Florida Guys...

[Steve]

Okay you guys down in Florida...or you guys hunting Osceolas more specifically. My daughter moved to Florida (Lakeland) last year and has been pestering me to come down and see her ever since. She's even gone as far as suggesting I come down to go turkey hunting. Well that got me to thinking. She may just be onto something there. I don't want to go down for easterns though, I can shoot those here. So my questions for you guys...is it possible to hunt Osceolas unguided down there? I prefer to do things on my own. I don't have anything against guides, they just aren't my style of hunting. I'm not the type of guy that measures the success of a hunt by the heft in my game bag. It's really more about the experience and challenge for me. So what kind of public land access is available for hunting? And how far south do I need to be to make sure I'm in Osceola country?

I'm not thinking of this for this season. Just looking into some possibilities for next year. Thanks for the help.

Steve

[Old Gobbler]

There is public access in that area , the only problem is that it's very hard pressured and the birds are thinned out - if you know how to hunt them and have a few weeks you could possibly get one , but it's a lot of work

Go to the fwc website and run down a list of areas and start scouting as soon as you can , avoid crowded areas

[guesswho]

I grew up in and around Lakeland.  There are a couple WMA's close by.  30 or 40 years ago killing turkeys on either place wasn't that hard.  Can't speak about now though, I haven't hunted either in over 20 years.  And your in Osceola country.

[BigGobbler]

It's possible! But the areas around Lakeland are hunted hard,big time hard. Check the permit draw in the fall.

[Stoner]

The two management areas near Lakeland that I would suggest you look at is Green Swamp and Richloam to the north. You may also want to look at Croom which is further north in Hernando County. Now days all the public lands get hammered pretty hard in Florida; that is the reason I quit hunting public lands over thirty years ago. I have hunted the three mentioned above; they have pretty woods but are different in terrain. Green Swamp and Richloam can be fairly wet at times; Richloam is Sugar Pines and sand hills for the most part. Of the three I would guess Green Swamp gets hunted the hardest, not be because it has more birds but rather it is closer to Lakeland and more hunters in Polk County. I would suggest that you go on FWC website www.myfwc.com and pull up each management area and look at the rules, regulations, and season dates for each management area to educate yourself to make a better informed decision.

[Steve]

Thanks fellas...That's exactly what I was looking for.

Scouting for me is out of the question. I'm all the way up in northern Pennsylvania. If and when I go I'll just try to make the best of it and have some fun going in blind. I love exploring new areas anyway. I will check out the FWC site to get some more info on regs and such.

Does the hunting pressure fade as the season progresses? On opening day up here it seems there's a hunter behind every tree on public land. End of the season? you pretty much have the woods to yourself. I've shot more birds on the last day of the season than any other. Opening days are way over rated IMHO.

Thanks again,
Steve

[RutnNStrutn]

Steve, check your PM's. I sent you some info that you may find helpful.