Chassahowitzka WMA
 

I have been looking at WMA's here in the Southwest Region here in FL. One that caught my eye is the Chassahowitzka WMA. Any of you ever hunted it.

I hear there is a Black Bear Population there as well has anyone ever ran into one there. What was that experince like?

What kind of pressure does this area get? Heavy/ Light

When it says that Quota permit first 9 days does that mean its open to hunting to everyone after those 9 days have passed?

RE: Chassahowitzka WMA
 

Cowboyman,

The quota permit is required to hunt the first 9 days of archery and yes after that it it is open to hunting to anyone.

You can apply for a quota hunt permit, they are free so you might as well try to get one for next season. Read up at MyFWC.com.

Never hunted this area, but if it is like the rest it will get heavy pressure.

RE: Chassahowitzka WMA
 

Is a WMA with a Quota permit required for the entire season or maybe one that cost money to apply a better selection for a WMA if you are looking for less pressure.

I am all so looking at Croom WMA has anyone been out to hunt that one.

I have printed off every WMA listed in my region to research these 2 and the Green Swamp have caught my eye.

RE: Chassahowitzka WMA
 

Now that the season is over i went and checked out Chassahowitzka yesterday. Seen 2 deer 1 buck, 1 doe in a opening between some heavy cover. Allso seen a gopher tortuise walking down the road. That was pretty much it.

I am curious what black bear poop looks like. Ifound a pile that wasnt deer that was large and loaded with acorns. We seen many carcass along the trails and roadways where folks had quarted up a deer and left the remains lying on the ground.

I allso seen a area where it looked like hogs had been rutting around and tore up the ground pretty good. I got some pictures of that i will post later for yall to tell me if thats what it actually was. I have never actually seen an area rutted up by hogs so i am guessing thats what caused this.

It took me roughly 3 hours to drive the network of improved roads that werent closed to vechicles.There are many more that are there but closed to vechicles. Do thay open those roads during hunting season or are they allways closed?

I never found an entrance to the western gulf side of the WMA is this area only accesible by boat. I wonder howmany people paddle or boat in from the western side to hunt. That is an option i am willing to try myself especially if it gets me into areas that arent hunted as heavly.

I dont know how to begin to start looking for areas to scout and decide on stand locations when every road or access point on the 3 hr trip of driving the roads had ribbons tied to the trees. I dont want to set up where other people allready have their stand but it seems like all the areas are covered. Any suggstions on how to begin locating an area would be appreciated.

RE: Chassahowitzka WMA
 

Green Swamp Update. 61 deer 94 hogs

RE: Chassahowitzka WMA
 

RE: Chassahowitzka WMA
 

RE: Chassahowitzka WMA
 

Thanks for the replys. I have taken my pictures and googled what i thought they where and compared to what i found.

On a designated hiking trail I found Bear Droppings, a large hog Rooting area, and what was left of a recent deer carcass just the hide. Right next to the bearDroppings i will add.

On one of the improved roads where alot of brush clearing is going on. On the road way i found Hog Droppings, and Deer Droppings. As well as some dog droppings.

All that in 3 hours and i never ventured far off the improved roads beside the 1.5 mile Designated Hiking trail. Seems promising that i found that many signs only 7 days after the season ended.