I had a good year on Florida public land again this year for a Yankee, a term used a lot by my friends down there. Tagged out again this year but with a lot of the same similar scenario, of completing with all the other hunters. A lot of fun but not as exciting this year just because of very little gobbleing, but memories of a life time made.
Made it down to florida on the 15th to do some pre scouting. Found that the roost trees in a old spot were being used again, so had my starting point. March 17 made my way into my spot in the dark with out a flash light. But only to have to flash the flash light four times to flag others hunters off. So if there was anything using the roost that morning they flew down the other way, didnt see or hear anything the first day. Day two made it into same spot in the dark by 6:00am, but this time didn't have to flag anyone off. At 7:12am heard a wing flap and a Tom pitch down 35 yards in front of me. When he turned he went into strutt, at that time is when I first seen he had a beard. When he came out strutting from behind the tree i yelped real loud, and he raised his head, game over for him. He was small in weight only 16 pounds, but 11 1/2 inch beard, 1 1/4 spurrs. Been shooting some of the older Heavyshot 5-6-7 that have worked supper in my gun. Along with a burris Fast fire3 red dot scope, if any misses it will be all my fault.
My second bird was on March 24, he only gobbled one time when he came off of his roost. I clucked and purred to him, and then the same every HR. He came back in at 10:30am, he was at 21 yards before I could get the clear shot I wanted. He was a 18 pound bird with 11 1/8 inch paint brush beard 1 5/8 left 1 1/4 right. The biggest birds I have gotten so far off that public land.
Have to say anyone planning to hunt florida public land for turkey is in for an experience of a life time. My success if for a few reason, mostly luck, and that is to find the birds and have time to shoot it before someone else dose. This is my fifth year down there and have learned the land, and how the birds act most of the time to pressure from all us hunters. I now go down there with high hopes of filling my tagges every two years, but mostly just to spend time around the camp fire with friends. New memories of a lifetime made I will be adding the pictures of the Florida birds soon. And next week I can only hope to be adding another post because I will be trying my luck in Oklahoma next.
Nice job and good luck :turkey2:
First bird from Florida trip 2018.
First bird, spurs
2nd bird, paintbrush beard
2nd bird, spurs.
Sorry I haven't figured out how to send them all at one time. It's on my list of things for my daughter to teach me at the next holiday. I'm just grateful she helped me this far when she was over for Easter.
You da man!!!
Great story and great birds! Which public land were you hunting?
:turkey2:
Nice work and sounds like more than luck!!
Been a tough year for my public spots and birds have been fairly quiet for me with only hearing them on two outings so far.
Congrats nice story and pics
Congrats! That is fantastic!
Sounds like a heck of a good hunt! Great story and thanks for sharing!
Quote from: SIUCpilot on April 01, 2018, 01:38:59 PM
Great story and great birds! Which public land were you hunting?
:turkey2:
Will say I am hunting south of a line from Tampa to Orlando. Just pick any Public land in Florida and learn it; it doesn't matter where you go it will be crowded. If you are a Nonresident hunting florida the first time and meet a not so polite resident hunter get over it. They have to put up with a lot of extra traffic on public land just to hunt turkey on a yearly bases. So unless you plane on coming back year after year , it might be cheeper going with a guide. But if you don't like I did, you might meet up with a supper bunch of great people to tell story around the camp fire each night. Guess thats where the phrase SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY comes from.
Congrats
Couple of really nice birds
:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
Well done
Congrats! Nice Birds!
Quote from: ddturkeyhunter on April 01, 2018, 07:07:36 PM
Quote from: SIUCpilot on April 01, 2018, 01:38:59 PM
Great story and great birds! Which public land were you hunting?
:turkey2:
Will say I am hunting south of a line from Tampa to Orlando. Just pick any Public land in Florida and learn it; it doesn't matter where you go it will be crowded. If you are a Nonresident hunting florida the first time and meet a not so polite resident hunter get over it. They have to put up with a lot of extra traffic on public land just to hunt turkey on a yearly bases. So unless you plane on coming back year after year , it might be cheeper going with a guide. But if you don't like I did, you might meet up with a supper bunch of great people to tell story around the camp fire each night. Guess thats where the phrase SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY comes from.
Well spoken, it is getting CROWDED there are ways , but ,
Congrats! You have killed a couple of really nice birds job well done :icon_thumright:
Those are two sure trophys. Congratulations. What part of Oklahoma are you headed to?
