Wanting Some Florida Experience
 

Hey you guys,

I live in Lake City and want to hunt here in North Florida. I don't have any family or close friends that are hunters. I'll be cruising the forums and getting some info from acquaintances, but I would like to know if anyone has experience hunting in Osceola or one of the other North Florida swamps that have lots of pine and little else. I'm trying to figure out when I should start scouting, and what kind of sign I should be looking for whenever I go out.

Also, if any of you guys have experience using google earth to find where the deer might be here in FL so I can do some scouting from home, I would be grateful for any advice or experience. Thanks a lot in advance!

I'm fairly new to hunting WMA's in Florida as well, I'm just outside of Jacksonville. I did however attempt hunting in Osceola multiple times last year. I did some pre-season scouting and saw an okay amount of sign but when it came to season I spent alot of time in the woods to come out empty handed. Not sure if it was my locations or what but I just never saw anything. I also tried Camp Blanding but had the same result. Dont have much to offer you other than that but hopefully it gives you basic expectations.

What kind of sign did you see??

saw some tracks and some droppings and things, not really any rubs or anythign of that sort. Nothing in great concentration either.

and I think i wrote you on both this forum and florida sportsman lol.

I think you did. hahaha

I used to live in Pensacola and I hunted the Perdido WMA every year. Usually took a couple bucks off of it. I also did some hunting on Eglin AFB and some in Okaloosa County near a little town called Laurel Hill. Always got into game including hogs a couple of times.

https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/whi...xperience.html

I tried too answer many of the questions in a similar thread,
I can assure you no one can tell you exactly where too find deer or hogs consistently on any given location,
simply because the animals constantly change location due to changes in hunting pressure, food supply, cover, weather etc.
yet you can markedly up your odds of success,by getting to know each area, and personally scouting out the constantly changing factors that influence the game.
on the particular area you choose to hunt, nothing beats on site current observation, and documenting and mapping out the area.
one of the biggest helps will be actually getting out and observing the area and learning specifics about both that area and the game, as a great deal changes,
almost daily, but there are semi dependable and if your observant patterns to the games movement.
a good quality climbing tree stand, patience, a management area map and decent binoculars will allow you get a good perspective on what your potentially dealing with,
a call to the local biologist and game department can be helpful.
obviously if you can find an experienced mentor familiar with your selected area that could be a big advantage.
but be aware that about 75% of the people that "hunt" are basically spending most of their time,
wondering aimless and clueless, hoping to spot game and while they are occasionally going to shoot game,
you can vastly increase your odds going at the process by doing detailed research and breaking down the process of locating the game logically.

go to the local fish & game office and grab all the local area brochures ,of areas your likely to hunt
http://myfwc.com/hunting/wma-brochures/
once you find an area that appeals to you get a detailed topo map and sat photos
talk to the biologist, if you do your home work, its not that hard.
visit the local rifle ranges and larger mom & pop gun-shops you might find a knowledgeable & helpful mentor
get up off the computer and grab a compass, and a map a back pack with water and a snack, your cell phone, etc.
and actually walk through the area,take pictures and get familiar with the area's,
in many cases your allowed too as long as you follow a few simple rules

Alright,

Thanks for the info guys!