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Florida Osceola Hunt Recommendation
Posted on 5/3/24 at 8:14 pm
Posted on 5/3/24 at 8:14 pm
Looking for recs on a Florida Osceola hunt for next year. Guided hunt or public diy, any experience hunting down there?
Thanks
Thanks
This post was edited on 5/4/24 at 7:54 am
6
Posted on 5/4/24 at 7:02 am to tigers84
Is there a reason you prefer guided on public land and not guided on private land?
Posted on 5/4/24 at 7:53 am to baldona
I meant a guided on private land or a diy on public
Posted on 5/4/24 at 7:57 am to tigers84
TNT outfitters. If they still run hunts. Went there several years ago. It was a 1 bird limit.
3 of us tagged out. Alachua county. Not far from Gainesville.
3 of us tagged out. Alachua county. Not far from Gainesville.
Posted on 5/4/24 at 7:59 am to TurkeyThug
Thanks I will check them out!
Posted on 5/4/24 at 8:04 am to tigers84
They still run hunts. I just checked them out on Facebook
Posted on 5/4/24 at 8:06 am to TurkeyThug
Yeah I was just looking at their Facebook. What is the pricing?
Posted on 5/4/24 at 1:35 pm to tigers84
I’m not sure what is now.
I’ve seen hunts that our group went on several years ago that the prices have increased by 500 to 1000. Being this an isolated area for a Osceola I’m sure it’s pricey.
I’ve seen hunts that our group went on several years ago that the prices have increased by 500 to 1000. Being this an isolated area for a Osceola I’m sure it’s pricey.
Posted on 5/4/24 at 2:00 pm to TurkeyThug
I messaged them on FB and they are booked until 26’ but may have em pencil us in for that year. Thanks again!
Posted on 5/4/24 at 2:56 pm to tigers84
Anyone got any advice on potential public areas to research?
Posted on 5/4/24 at 3:58 pm to Theduckhunter
quote:
Anyone got any advice on potential public areas to research?
You aren’t going to get real answers on this. Just go find places where a lot of people are hunting. That’s where the turkeys are.
Posted on 5/4/24 at 5:14 pm to tenfoe
I understand that… but considering most of the members here probably aren’t hunting in Florida very often, I figured they might be willing to share which pieces of public are worth looking into. I know it’s going to be a ground game when you get there.
I’m also sure there’s info online to research… just looking to see if anyone has input.
I’m also sure there’s info online to research… just looking to see if anyone has input.
Posted on 5/5/24 at 7:31 am to tigers84
Subtle this is maybe 150 yards from my couch brag. Should be bigger in 10 months. With that said, I don't do public hunting or guided tours, so I'm a bunch of 0 help. I've never noticed a lack of birds or tracks while out strolling the 4 WMAs near me, out of season. Camp Blanding, Santa Fe swamp, and Belmore and Etoniah state forests. The "Osceola dividing line" maps will show this is about as far north as you want to start looking. Normally when I see a real trophy gobbler it's in someone's pasture, while I'm driving by
Posted on 5/5/24 at 9:07 pm to tigers84
Florida resident here. A few dozen Osceola birds behind me.
If looking at next year you are pretty much looking at a guided/outfitted hunt. The good news; if any, is that with the tough economy you may be able to talk an outfitter into a hunt at a relative bargain. Still expect to pay somewhere around $3K for a single bird hunt.
Quota WMA permits for high quality units are now commanding 2-4 preference points. If starting this year; you are looking at 2027 at best. Non-draw public options are out there; with a less than 5-10% chance of success.
I want to be very clear that turkey populations are way down in FL. Private land is a vastly superior option compared to public. I did a 4 day hunt on what most would argue is FL’s best public land hunt in March. In years past it wasn’t uncommon to hear dozens of gobblers. In 4 days I heard two. Most of the birds harvested were Jake’s. I see no reason to be optimistic about next year being better. