. I've seen hogs nearly every day that I've turkey hunted there. One morning on my own I saw eagles, alligators a bobcat and several hogs. I was a nervous wreck waiting on seeing a rattlesnake.
Hopefully I will have my son down there the 20th of March trying to score his first Osceola.
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Post by jimstc on Jan 19, 2016 19:03:07 GMT -5
Hunting Florida is Awesome. Completely different than here, obviously. I've seen hogs nearly every day that I've turkey hunted there. One morning on my own I saw eagles, alligators a bobcat and several hogs. I was a nervous wreck waiting on seeing a rattlesnake. Hopefully I will have my son down there the 20th of March trying to score his first Osceola. What general area are you hunting, if you don't mind saying? |
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Post by GS1 on Jan 19, 2016 20:56:08 GMT -5
I've hunted Seminole County, over by Titusville and another place a ways south of there. This year I think we are hunting a club on Lake Kissimmee
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Post by jimstc on Jan 21, 2016 17:12:32 GMT -5
Booked a condo on Cedar Key on the water for 7 days. $525 all in. Now I can afford that! Really surprised at the rate as I was thinking it is still in season down there. Perhaps being north central helped the affordability. This may become an annual trip.
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Post by Land Between the Lakes on Jan 28, 2016 13:05:17 GMT -5
Florida has millions of acres of forest and wilderness. Florida has some of the best wildlife diversity in the world. It offers some great hunting and fishing opportunities. There is a lot of public land also.
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Post by jimstc on Jan 28, 2016 18:27:31 GMT -5
Florida has millions of acres of forest and wilderness. Florida has some of the best wildlife diversity in the world. It offers some great hunting and fishing opportunities. There is a lot of public land also. That is exactly what I have learned. I am amazed at the broad range of hunting opportunities and the help from their DNR. Today I received an e-mail from a state biologist giving me his short list of where to hunt without a quota permit. Pretty impressive. |
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Post by Land Between the Lakes on Jan 28, 2016 18:36:05 GMT -5
If you have time you may want to consider doing some fishing down there while your there. Florida is by far one of the top 5 states in America for Bass fishing.
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Post by jimstc on Jan 29, 2016 18:38:41 GMT -5
If you have time you may want to consider doing some fishing down there while your there. Florida is by far one of the top 5 states in America for Bass fishing. Great advice. Wife and I have been saying we ought to hook up the old the Ranger (2001) and haul it with us. Still runs like new. Why not? Thanks for the encouragement! |
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Post by jimstc on Jan 29, 2016 18:46:45 GMT -5
Been communicating with a FL state biologist hoping for some advice. He is beyond helpful. Following is one of his e-mails: Chopp, Matt Jan 28 (1 day ago) to me Mr. St. Charles – That’s a great story! Here’s some information about the suggested WMAs where you may have the best chance of harvesting an Osceola subspecies turkey without the quota permit requirement. As always, please consult the WMA brochures (click here) for maps and area-specific details about access, permit, license and hunting regulations. Also, here is a link to more information about your questions www.myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/turkey/hunt-without-quota-permit/2015-16 season NC Region: Devil’s Hammock – March 19-27 (15, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) available FCFS at the check station each day) Raiford – April 7-10 (after the 1st 9 days) (no quota permit required) Log Landing – Friday, Saturday & Sunday March 19 through April 24 Lower Suwannee NWR – March 19 through April 10 ($15 NWR permit required) NE Region: Three Lakes (perhaps better choice than Bull Creek) – March 19 through April 24 (hundreds of no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) available FCFS at the check stations each day) Bull Creek – March 19 through April 24 (no quota permit required) SW Region: Green Swamp – March 21 through April 24 - 200, no-cost, daily quota permits are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season S Region: J.W. Corbett - but not recommended right now due to the current unseasonably wet conditions – access will be difficult and most forage grounds will be under water. -I hope this helps. Thank you for your interest in the FWC’s public hunting program! Chopp. Then this after I replied that I had chosen Lower Suwanee NWR, Green Swamp and Devils Hammock as potential hunting areas: That’s great to hear Jim. The phone # for Lower Suwannee NWR is 352-493-0238 and the link to that hunting brochure is at the bottom of this page (click here). Please let us know if you need to speak with staff at the other sites, and I’ll arrange that they give you a call. Best, Chopp. It doesn't get much better than this |
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Post by GS1 on Jan 29, 2016 22:13:54 GMT -5
I've hunted Three Lakes. Nice area, but they were beginning to clear the oak hammocks when I was there. Heard a couple of birds and thought I was going to get eaten walking/wading across a reed marsh for about half a mile.
