I'm originally from Central PA, and hunted there for for small game and deer for ~25 years, and I never realized how spoiled I was until I recently started looking for places to shoot and hunt down here in So. Florida.
First, I only found ONE gun range that I can shoot more than 25 yards (called Markham Gun Range) that is anywhere close to me... and the people running the place are referred to as 'Nazis'. And while I can appreciate that they don't want a bunch of yahoos running around, it did sound like they had a bunch of rules in place that seemed a little strict. Like you can't shoot twice at the same clay. Now, for all I know that may be totally normal, and probably a rule if you are a professional competitive trap shooter, but I had never heard of that before, and find it odd its an actual rule. I guess we are less formal up in PA. If you miss one on your first shot, you better hit it with the second one… that's why we use double barrels etc. And I don't see that as dangerous, or anything else. We shoot clays so when we go out for birds and rabbits, we come home with some… and if it takes two shots to get one down, so be it.
At another place, Bass Pro Shops, you have to shoot your long guns sitting down... and the range is only 25 YARDS! In PA, if we shoot 25 yards with a bench rest, you better end up with only one hole in your target at the end of the day. And I'm using a shotgun... but then some places only allow slugs, other only buckshot, others only that ammo that fragments, others only ammo that doesn't. So much for swapping loads and versatility...
If you research online, just about everyone hates most ranges, and the places they don't mind make you buy their ammo, pay quite a bit by the hour, or both. In PA we have 'ranges' owned by no one(?) out in the woods with spill piles all around as backdrops. And these aren't even private ones in people backyards… these are listed on maps. Sure we have more formal ones, but if you just want to scope in a gun, you just go do it, and be courteous if anyone else is there, and just be smart about it.
Hunting here is even worse. EVERYTHING is paid. They whine and cry about hogs destroying everything then try to charge you $150 for a pig and another $150 for a guide, and if you are lucky enough to get a big one, they charge you even more. One place charges a $1000 for a PIG HUNT. I mean that's great if you can get that out some some rich guy, but where I'm front we hunt for meat. And apparently even the farmers down here won't give you permission either. I haven't tried knocking on door yet, but several other guys told me not to even bother trying. And I would think farmers would want all the hogs killed.
I mean, maybe I can see paying $50 for a day and sharing the meat, but from what I hear that doesn't even fly down here. So that leaves these designated hunting areas ...but then I find many of these seasons are more strict than deer hunting, and you need all sorts of permits, and the season only lasts a few days, etc. And at the same time, the state is reporting damage in the in tens of millions of dollars… go figure.
I've spent about 6 hours between last night and tonight going through this forum trying to find related posts, and days reading everything I can online, but all I can find are guided hunts, or guys saying their are no pigs where they are looking. Then reading news articles saying they are all over destroying the place. It's crazy. Contradictions everywhere.
I'm going to the range in the morning and then out on my motorbike in the afternoon to try knocking on some doors myself to see what happens. I tried calling the animal control up in Clewiston but they haven't called back yet. I was hoping they might have some tips for me. Also thought about trying some feed supply stores and gun shops up that way to see if they had any tips.
But if anyone has any tips for me here on a place I could go to out and hand toss some skeet, or a place that might be decent to ask for permission to hunt, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Right now the only thing I can think of for shooting clays is to find someone with a boat and go out in the ocean. Serious. Don't even know if that is legal down here although I can tell you it wont be good for my gun. For hogs I guess I'm going to have to wait for a season and get all the paperwork filled out before that goes anywhere.
Anyway, any thoughts are welcome. Thanks in advance.
First, I only found ONE gun range that I can shoot more than 25 yards (called Markham Gun Range) that is anywhere close to me... and the people running the place are referred to as 'Nazis'. And while I can appreciate that they don't want a bunch of yahoos running around, it did sound like they had a bunch of rules in place that seemed a little strict. Like you can't shoot twice at the same clay. Now, for all I know that may be totally normal, and probably a rule if you are a professional competitive trap shooter, but I had never heard of that before, and find it odd its an actual rule. I guess we are less formal up in PA. If you miss one on your first shot, you better hit it with the second one… that's why we use double barrels etc. And I don't see that as dangerous, or anything else. We shoot clays so when we go out for birds and rabbits, we come home with some… and if it takes two shots to get one down, so be it.
At another place, Bass Pro Shops, you have to shoot your long guns sitting down... and the range is only 25 YARDS! In PA, if we shoot 25 yards with a bench rest, you better end up with only one hole in your target at the end of the day. And I'm using a shotgun... but then some places only allow slugs, other only buckshot, others only that ammo that fragments, others only ammo that doesn't. So much for swapping loads and versatility...
If you research online, just about everyone hates most ranges, and the places they don't mind make you buy their ammo, pay quite a bit by the hour, or both. In PA we have 'ranges' owned by no one(?) out in the woods with spill piles all around as backdrops. And these aren't even private ones in people backyards… these are listed on maps. Sure we have more formal ones, but if you just want to scope in a gun, you just go do it, and be courteous if anyone else is there, and just be smart about it.
Hunting here is even worse. EVERYTHING is paid. They whine and cry about hogs destroying everything then try to charge you $150 for a pig and another $150 for a guide, and if you are lucky enough to get a big one, they charge you even more. One place charges a $1000 for a PIG HUNT. I mean that's great if you can get that out some some rich guy, but where I'm front we hunt for meat. And apparently even the farmers down here won't give you permission either. I haven't tried knocking on door yet, but several other guys told me not to even bother trying. And I would think farmers would want all the hogs killed.
I mean, maybe I can see paying $50 for a day and sharing the meat, but from what I hear that doesn't even fly down here. So that leaves these designated hunting areas ...but then I find many of these seasons are more strict than deer hunting, and you need all sorts of permits, and the season only lasts a few days, etc. And at the same time, the state is reporting damage in the in tens of millions of dollars… go figure.
I've spent about 6 hours between last night and tonight going through this forum trying to find related posts, and days reading everything I can online, but all I can find are guided hunts, or guys saying their are no pigs where they are looking. Then reading news articles saying they are all over destroying the place. It's crazy. Contradictions everywhere.
I'm going to the range in the morning and then out on my motorbike in the afternoon to try knocking on some doors myself to see what happens. I tried calling the animal control up in Clewiston but they haven't called back yet. I was hoping they might have some tips for me. Also thought about trying some feed supply stores and gun shops up that way to see if they had any tips.
But if anyone has any tips for me here on a place I could go to out and hand toss some skeet, or a place that might be decent to ask for permission to hunt, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Right now the only thing I can think of for shooting clays is to find someone with a boat and go out in the ocean. Serious. Don't even know if that is legal down here although I can tell you it wont be good for my gun. For hogs I guess I'm going to have to wait for a season and get all the paperwork filled out before that goes anywhere.
Anyway, any thoughts are welcome. Thanks in advance.