FL help
- Tufrthnails
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Re: FL help
I second what PK is telling you. For me it took me 3+ years to really put “Beast” tactics into play in Fl and it’s a mix of beast marsh, swamp, and big woods tactics. Our WMAs have massively diversified makeup of terrain from WMA to WMA. The really big jump in my fl public land encounter and success came with a massive jump in offseason scouting. But I know first hand straight from PK he doesn’t do much off season scouting he simply out works and out thinks other FL hunters. (I guarantee he is too humble to say that, but his history tells the story for him)
Tuf- The below average hunting beast
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Re: FL help
Been following for years finally found something worth replying about. Yes it's old and no one may see this but it's worth saying...
I've grown up hunting my entire life in Central Florida and the Apalachicola national forest in the panhandle. I would challenge anyone from any other state to come here and use all the tactics you want to try and kill a decent deer here within say less than 5 years. There are tens of thousands of hunters, endless thick ground cover you can't see 10 feet in, water everywhere, 90+ degree heat and mosquitoes and whatever else that bites constantly. I've killed less than 10 bucks that were wall worthy in over 30 years of hunting HARD. Every TV show I watched made me sick, naming deer or having a "target" buck made me sick, hearing all these "gurus" makes me laugh. Food plots, feeders, calls, scent, rattling, camo....NONE of it is really applicable for REAL Florida hunting. Even reading nearly every book by Mr. Eberhart and some of the best hard-core hunters including Dans material does little for you here. There are deer, and yes some very impressive deer, but find a buck whose not afraid of his own shadow or a doe who can't blow you out from 200 yards and I'll be impressed. Lots of guys bring great experiences, tips, tricks, and tactics to this forum as well as others. But honestly you can throw 95% of it out the window. These guys I'm seeing on here PK, Rich M, Tufrthnails, they get it! It sucks! But I tell you what, if you manage to kill a "Legal" buck, a "nice" 6 or 8 point basket rack you have officially earned my respect as well as anyone I hunt with. You want to see a public land "challange" start one in Florida, on public, non quota hunts. You will have guys praying to God, cursing, and crying tears over a 60-80" basket rack!
I've had the opportunity to travel to several states like SC and WV for 3-4 day hunts and every single time been able to put a decent buck on the ground using the same tactics I do here, difference is there they actually work! like they are supposed too!
After all of this my hunting partners and I still say we would rather kill a 100" 8 point here than a 200" anywhere else in the country. It's THAT much of a personal accomplishment.
So I just had to say that I totally respect the few guys on here who are willing to share their experiences and the common understanding that a 4-6 point is nothing to be ashamed of in Florida. Good luck boys!
-Chuck
I've grown up hunting my entire life in Central Florida and the Apalachicola national forest in the panhandle. I would challenge anyone from any other state to come here and use all the tactics you want to try and kill a decent deer here within say less than 5 years. There are tens of thousands of hunters, endless thick ground cover you can't see 10 feet in, water everywhere, 90+ degree heat and mosquitoes and whatever else that bites constantly. I've killed less than 10 bucks that were wall worthy in over 30 years of hunting HARD. Every TV show I watched made me sick, naming deer or having a "target" buck made me sick, hearing all these "gurus" makes me laugh. Food plots, feeders, calls, scent, rattling, camo....NONE of it is really applicable for REAL Florida hunting. Even reading nearly every book by Mr. Eberhart and some of the best hard-core hunters including Dans material does little for you here. There are deer, and yes some very impressive deer, but find a buck whose not afraid of his own shadow or a doe who can't blow you out from 200 yards and I'll be impressed. Lots of guys bring great experiences, tips, tricks, and tactics to this forum as well as others. But honestly you can throw 95% of it out the window. These guys I'm seeing on here PK, Rich M, Tufrthnails, they get it! It sucks! But I tell you what, if you manage to kill a "Legal" buck, a "nice" 6 or 8 point basket rack you have officially earned my respect as well as anyone I hunt with. You want to see a public land "challange" start one in Florida, on public, non quota hunts. You will have guys praying to God, cursing, and crying tears over a 60-80" basket rack!
I've had the opportunity to travel to several states like SC and WV for 3-4 day hunts and every single time been able to put a decent buck on the ground using the same tactics I do here, difference is there they actually work! like they are supposed too!
After all of this my hunting partners and I still say we would rather kill a 100" 8 point here than a 200" anywhere else in the country. It's THAT much of a personal accomplishment.
So I just had to say that I totally respect the few guys on here who are willing to share their experiences and the common understanding that a 4-6 point is nothing to be ashamed of in Florida. Good luck boys!
-Chuck
- Huntress13
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Re: FL help
Chuck, don't forget the dogs. Spent some time in FL the last couple of years and there always seemed to be trucks with dogs everywhere on the side of the road and half the trucks in the parking lots in town with dog boxes. Yep, it was near a lot of WMA land.
