Florida in six weeks

[RutnNStrutn]

there is a population explosion of panthers now , and the fwc is full of bs over it
The panther project is the sacred cow of the fwc , it provides many people with jobs , and anytime they want to block public access to somewhere or they need money they whip out the panther card - if the mystique of the endangered panther was ever to wear off  the money would dry up and so would the jobs ---- panthers =$$$$$ the state still claims there is 15o panthers but I suspect they may be approaching 1000

OG is right on with this assessment!! I live in central Florida, and I have seen 3!!! One time I was turkey hunting in Flagler County and watched a panther cruise through the woods. I had binoculars on him, so I know exactly what it was. The 2 other times were in Seminole County, both crossing State Road 46 near the St. Johns River.
Each of the 3 times I was excited to see a panther so far north, so I called FWC. Each time they told me that I was mistaken, and that I'd seen a bobcat. I explained to them that I had shot bobcats, and know the difference between a bobcat and a 150+ pound brown cat with a long tail. They stuck to their company line and told me that panthers are only in south Florida, and that there were only 60 of them in Florida.
Another friend of mine was hunting in Brevard County a few miles from 2 of my panther sightings. He found a freshly killed adult deer, covered in grass (like big cats do) and BIG cat tracks nearby. He also called FWC, and they also told him it was a bobcat.
FWC is full of BS about the panthers. Like OG said, they just don't want to give up control over land, or the Federal money.

[perrysbirds]

Word on the street is panthers love northerners and Canadians. Taste like chicken. Meow

Lmfao....that's not going to scare this country boy
Hey....what's going on with the hockey in the Olympics?
I've missed the last few days...lol

[Gobblerjim]

Oh you know what happened in the Olympics. I'm partial to Canadians. My father is from Ontario.

[FL-Boss]

You south Florida guys can keep the panthers and pythons.  Man, I hope that stuff never works it way up here to North Florida. But I suppose one day it will.

I have lived here all my life.. only saw 1 panther.. and that was in more central FL ... remote spot along the bank of Lake George while bass fishing.  I have never seen one in N FL.

[Old Gobbler]

This is a panther on panther attack -if the males see each other , its a fight to the death -- the preferred method is to get their mouth over the other panthers head and crush their skull , and that's what happened to this male panther -- they get plenty of these every year , and that's the ones they find !

Picture courtesy of a property my good buddy owns -- cats every where down here

[deerhunt1988]

Wow...

Talked to a south Florida native once while hunting FL and he mentioned a lot of things OG has. Said he sees panthers on nearly half his deer hunts in extreme south FL. We didn't know whether to think he was crazy or telling the truth. After reading this thread, it appears his words were legit!

[saltysenior]

don't worry about the alligators, cottonmouths, panthers, pythons, bulls, rattlesnakes and mosquitoes ..
 
   The worst thing you can run into if unprepared are redbugs.. 

[perrysbirds]

Lol guys I have a friend who has guided turkey's for five years at a place called chappys outfitters...
My question is I'm hunting south if Orlando
I'm assuming I'm in "pure oseceloa" country.
Either way people I am very much so looking forward to it..
Kill a bird...see some gators....ride on a airboat and I will be happy
Hog hunt would top it off

[cracker4112]

Chappy's hunts are generally in Glades County, no arguments about "true" Osceolas there...

[FL-Boss]

The "true" Osceola line (if you want to call it that)  is a good ways north of Orlando.  So anything around Orlando is ok.

[Ross R]

definitely get a pair of snake boots for piece of mind. I had a close with a diamondback three weeks ago with my twin 2 year old boys.

[MiamiE]

I had to chime in. The weirdest thing when you see a panther is they don't seem to be afraid of humans anymore. My buddy and I saw two together during archery season and we had to shoo them away but they wouldn't move fast at all. They're so used to being darted that its like they know whenever they see a human. This one went into the tall grass and just stood there watching while my buddy setup his stand. Not comforting at all, but I honestly don't think they're brave enough to try anything stupid. A concealed weapons permit and a sidearm is advised.