RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

What we realy need on some of the forums is a WMA report by people in those areas....and a Florida Deer Hunting 101! I have hunted all over (USA and Europe)...and none is like what the Florida Deer hunter must understand and do! AMEN!! I've hunted MIssouri and Maryland..and Florida WMAs are 20 times tougher..not to mention the snakes and gators
I just let most of the Wise-A$$ go and don't say much.....but they seldom kill a deer or hog unless they run over it at night!
Many buy a rifle and scope that would be great out West (or some rag writer suggests) and then climbs a tree in Florida and blows up good meat at 40 yards! .....or can't get the moving game in the high power scope). that was my problem twice last year..[X(]I've now taken the scope off and need to sight in my new tru glo sites..:)for my 30-30
Florida scrub/swamp country is excellent for brush guns and shotguns....as in the past! We are not supposed to advertise here, but take a look at Dixie Slugs (dixieslugs,com) and let's pump up this forum with useable information.
Regards, James
:D:Ddo you carry any in hollow point? 12 guage

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

When it comes to 12 ga ammo...for rifled or smoothbore barrels...the worst situation is soft swaged slug/bullets that overexpand! What is needed is a slug/bullet that is cast hard and heat treated that will penetrate deep (as with big wild hogs) and break tough green bones...after all the slyg/bullet is already .730"! But that's another story!
We are seeing more and bigger hogs in remote areas....not the little feral knots some see. In parts of coastal areas and along our rivers....there is a hog population eaplosion...two litters a year. That are competing with deer for available food. Many WMA are now allowing hogs to be taken during small game season...great for the hunters!
However, there are few hunters that score because they just do not undersatnd how to hunt hogs. If you see a lot of rootig, the hogs ahve moved! They wander all over the place. On the coast or near by, they move to the salt flats to eat red fiddlers on the full moon!
Regards, James

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Here you go Chuck!:)

http://www.israelmilitary.net/showthread.php?p=30878

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Thanks Reb..
I saw his site earluer..and did not notice any hollow points..what he has s real hard heavy slugs..:)which will probably knock us on our butts..or dislocate a shoulder..:D:D

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

James,

I agree I have a .280 and I doupt I will take advantage of it in Florida. Though when I bought it I was hunting soybean fields of South Carolina and there it shines! I hunt a couple spots where I might get a 100 yard shot if the deer is just right, but I would bet that 96% of my shots at game in Florida WMA will be under 40 yards! Yikes, that is getting into archery range!

Chuck,

I don't think you need a hollow point. With over .5 inch frontal area (.730 per James) a 12 gauge slug is amazing. It will bring down deer faster than anything else I have shot. I have taken deer with slugs and they just crumbled in place.

Cheers,
Chris

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

I like the .280!,... great rifle for the bean fields around Orangeburg, South Carolina....been there! On the otherhand, in the brush..... nothing beats a big bullet at a moderate velocity!
Regards, James

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

James,

Need a little Florida Hog hunting info. You mentioned if you see rooting, then they have already gone. What is the best way to hunt the critters? I have killed two so far but I was hunting deer and they were cruising through. Just pure luck

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Excellent link! I can add some thoughts though! First of all...hogs do not stay in one area long. When the feed is gone (see rooting on the link), they have moved to anaother feed area. Alll of the pictures on the link are great....but show where hogs have been, but they may not be there on your hunt. Too many new hunter set up there stand, looking at hog rooting, only to watch it dry out!
If you hunt an area over a period of time, you will learn where that hogs are going from one area to another....then get ahead of them. When the acorns are falling, find a remote feed area and wait! If you are along the coast during full moon...pick a low tide period and hunt the edge of the salt flat....they love red fiddlers. If pushed, they will swim to the coastal islands! Just after the first frost, take a walk into small planted pines....watch for rooting, pushing up Red Root. They will stay there longer....and return each year after the first frost to get those roots! If you are hunting in a new place that still has a good acron fall....set up your stand and throw a couple of cans of cheap sardines out. A hog can smell them for a half a mile if the winds right....and they will come. If legal, save your fried fish oils, dig a hole about a foot deep and pour the oil in. Set your stand, but it will be late, just before dark, when they come. If legal in your area....wrap a burlap bag around a small tree, tie it tight, and pour some oil on it that you have saved from the last time you changed your truck's oil. If legal in your area...take a 5 gallon putty bucket full of corn, and water, one cup of diesel, and 3 packs of rasberry Kool-Aid. Stir a nd let it sour....pour that in a smallsandyhole. they will come to that and wallow out a deep place...late and early!
You will find, and kill, more hogs rambling around feed areas, than just sitting...if you have scouted out potential feed areas. The hogs lay up in the middle of the day....like on palmetto flats. Ease through these in the middle of the day. On real hot days they will move to water and wallow.
Remember always that a hog is governed by their gut! Find the feed and you will find the hogs!
Just some random thoughts....James

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

I like that Idea!!!! I think FL deer hnting is some of the hardest deer hunting in the country and if you kill a deer here on public land your doin something IMO. I like the FL deer hunitng 101 the best. Ill be @ Citrus Nov. 8-11 and Jan 2,3 If any of you have those hunts it would be great to meet some of you.

