Florida Deer Hunting

[hogfish24336]

This is a Madison County deer shot a few weeks ago.

 

[EricS]

This is a Madison County deer shot a few weeks ago. View attachment 21907

Yep them florida deer ain’t no bigger than dogs.

 

[10essee]

That one in the back is a freak for sure. The one in the front is closer to what I would call normal for the area.

Neither one of those would I consider normal for my area in NE Florida.

 

[hogfish24336]

When farming started to come back strong around the year 2000 is when we began so see big upticks in buck quality. 130" deer are definitely not the norm but are becoming more frequent. I do believe since the peanut production ramped up in Madison county north of I-10 that has been a major contributing factor to higher quality deer. The area I'm fortunate enough to hunt a 100" is buck is a solid floor deer. I have seen several north of 130" and one over 150" killed the last two years. I also have some sheds that would probably go over 120". With the new tag system i do believe it will continue to improve. Also the dog hunting is not as common place as it used to be 20years ago.

 

[Radar99]

You definitely have to be willing to sit in the heat otherwise you’ll miss 99% of the season. Some evening hunts this past year were in the 100+ heat index but our deer are used to it. It can be some of the toughest hunting you’ve ever done but if/when you can get it done on public in Fl it’s so rewarding. Thermacell is a must. You’ll regret forgetting it almost instantly. Snake boots are good insurance for sure.

I will be prepared with extra water. The animals live in the heat. If they can live in it 24/7 I can handle it for a few days.

 

[Tufrthnails]

Some really good bucks shown in this thread and far from the norm, but not as far from the norm as 20 years ago like stated above. I nearly hit a big 9pt in november on my way home from hunting in KY. 130"ish in central FL. They don't get that big by accident. In Florida reading the hunting pressure can be as much or more important then what the terrain is telling especially when it comes to mature bucks. I still have yet to kill a truely mature buck in florida in 25 years of hunting here, but I've had my share of close calls. And I for one love the antler restrictions. The avg size and age of the bucks I am seeing is far better then 5 years ago. Personally I would shoot the first legal deer you see and step up from there. I know guys will hate to hear that, but for a first timer in the state you need to cut your teeth. I pass a lot of young bucks in fl every year, but I also fill my freezer every year in KY. The new season bag limit although I don't like the buck/doe ratio is another step in the right direction. If I had to only hunt Florida I would be killing the first couple of legal deer I saw every year.

 

[hogfish24336]

Some really good bucks shown in this thread and far from the norm, but not as far from the norm as 20 years ago like stated above. I nearly hit a big 9pt in november on my way home from hunting in KY. 130"ish in central FL. They don't get that big by accident. In Florida reading the hunting pressure can be as much or more important then what the terrain is telling especially when it comes to mature bucks. I still have yet to kill a truely mature buck in florida in 25 years of hunting here, but I've had my share of close calls. And I for one love the antler restrictions. The avg size and age of the bucks I am seeing is far better then 5 years ago. Personally I would shoot the first legal deer you see and step up from there. I know guys will hate to hear that, but for a first timer in the state you need to cut your teeth. I pass a lot of young bucks in fl every year, but I also fill my freezer every year in KY. The new season bag limit although I don't like the buck/doe ratio is another step in the right direction. If I had to only hunt Florida I would be killing the first couple of legal deer I saw every year.
[/QUOTE
I agree with your statement. I'm happy FWC is finally getting their act together with the new tag system. The buck to doe ratio in my are is completely wrong. Some hunts i may see upwards of 10+ does to every buck and that is consistent on different properties that don't border. I hope they will change the doe system to allow us to take our does when we want not on specific days or only during archery. Then follow that up by making 3 does and 2 bucks vs the 3 bucks and 2 does. Its much better than the 2 bucks per day everyday for 4 months than it has been though.

 

[Radar99]

Some really good bucks shown in this thread and far from the norm, but not as far from the norm as 20 years ago like stated above. I nearly hit a big 9pt in november on my way home from hunting in KY. 130"ish in central FL. They don't get that big by accident. In Florida reading the hunting pressure can be as much or more important then what the terrain is telling especially when it comes to mature bucks. I still have yet to kill a truely mature buck in florida in 25 years of hunting here, but I've had my share of close calls. And I for one love the antler restrictions. The avg size and age of the bucks I am seeing is far better then 5 years ago. Personally I would shoot the first legal deer you see and step up from there. I know guys will hate to hear that, but for a first timer in the state you need to cut your teeth. I pass a lot of young bucks in fl every year, but I also fill my freezer every year in KY. The new season bag limit although I don't like the buck/doe ratio is another step in the right direction. If I had to only hunt Florida I would be killing the first couple of legal deer I saw every year.

thanks for taking the time to provide me with some great advice. As a new hunter I don’t like to pass up taking a legal deer if I feel I can make an ethical shot, Especially with a bow.

I appreciate everyone for taking the time to help me out with some much needed advice. I am a little blown away I received this much help. I plan to put all the suggestions to good use starting early next year when I find the time to scout some land and during the 2020 deer season.

