Help with When to Hunt Fla??

[longbeards]

Hello,

A long time turkey hunting buddy (we have chased spring birds for 30 yrs together) and I are down to our last bird for a Grand and Super Slam..the Fla Osceola. We have found a place we hope to hunt this spring,,but dont know what is the best time to try and hit peak gobbling,,,ANYONE with experence hunting there,,,we would like to hear your thoughts,,,we are hunting just south of Orlando. Thanks for your help!

Call Them Up Close and Shoot Them In the Face!!
jim

[Old Gobbler]

The gobblers in central and south florida are unlike turkeys anywhere else most people are familiar with , they usually start gobbling real good weather permitting ..... Mid February , sometimes they start x-mas time if its hot enough - if you live in florida and have a few days of weather hot enough to make you sweat if your standing outside , and there is little or no wind at night the birds will start to gobble real hard if the time of year is right

With that said , the best time to hunt is as soon as the season opens , gobbling will decline as the season progresses due to several factors , hunting pressure , and harvesting will sure put a hurting on them - be forewarned the annual harvest of turkeys on public lands ( the whole state ) hovers around 700 total - there are possibly 30,000 turkey hunters in the state , last estimate --  the south and central part of the state in my estimate of turkey population is less than 25,000 turkeys , most of are on private cattle ranches , and some of those birds filter into the public property in search of hens , that are protected -

Good spots are very hard to come by , and are well guarded - never shared , they are usually in ultra remote areas , and people go to great lengths to hide their whereabouts , show up days before the opener and scouts good and hard , plan on walking miles and miles to remote areas - avoid areas where other hunters may frequent , if you find turkeys in a easy to access area, it's going to be too good to workout , as when opening day comes there will be plenty of trucks parked there and they will ruin your hunt

"Cut and run "doesn't work so well in florida ,  the gobblers like to sit up on tall pine trees and the like and gobble hard , locate a hen , pitch down to her , and clam right up -  if they keep on gobbling they will draw in predators , rivals or you , and they know this , florida gobblers are very wary , when your hunting them take on the mindset you are hunting clever Veitcong  , it's more guerrilla hunting tactics than anything

Opening weekend is best

[danny]

I went opening day of the south season and hunted around some orange groves...got 2 birds and heard a ton of gobbling.....Danny

[RutnNStrutn]

The gobblers in central and south florida are unlike turkeys anywhere else most people are familiar with
the best time to hunt is as soon as the season opens
Good spots are very hard to come by , and are well guarded - never shared , they are usually in ultra remote areas , and people go to great lengths to hide their whereabouts , show up days before the opener and scouts good and hard , plan on walking miles and miles to remote areas - avoid areas where other hunters may frequent , if you find turkeys in a easy to access area, it's going to be too good to workout , as when opening day comes there will be plenty of trucks parked there and they will ruin your hunt

"Cut and run "doesn't work so well in florida
florida gobblers are very wary , when your hunting them take on the mindset you are hunting clever Veitcong  , it's more guerrilla hunting tactics than anything

Opening weekend is best

Totally agree, on all counts!!

[HartClemson99]

This will be my 12th season in FL.  You will be in the central zone which opens March 15th.  The earlier the better, but if the land has plenty of birds, you will be fine into early April. 

If I were you, I would be trying to roost one on the 14th!

[longbeards]

THANKS GUYS,,,will be there a couple of days early and scout hard! jim