Florida DIY NF

[WV Flopper]

 Looking at the Ocala NF in Florida for a spring 19 hunt. Anyone have any pros or cons they could share on this? Any suggestions? I am not locked on Ocala, just looks like it is big enough to handle me for a week, or so.

[RutnNStrutn]

Much better turkey populations on other WMA's. If you do go to Ocala, allow for a few scouting days prior to your hunt. When I used to hunt there, I found larger amounts of turkeys down by the river and Lake George in the oak hammocks. They can be found in the pines & palmettos as well though. Good luck!!

[Brad_Colvin]

Just a heads up that each section of the Ocala national forest is quota only and most of the quota hunts are Thursday through Sundays. You will need to apply in November for the quotas. Personally I would put in for quotas on other wma's in the area. There are birds in the NF but with all of the activity going on year round with the dirt bike riders and off road vehicles the birds are stirred up all year. You shouldn't have a problem getting drawn for the quota, except for the church unit, but that should tell you something right there. I have had some good hunts on the pipeline unit.

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[squidd]

Agree with BC, you have a few months to research to see what quotas are better than others and continue researching non-quota WMAs as a backup.  I hunted Church unit once and there is a lot of land to cover.

[Kylongspur88]

I've been eyeballing a Florida hunt. I think if I do I'll take my kayak and fish/use it to access birds depending on where I wind up

[joey46]

I've lived here full time since 2004.  IMO Florida is by far the toughest state for a public land hunter.  Read the long and confusing WMA specific rules on the FWC web site then start applying and building up preference points in the quota system.  Note the differences in the regular quotas and the special op quotas.  Special Op has a non-resident limit, regular quotas do not (at this time).   In November FWC will list where turkey may be hunted without a quota permit in 2019.  These areas are referred to as "romp and stomps" by the locals.  Enough said - they can be tough.  Good luck.

[Old Gobbler]

Florida Turkey hunters are notoriously tight lipped on any info..they will only help with generalities so be forewarned , when folks start name dropping specific Florida WMA areas the fireworks will start , cause next thing you know there is 700 die hard Turkey hunters looking at ..

Here is what to do ...look on the harvest figures for the wmas

Most if not all the quality wma areas are quota only , and sometimes preference points are required...but out of state hunters are allocated a small percentage , if you dont get one the first year keep stacking preference points
..eventually your day will come.

I've hunted ocala ....i think ots over rated its north or orlando....okay , I'll have guys argue that there are osceolas all the way to the state line ...but trust me  on this , ive seen plenty of turkeys my whole life shot dead all over the state .....Orland area and SOUTH for the real deal -some may have a different opinion,  often times guides who live north of Orlando....I wish they were right.....but their not , and this is based on scientific data collected the late Dr.Lovett William's the authority on the subject , I rest my case

Look at harvest figures , call up some biologists,  look at the hunter pressure figures and be prepared to do some serious scouting AVOID OTHER PEOPLE WALK MILES AND MILES AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND ROADS that hope you kill gobblers in Florida

Shannon