 

[Radar99]

There is some good places like green swamp During archery I carry one back of gear plus water and another bag of water. Most of my friends hunt private land or Alabama and Georgia. Gun season and black powder (short) will be when the temp drops below 90 most years (not this one) . wMA are listed on the Florida website.

Green swamp looks to be a good spot to check out, not too far from the SW suburbs of Tampa where I plan on staying. Ocala national Forest looks like a good spot to scout as well. I plan on starting to scout as soon as I can.

 

[shwacker]

Be careful of the bears in Ocala, have heard of them getting onto your shot deer in very short time, like well under an hour. I don’t usually carry a firearm when bow hunting, but I would in there.


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[Tufrthnails]

Green swamp looks to be a good spot to check out, not too far from the SW suburbs of Tampa where I plan on staying. Ocala national Forest looks like a good spot to scout as well. I plan on starting to scout as soon as I can.

Green swamp is 10 min up the road from me I spend a lot of my down time in there when I don't have another option to hunt. I'll drop you a pm. It's actually a great WMA to cut your teeth on in Florida because it has such diverse terrain, but it is NOT one of the better WMAs for killing deer in the state. The fact that it has a ton of walk-in permits makes it pretty heavily pressured.

 

[Buckhole75]

I highly recommend doing an archery hunt on St Vincent Island when you get the chance With you being from Illinois i promise you it will be an experience Small deer Lots of hogs Lots of rattlesnakes and a few Sambar deer will show you a good time.We always do a little fishing while we are camping So if you can throw a cast net fresh mullet out of the bay will set the trip off for ya

 

[Tufrthnails]

I highly recommend doing an archery hunt on St Vincent Island when you get the chance With you being from Illinois i promise you it will be an experience Small deer Lots of hogs Lots of rattlesnakes and a few Sambar deer will show you a good time.We always do a little fishing while we are camping So if you can throw a cast net fresh mullet out of the bay will set the trip off for ya

I've never done the archery hunt, but I have done the primitive weapons whitetail hunt in Jan a bunch. I'm doing it again this year. I second this recommendation the hunt is a blast. And a LOT less rattlesnakes in Jan. I scouted the island one day in Aug while up in the panhandle and I was amazed at how many rattlesnakes I saw in one day scouting.

 

[anonesumcane]

I hunt every year in Illinois and Ky during the Rut. Ive lived in The Orlando area for a long time but Ive never hunted the state before. Im going to do it this year to get some more time in the field. Im used to the heat. I may join a club close by

 

[Radar99]

Green swamp is 10 min up the road from me I spend a lot of my down time in there when I don't have another option to hunt. I'll drop you a pm. It's actually a great WMA to cut your teeth on in Florida because it has such diverse terrain, but it is NOT one of the better WMAs for killing deer in the state. The fact that it has a ton of walk-in permits makes it pretty heavily pressured.

I currently live in a south suburb of Chicago. I am sure Green Swamp sees the same kind of pressure that the public land within 100 miles of Chicago see's. You really have to get a long drive in before you find some low pressure public land for archery in illinois. I would assume the same thing for Florida and the city of Tampa.

 

[Radar99]

Be careful of the bears in Ocala, have heard of them getting onto your shot deer in very short time, like well under an hour. I don’t usually carry a firearm when bow hunting, but I would in there.


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Is it legal to conceal carry while bow hunting on public land in Florida? In Illinois its illegal to carry a firearm during bow season for deer/turkey while hunting. You can conceal carry during gun season though.

 

[Radar99]

I highly recommend doing an archery hunt on St Vincent Island when you get the chance With you being from Illinois i promise you it will be an experience Small deer Lots of hogs Lots of rattlesnakes and a few Sambar deer will show you a good time.We always do a little fishing while we are camping So if you can throw a cast net fresh mullet out of the bay will set the trip off for ya

Sounds like a blast. Its the third time this hunt has been recommended so I will definitely go.

I have never thrown a cast net in my life, you may have to teach me.

 

[shwacker]

Is it legal to conceal carry while bow hunting on public land in Florida? In Illinois its illegal to carry a firearm during bow season for deer/turkey while hunting. You can conceal carry during gun season though.

I’m not positive. I know that our law says you can open carry while enroute to and engaged in hunting and fishing. But if it’s an archery only area that’s public then I’m not positive. I never worried because I never carry, but like I said, in Ocala if I was walking even halfway deep and at night then I absolutely would. Better research a bit or some of these other guys can tell you for certain


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[10essee]

I’m not positive. I know that our law says you can open carry while enroute to and engaged in hunting and fishing. But if it’s an archery only area that’s public then I’m not positive. I never worried because I never carry, but like I said, in Ocala if I was walking even halfway deep and at night then I absolutely would. Better research a bit or some of these other guys can tell you for certain


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I talked to FWC about it last year and was told that it’s acceptable with a valid hunting license even in the archery only areas like Camp Blanding.

Edit: As long as it’s a self defense handgun. Can’t go all scoped hunting cannon.

 

[Tufrthnails]

I talked to FWC about it last year and was told that it’s acceptable with a valid hunting license even in the archery only areas like Camp Blanding.

Edit: As long as it’s a self defense handgun. Can’t go all scoped hunting cannon.

Yep I was told the same thing when asking for my brother who doesn't have a his Concealed Weapons License