Tell me about hunting in Florida.

Stalker58 · April 11, 2007, 06:04:00 PM

Life has a funny way of "Happening" and as it happens,there's a Great job opportunity,and it involves moving to Florida.
Soooooo How's the hunt'n in Florida?
Steve

whitebuffalo · April 11, 2007, 06:13:00 PM

I have a buddy down there,, He loves the hog huntin and the osiola turkey huntin but travels up north for deer huntin. Hope I spelled that right.

Budog56 · April 11, 2007, 06:15:00 PM

Cant you hunt gators in florida??? That would be FUN!!

alligatordond · April 11, 2007, 08:30:00 PM

Boys, Florida hunting can be difficult for sure, but very rewarding at the same time.

I grew up and still live in Eau Gallie(Melbourne) which stradles the Indian River Lagoon to the east and the St John's River to the west. We have a long season starting in midSept for archery and ending in mid January. Other regions vary and if you want to travel you can hunt deer from early Sept. to late Feb.

Hogs are prevalent. Size varies. My hunting partner killed a 220# boar Saturday. Osceola Turkeys are abundant though certainly not easy.

Deer wise, we don't have the great racks you see up north but we see several on our property that push 140" each year.The hunting involves thick areas and there is food everywhere so it can be hard to pattern a deer in the conventional sense. The is no truly defined rut but what peak there is happens around late Oct here.

Public land can be tricky but a patient hunter can do well by using the other hunters as "drivers."

Gator hunting is still limited but worth doing at least once.

The greatest benefit to Florida is the abundance of other wildlife. I see all sorts of interesting creatures in the average stand sitting ranging from coons and otters to flying squirrels,bobcats and coyotes. The bird life is also incredible. Remember, Florida was the dream destination for many of the early bowhunting pioneers. There is still abundant wild areas to see here. Just get away from the coast a bit.

Check out myfwc.com and TBOF.org (Traditional Bowhunters of Florida )

2Blade · April 11, 2007, 09:06:00 PM

Our friend lives there and said the hunting is great if you can stand the heat he does a lot of hog and turkey hunting and some deer hunting. He had his shed full of FL racks they were small but who cares nice bucks regardless. I would go atleast you can hunt year round for pigs snow and cold get old in a hurry but im sure heat does to.

If I was you id go take a trip down if at all possible and check it out before you decide.

alligatordond · April 11, 2007, 09:10:00 PM

By the way, one word will make life during archery season bearable----Thermacell.

gregg dudley · April 11, 2007, 09:19:00 PM

Don, the Thermacell tip is too good to simply give away. I thought we agreed to charge an even million dollars for that bit of advice.

Florida is a big state and deer densities, ruts, seasons, temperatures, etc. vary. The nice thing about that is that you can travel to different parts of the state to try out the various opportunities that exist. There is a lot to do and see and the hunting and fishing opportunities are good.

As Don said, be sure to check out tbof.org and join us at our shoots.

What part of the state are you looking at?

ishiwannabe · April 11, 2007, 09:27:00 PM

Ah ya guys beat me to it....thermocells are awesome. I used one for the first time a few weeks ago in Ga.....didnt get a single bug bite the whole time.
I also drove from Jax to Destin, and I saw a huge boar dead on Route 10. I love the diversity of the wildlife encounters in Fla. The fishing is rather awesome too.
Good luck with your job.

alligatordond · April 11, 2007, 10:17:00 PM

Gregg , my bad.

As Gregg said, join us at some of the shoots. TBOF is a great bunch and you will have fun along with great fellowship.

There's nothing quite like hunting in short sleeves with your trusty thermacell sitting in a cabbage palm watching the deer and pigs eat wild sweet oranges. The Will and Maurice Thompson were onto something for sure.

Stalker58 · April 12, 2007, 05:16:00 AM

Thanks for the Great info,
I'm look'n at the Port St.Lucie area.
If I take the the job,I'm look'n at moving,a year from now.
I would definitely look foward to meeting you guys at some shoots and joining the TBOF.
Steve

Eric in FLA · April 12, 2007, 09:02:00 AM

The previous posts are right on. We have a great variety of wildlife, Hogs & Turkeys are plentiful as are the mockingbird size mosquitoes. Buy a Thermacell, a generator for when the hurricanes knock out power for a few days and come on down. The fishing is great and the Port St. Lucie area is nice. Good luck on the decision.

alligatordond · April 12, 2007, 02:41:00 PM

Scott, If you ain't a fisherman it's time to become one. The St Lucie area has world class snook fishing. Plus you're not far from world class bass fishing at Okeechobee,Kissimmee, Stick Marsh etc. Hunting wise there are several Wildlife Mgt areas within a 2 hour drive.

the Ferret · April 12, 2007, 02:48:00 PM

and don't forget all the potential bow backings slithering in the brush

Lost Arra · April 12, 2007, 05:14:00 PM

alligatordond: One of my daughters graduated a few years ago from F.I.T. in marine bio. She said there were some bowfishing opportunities (?tilapia) in some canals in the Brevard county area. Ever tried it?

I did a lot of kayakfishing in the Indian River Lagoon while she was there usually north of Sebastian Inlet. Great area.

bentpole · April 12, 2007, 06:45:00 PM

Hey Steve when are you moving? We still gonna get together on old mine road next huntin season??

Stalker58 · April 12, 2007, 08:03:00 PM

I'm not goin' anywhere yet.
Just get'n my ducks in a row!

joe skipp · April 12, 2007, 08:09:00 PM

Steve...if you move, call me. We have to get together and shoot the bows then have a few cold ones. Great bass fishing there but keep your eyes open for gators and those fanged slithering creatures. I hear there's quite a few down there.
By the way, what's the job offer....Groundskeeper for the Mets??

alligatordond · April 12, 2007, 09:04:00 PM

Ferret, We don't have the snakes you would think. Plenty of the non venomous black racers and rat snakes but rattlers are few and far between now. Some say the hogs get them. Other say development. I hunt in the middle of a 400,000 cattle ranch and I killed a 70" diamondback this year-the first one I've seen in about a decade while hunting.

Lost Arra- Your daughter would know Jon Shenker then. He's one of the foremost authorities on tarpon and a friend. The tilapia are here though I haven't bowfished them. It is on the calendar though. A good friend bowfishes the Indian River Lagoon for sheepshead and mullet-both are good eatin. Where you kayaked is one of my "secret spots" for snook and small tarpon. A blast on a 5 wt flyrod.

We don't have monster deer-a 100 incher is above avg. But we have plenty of them and lots of other stuff to do. There is almost too much outdoors stuff to do here. It was a great place to grow up.

Bobby Castello · April 14, 2007, 07:59:00 PM

Bow hunting can be tough very hot and bugs can be really bad but we have alot of deer, hogs and turkey. Quite a bit of public land and a very long deer season! Public land can be tough due to the crowds but if you don't mind walking to get away from the people you should see alot of game. I quit hunting private land years ago and have had pretty goood luck hunting public land only.The inshore fishing is great. It will be a big change from hunting up north but you will get use to the heat,bugs,snakes and water.