Looking for land in florida?

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theboyscout

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I have been trying to hunt in Florida for about two yrs. now and i have been hunting this public land lake George but all these rednecks driving there trucks in the woods and stuff is ridiculous they have no control, they are drinking and have guns (NOT A GOOD MIX), anyone know of a place that wants hunters but doesn’t want $350 to hunt there, farmers or someone with land and a hog problem or deer problem who doesn’t mind giving a fellow hunter a helping hand?
 
I have been looking for that place for over 35 years when you find such a place please let me know so we both can have a place to hunt D Crockett I live in Florida to
 
yea, but it’s not right how these young guns ride around blowing off rounds being stupid, i live near Daytona drove to Jacksonville to try their WMA, it was worse than anything i have seen in central Florida because these guys put their trucks in the air and make their own paths through the woods just drive in where they please and then use their trucks as deer stands shoot right off the back of the truck i didn’t stay there for more than 15 mins when i saw that, that’s not safe for anyone to do.
 
yea like the police or rangers dont know, they due rounds all through the season its hard not to see a huge truck in the middle of the woods.
 
Try Avon Park Air Force range in central florida. 100,000+ acres. $100 or so for the year. I hunted it last year when I was living down that way. Good number of deer, lots of hogs, and TONS of turkeys running around. I passed on a deer, spooked many more, and watched in frustration as three Jakes ran around one of the campgrounds as if they knew I couldn't shoot them. I did take a bobcat late in December.

It is a well-run operation.
 
I have been trying to hunt in Florida for about two yrs. now and i have been hunting this public land lake George but all these rednecks driving there trucks in the woods and stuff is ridiculous they have no control, they are drinking and have guns (NOT A GOOD MIX), anyone know of a place that wants hunters but doesn’t want $350 to hunt there, farmers or someone with land and a hog problem or deer problem who doesn’t mind giving a fellow hunter a helping hand?
"When in Rome ......"

Seriously, there are many WMAs that only allow walk-in access or where you have to show your permit (drawn in pre-season) and register before entering. These simple precautions tend to keep out the element that you describe. The Ocala National Forest is famous (notorious) for what you describe. Try Tosohatchee WMA next year. If you get drawn, you will have a good chance at a deer or hog.

http://www.myfwc.com/media/2158492/Tosohatchee.pdf

If you don't want to bother then just pay your $4000+ season membership fee at one of Deseret's ranches.
 
It sounds to me you may be hunting the deer-dog WMA's.That sort of behavior was common in those areas when I hunted Florida.Nothing against dog hunting,I've done it myself,but many dog hunters look at hunting as a social event.Me,I prefer to get as far away from the crowd as possible.Go to the GFC website and start applying for the limited draw hunts.Rock Springs Run,Seminole Forest,Lake Monroe,Tiger Bay,Salt Lake,and Buck Lake all are within an hour or so of Deltona,and have good to very good hunting.Use Google earth to help scout,look for creek bottoms,and heavy,isolated patches of cover as far away from roads as possible.Our method involves walking a lot,and using tree stands. Consider bowhunting and black powder,as these give better odds for getting drawn on the higher success ratio hunts.I hunted Florida's public land for almost 30 years,and there is good hunting to be found,but it does require some work.
 
I've kinda held off reply to this, but I guess it's time. First, the LG Mgt area is NOT a dog hunt area so one wouldn't experience the same techniques there that would occur in one.
Even if he's experiencing continual cruising on area roadway that say's he's actually hunting the roads themselves. Believe me, I have hunted LG, and there are PLENTY of places far removed from disturbing vehicular traffic. The Heart Island area comes immediately to mind.....further, if those vehicles are actually operating off road, they're in violation of Mgt. area rules and I know for fact that if discovered they will be cited.

Far as shooting from a vehicle goes......it IS legal in Florida........there is a requirement that that vehicle or craft must be stopped prior to so doing.......Chapter790 also mandates a 1000 ft. distance between other folks tho.

Relative to a private spot....well, as others have stated, good luck! Unless you know someone well or are family you are going to pay a hefty fee.....IF you can even get an invitation onto club lands. Rates for private holdings that I'm aware of in this area run from 1100 to 1500 a year and are going nowhere but up!

I'll add the observation that the OP could easily find secluded spots (and productive ones at that!) very near his home.........ie: the area along the St. Johns just west of the Whitehair bridge off 42............for that matter, a HUGE portion of the Ocala is open for still hunting only North of 40..........and if you can't find a spot there, there's something wrong with you!

My take is that the OP hails from somewhere in the NE or MW and apparently has really not adjusted to, nor learned just how to hunt Florida......it IS different, but not an insurmountable problem to have an enjoyable experience. I run dogs, use the Ocala and manage to find times and locations where I have little competition, since that method requires large areas my belief is that if properly aware, one can easily manage the less intrusive still hunt option.

Far as gripes go, I, and a LOT of others would thank God if the Forest Service would get completely rid of the 4 wheeler/dirt bike crowd........talk about environmental damage and reckless conduct.........there you have it in spades!

If the OP would like some experienced advice from over fifty years of experience in the area I'd invite him to PM me, glad to help if I can.

But, please, please don't fall into the trap of damning what you've seen less understanding it, more importantly don't add to you difficulty by saying "we didn't do it like that back North!"
 
Florida hunting tends to be a lot more of a social event than I prefer. We own a lot of land in Florida and we stopped leasing to most hunters years ago because of the redneck, drive around and shoot anything that moves while drinking JD crowd. There is a dog hunting club near my farm in Alabama that is mostly Florida hunters and the game warden just follows them around giving out tickets.

Lease some land in south GA and save yourself some headaches.
 
The old saying "who you know is more important than what you know" comes to mind here. You just need to get to know a local farmer, well. Start off maybe going to some of those road-side vegetable stands. Chat up the guy selling the stuff. Go over there often. Ask about the amount of land he farms, etc. Then, just kinda work your way in from there. Good to give something in return. If you know a good fishing spot, bird hunting, or something offer to take him first.

People hold their hunting spots very private.

I realize it is alot of work and time, but good luck finding a nearly-free area to hunt without knowing someone. In the above you are basically trying to make up for not knowing someone already and compressing the time it takes to know someone.

Good luck.
 
Here in TX you can draw for a type1 Permit and it allows you to hunt on private land that is controlled by the WMA (Texas parks and wildfire) most drawings are 1 dollar a chance and you get points for every time you don’t get picked and it increases your chances
 
Good luck. We own some land in the middle of the state and all the local idiots go through there and tear up the already terrible road that is the only means of access, in addition to killing anything that moves.

If you're lucky enough to see them while you're there, it's always best to have a nice big gun on your hip, because they'll pick a fight with you for nothing.
 
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