I believe their is a member here who hunted Green Swamp. I believe it gets hit pretty hard but not as bad as bull creek. I have a friend down there that hunts both of those. I think she hunts bull creek more. I'll ask her.
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Post by jimstc on Jan 30, 2016 6:31:59 GMT -5
I've hunted Three Lakes. Nice area, but they were beginning to clear the oak hammocks when I was there. Heard a couple of birds and thought I was going to get eaten walking/wading across a reed marsh for about half a mile. I believe their is a member here who hunted Green Swamp. I believe it gets hit pretty hard but not as bad as bull creek. I have a friend down there that hunts both of those. I think she hunts bull creek more. I'll ask her. Thanks GS1 |
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Post by GS1 on Jan 30, 2016 18:16:19 GMT -5
She said she would chose Green Swamp out of those 3. Three Lakes probably has more birds. She mainly hunts Bull Creek because it is closest, but there are a lot of people there.
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Post by ridgerunner on Feb 4, 2016 6:08:55 GMT -5
Just make sure if you want a true Osceola bird for a grand slam or whatever, to go to the south of Orlando..True Osceola's are only found south of Orlando.
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Post by parrothead on Feb 4, 2016 6:52:47 GMT -5
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Post by jimstc on Feb 4, 2016 15:55:41 GMT -5
Pretty much decided on Lower Suwanee NWR, then Devils Hammock. Any place that has the name swamp in it does give me pause. Thanks for the reference. |
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Post by jimstc on Feb 4, 2016 15:59:29 GMT -5
Just make sure if you want a true Osceola bird for a grand slam or whatever, to go to the south of Orlando..True Osceola's are only found south of Orlando. Ridge, thanks for the heads up. I have a map from FWC that delineates the line of eastern and osceolas. Any bird below that line is designated as an osceola. In any event, it doesn't make much difference to me as this would be my first turkey. Just started hunting them last spring season here in IN. Grand Slam is in my next life. LOL! |
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Post by ridgerunner on Feb 7, 2016 16:11:47 GMT -5
Just make sure if you want a true Osceola bird for a grand slam or whatever, to go to the south of Orlando..True Osceola's are only found south of Orlando. Ridge, thanks for the heads up. I have a map from FWC that delineates the line of eastern and osceolas. Any bird below that line is designated as an osceola. In any event, it doesn't make much difference to me as this would be my first turkey. Just started hunting them last spring season here in IN. Grand Slam is in my next life. LOL! Good Luck jimstc! Any bird is a trophy in my book..I has a buddy go south one time and shot a bird he thought was an Osceola not knowing ...so I always pass that info. along just in case....Hope you kill a big ole Gobbler..nothing like it. |
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Post by GS1 on Mar 2, 2016 19:58:31 GMT -5
I'm going to be there the 19th, but not hunting until the 23rd. We're going to drag the airboat to a place that gives limited permits per day. If it looks like we are not going to get a permit then we are headed to a lake to put the boat in and go look for birds.
Should be an adventure. My boy is going to crap his pants. He doesn't know we are even going to hunt.
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Post by jimstc on Mar 3, 2016 14:57:16 GMT -5
I'm going to be there the 19th, but not hunting until the 23rd. We're going to drag the airboat to a place that gives limited permits per day. If it looks like we are not going to get a permit then we are headed to a lake to put the boat in and go look for birds. Should be an adventure. My boy is going to crap his pants. He doesn't know we are even going to hunt. Are you willing to adopt a 63 year old man and his wife?  ?? |
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