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

My Citrus hunt is Dec. 27th and 28th for muzzleloader..If any of you will be goingto the Tenoroc Shooting Range ..let me know..and we can get sited in together,,

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Now this is what a forum is supposed to be about. I've learned more about Florida hunting just reading this post than I've learned from any other source other than actually being in the field.

Thanks everyone for all the info and keep up the good discussions!

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

DS i agree with alot you said but this statement is not totally true. during the rut, human urine (atleast from males) does not sppok deer. i have pictures from my digital game cam that i sat out last year where i made an artificial scrape and urinated in it. that night the game camera captured 3 different bucks within 15 minutes of each other visiting the scrape and re-freshening it. i believe the testeronein the urine "fires" up the rutting bucks. i'm sure they know it's not from another buck but being during the rut they focus on the testerone smell and re hit the scrape to declare dominance. this is just my theory but here are the pic's of the bucks at the mock scrape just hours after i made it and urinated in it...

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Nice pics Camo..

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Chuck my schedule is booked over the next couple weeks. however after that if your free we can hit Citrus. i'll show you where i shot the 4 pt ( 3 +1)last year and i also found what looked to be a GOOD spot at the end of my hunt that i was not able to scout.

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

PM sent.

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

answered

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Chuck,

When you meet CamoCop be sure to pick his brain. I think he knows enough to write his own book on Florida Hunting! I am waiting for it myself. (-:

Chris

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Hey Chris,
I count myself blessed whenever I can talk to some of these expereinced Floridians..I learned alot from Rebel Hog as well. I wish we could all meet up sometime.I'd liketo meet Huntnma as well.

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

It would be great to have an Old Time Rendezvous on the West Coast....say at Shired Islaned....plan a hunt in Lower Swannee, cook, camp, and all that goes with it....some Smoked Mullet to!
It hard to get everyone to get together anymore. There is nothing better that an old time Florida deer camp! there is some outstanding hog hunting off Dixie Mainline (9 miles long the coastal plain- #4 and #5 milepost). Many folks have never even seen the coastal plain....gun trees, oak, hickory, cedar and cabbage palms. Cast net some mullet in the big creeks that cross Mainline...plenty of small game too.
Regards, James

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Let's do it..

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

I wonder how many people would be interested?....James

RE: Citrus WMA Question
 

Man, you sure bring back some old memories!!!:)I have done that many times at Horseshoe Beach and Jena Beach at Steinhatchee while hunting Buckeye Paper Co........I also hunted hogs for a few years in Cross City when Steinhatchee WMA was there. Before all these, my stomping grounds wasGulf Hammock in Yankee Town in the 1960's and 70's.:DHey, Chuck and I are in the Religion Forum with Bro Snooky, he can tell you about Yankee Town... Another oneis Ncbearhunter, he can tell you about Horseshoe beach....I hunted Hogs from Homosassato Tallahassee and the one I spent hunting for 11 years straight before hunting Jefferson, Wakulla counties,was Taylor county......Perry!!!:)

I will leave the South Hunting for another Topic!!!:D

Thanks for finding this Rebel,
Very thoughtful partner,
C7

Hey Rebel Hog,
Were you ever a part of Lafayette Gun Club? Back in the 90's, all of the property on the left side of 357 was all Lafayette Gun Club. Which is now Steinahachee Springs WMA along with some other clubs. My dad was apart of Lafayette Gun Club. Not me because I was not born yet. Btw Steinahachee Springs WMA is a great area to hunt. My dad's buddy has already shot 2 bucks and 2 hogs out of there.


By the way Dixie Slugs,
I have a hunting cabin in Old town. It's a small world :biggrin:

My dad used to hunt Buckeye! To be more specific Zone 7.

i am planning to be back in Citrus this year for the last ML and gun hunts

Bump...

Anyone grab a permit for out there this year??? I drew my muzzleloader then picked up a GG and archery during phase III.

I live right around the corner from there and should make it out for some early scouting soon. I hunted it pretty hard last year and saw several animals but couldnt seal the deal. I ended up missing a hog during small game season as well. Hopefully this year will be a little more succesful.

Good luck to anyone headed out that way this year. Maybe I'll run in to a few of ya'll... I ended up with 5 quota permits this year 3 being citrus.