Florida's Southern Zone

[woodsman2230]

Hey guys I am planning on going down to FLA to hunt turkeys over my spring break. I was wondering if any of you guys have hunted there before and if so, what WMA is the best to hunt for turkeys. I was looking into the Big Cypress WMA. I dont know anything about where to hunt turkeys down there but I have always wanted to go. If any of you guys have some info it would be greatly appreciated. The season starts March 3. Thanks.

Chris

[ital_70]

Try Three Lakes,Bull Creek, Green Swamp. They are all top turkey wma's in Fla.. I have hunted all three and Taken turkeys,best time is the beggiining of the season especially this year the weather has been very mild and this makes them start early.

[huntn4bucks]

Big Cypress WMA is tough hunting...especially if you want to get to birds that haven't been pressured. As you probably already know, Big Cypress is over 565,000 acres and requires a lot of walking. Covehnter and I hunted down there last year and averaged about 10 miles per day. The day he killed his gobbler we walked over 14 miles...and that's according to our gps. It can be fun but it's not for the faint of heart. Best of luck and be safe.

[Covehnter]

Jump on the FL DNR site and dont be afraid to call agencies to talk with local rangers and such, you can find out anything you need from the web and by just being a little personable. The Big Cypress Preserve will be your best bet if you are going before the central season opens b/c no other WMAs are open for hunting w/out qouta. Unless you are 110% that you want to do the Big Cypress hunt. . . . dont do it, hunting Osceolas will leave a bad taste in your mouth and you may not return. You have to prepare yourself for hunting that you wont experience anywhere else.
-Prepare to get wet, Big Cypress is the Everglades. . . they got lots of water, anytime.
-Hope you dont mind snakes, better have GOOD snake boots.
-Ever seen an alligator? You will there.
-If you dont have a Thermacell, i bet you will when you leave there. . . we call them finches, they call them skeeters.
I dont mean to spook you from the idea of hunting Big Cypress, it something that i would tell everyone to do. . . its an experience that you'll find no where else. I just dont want you going down there unprepared and wasting alot of time and money. Because the first time you lay eyes on the place with turkey's in mind, thats what you'll think.

[Andrea]

Don't know about down south, but we got some fine ones in the panhandle.

[woodsman2230]

My only option really is to hunt the southern zone because m spring break is over that season. Also Im not sure I understand the quotas thing.

[Covehnter]

Qoutas are out for you, it takes about 3 yrs of applications to obtain a qouta permit in most cases. Plus the deadline was in mid Nov i believe and you need a past FL license i believe.

[woodsman2230]

Anyone ever hunted or heard of the Jumper Creek WMA?

[Tecumseh]

I've hunted Big cypress and JW Corbett area in Plam Beach county when I lived in Florida.You don't need a quota permit for corbett I killed a nice tom in corbett last year,I worked that bird on three different days to get him to come in.

Like Covehnter and huntn4bucks wrote get a good pair of snake boots and be ready to see alligators and plan on walking a lot!!!!!!!!but it's an experience you'll never forget and get to see some awesome sights.