Congrats
:jackson: Awesome stuff
Congrats on a fine FL season.
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awesome spurs!
Quote from: makestomstremble on April 02, 2018, 11:39:46 AM
Those are two sure trophys. Congratulations. What part of Oklahoma are you headed to?
Have only been there once in 2012, at that time we picked the counryes in the nw part of state with the least amount of birds so less hunters. It helped a little will see if we can do it again. Any more detail has to be in PM.
Nice. Congrats
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Nice birds, if you like to walk the big cypress will give you a chance to get away from most people .
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congrats on your birds
Congrats, nice story!
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Recently moved back to central Florida from Ohio(ten year stay), learned turkey hunting on Easterns and fell in love with the sport. After coming back I feel the need to add an osceola fan to my colection. For the time being I am limited to state ground and have been going to richloam. Have seen some nice birds harvested there but not having much luck myself. Not hearing much gobbling there and have not seen any male birds, have seen some hens and some sign. Do these birds not gobble as much as easterns, are they done breeding, call shy, or just not a large population. Ive hunted cypress, pines and hardwoods with no response. There are several burn areas that are starting to come back and i did see some hens there pecking and scratching. For anyone familiar with richloam, i have been hunting the west end of the property south of highway 50, advice from a local.
does anyone out there have suggestions for a better area or hunting technique which would be more productice for the florida bird. I assumed my collection of calls and calling style used on ohio easterns would work here but I may be mistaken
Congrats on your birds!! :icon_thumright:
Congrats. Nice hooks on them birds.
sounds like you had a great trip! Glad to hear someone is having success with these florida birds. big congrats to you. I will head out again early tomorrow with hopes of a story like yours. time is running out down here and i will get out as much as work permits
Quote from: Beards n bbq on April 12, 2018, 09:20:46 PM
Recently moved back to central Florida from Ohio(ten year stay), learned turkey hunting on Easterns and fell in love with the sport. After coming back I feel the need to add an osceola fan to my colection. For the time being I am limited to state ground and have been going to richloam. Have seen some nice birds harvested there but not having much luck myself. Not hearing much gobbling there and have not seen any male birds, have seen some hens and some sign. Do these birds not gobble as much as easterns, are they done breeding, call shy, or just not a large population. Ive hunted cypress, pines and hardwoods with no response. There are several burn areas that are starting to come back and i did see some hens there pecking and scratching. For anyone familiar with richloam, i have been hunting the west end of the property south of highway 50, advice from a local.
does anyone out there have suggestions for a better area or hunting technique which would be more productice for the florida bird. I assumed my collection of calls and calling style used on ohio easterns would work here but I may be mistaken
My method for florida public pressured birds is call quietly and less, not for everyone but works for me. Enjoy the wildlife and birds around you and being in the outdoors is all parts of hunting. In time you will learn there habits and you will bring home more turkeys, until then enjoy the hunts.
I like hunting the cypress , most of my birds have come in or around the cypress .
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Congrats on two very nice birds and thank you for sharing the photos. I can relate to having to have a daughter show how to use a computer, my daughter does it all the time, actually usually multiple times before I get it.
Quote from: ddturkeyhunter on April 13, 2018, 10:30:55 PM
Quote from: Beards n bbq on April 12, 2018, 09:20:46 PM
Recently moved back to central Florida from Ohio(ten year stay), learned turkey hunting on Easterns and fell in love with the sport. After coming back I feel the need to add an osceola fan to my colection. For the time being I am limited to state ground and have been going to richloam. Have seen some nice birds harvested there but not having much luck myself. Not hearing much gobbling there and have not seen any male birds, have seen some hens and some sign. Do these birds not gobble as much as easterns, are they done breeding, call shy, or just not a large population. Ive hunted cypress, pines and hardwoods with no response. There are several burn areas that are starting to come back and i did see some hens there pecking and scratching. For anyone familiar with richloam, i have been hunting the west end of the property south of highway 50, advice from a local.
does anyone out there have suggestions for a better area or hunting technique which would be more productice for the florida bird. I assumed my collection of calls and calling style used on ohio easterns would work here but I may be mistaken
My method for florida public pressured birds is call quietly and less, not for everyone but works for me. Enjoy the wildlife and birds around you and being in the outdoors is all parts of hunting. In time you will learn there habits and you will bring home more turkeys, until then enjoy the hunts.
be there when their feet hit the ground. most don't gobble much after that. the more pressure the less they talk.