I don't want to get out of the car in the WMA parking lot there, nevermind trecking into the bush with the snakes and gators. I'll take the cold instead, thank you.
I don't want to get out of the car in the WMA parking lot there, nevermind trecking into the bush with the snakes and gators. I'll take the cold instead, thank you.
Twigs in my hair, don't care.
- wmahunter
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Re: FL help
I hunt west central fl as well. I have less than 10 on the wall as well. I started out missing bucks than harvesting because of stupid mistakes and the shakes. I have seen some big ones. I have learned to control both. If you scout off season on a wma there is someone right behind you doing the same thing, If you leave tracks they are following what you see. Leave a camera behind, than it may not be there next time. When I go in, I look for the freshest tracks and sign as possible. That determines if I sit. learn to use all the tools available out there aerials maps, terrain, topo's, food sources based on time of year that should and try to out think other hunters.
Good luck.
Good luck.
- wmahunter
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Re: FL help
wmahunter wrote:I hunt west central fl as well. I have less than 10 fl size bucks on the wall as well. I started out missing bucks than harvesting because of stupid mistakes and the shakes. I have seen some big ones. I have learned to control both. If you scout off season on a wma there is someone right behind you doing the same thing, If you leave tracks they are following what you see. Leave a camera behind, than it may not be there next time. When I go in, I look for the freshest tracks and sign as possible. That determines if I sit. learn to use all the tools available out there aerials maps, terrain, topo's, food sources based on time of year that should help. Try to out think other hunters.
Good luck.
- Eddiegomes83
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Re: FL help
Personally I love hunting Florida. I will admit while the struggle is going on during the season I hate it. But when the season is over and you get to reflect back....I truly love the struggle. Definitely a sense of accomplishment.
I started hunting other states the last couple years with a short trip here or there with some success. It is nice to go and not have to struggle as much and mix things up. Still nothing compares yet to the accomplishment of a registry buck in Florida.
I started hunting other states the last couple years with a short trip here or there with some success. It is nice to go and not have to struggle as much and mix things up. Still nothing compares yet to the accomplishment of a registry buck in Florida.
"Am I the Only One" - Aaron Lewis
EGOutdoors youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UClk54pzxS6MsnSTCOtTvKJg
EGOutdoors youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UClk54pzxS6MsnSTCOtTvKJg
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Re: FL help
Eddie your right the struggle is real but when it pays off your ecstatic.
Wmahunter every scenario you list is spot on, you learn some very tricky ways of placing cameras thats for sure!
And Huntress13, believe it or not being a true Florida cracker I actually grew up running dogs with my entire family in Apalachicola. It's something I will never forget and a joy I can't explain. I've never seen any type of family event or gathering that could evert top it. Dog hunters get bad wraps in lots of states and even in Florida, and yes there are plenty of bad ones out there. But just like guys who follow you to your spot, camera and stand thieves, and poachers, there are people without hunting ethics or morals in all types of hunting. I've learned how to use the dog hunters to my advantage when still hunting and have learned a lot of Intel from them that I couldn't gain in 200 years of scouting and still hunting. Believe it or not every single quality buck I've shot has been from walking or sitting in a stand. Only one average buck came from running dogs. It's not near as unfair as people think! Everyone has their opinions and that's ok because we all come from different backgrounds, areas, and had different experiences.
Wmahunter every scenario you list is spot on, you learn some very tricky ways of placing cameras thats for sure!
And Huntress13, believe it or not being a true Florida cracker I actually grew up running dogs with my entire family in Apalachicola. It's something I will never forget and a joy I can't explain. I've never seen any type of family event or gathering that could evert top it. Dog hunters get bad wraps in lots of states and even in Florida, and yes there are plenty of bad ones out there. But just like guys who follow you to your spot, camera and stand thieves, and poachers, there are people without hunting ethics or morals in all types of hunting. I've learned how to use the dog hunters to my advantage when still hunting and have learned a lot of Intel from them that I couldn't gain in 200 years of scouting and still hunting. Believe it or not every single quality buck I've shot has been from walking or sitting in a stand. Only one average buck came from running dogs. It's not near as unfair as people think! Everyone has their opinions and that's ok because we all come from different backgrounds, areas, and had different experiences.
- Sailfish_WC
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Re: FL help
I only started public in FL a few years back. Been Midwest my whole life.
Def a learning curve.
I’ve personally ran into one wall-hanger while scouting and a hunting friend took a big 10 pt.
Everything else has fallen into the 80-90” or smaller range.
Each year I learn and see a bit more.
No question though, FL does have good public deer.
It’s how much and what you want to go through to get them
Def a learning curve.
I’ve personally ran into one wall-hanger while scouting and a hunting friend took a big 10 pt.
Everything else has fallen into the 80-90” or smaller range.
Each year I learn and see a bit more.
No question though, FL does have good public deer.
It’s how much and what you want to go through to get them
Sailfish_WC <-- Deer watcher
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Re: FL help
The FL curve was very steep for me. It has refined my hunting quite a bit.
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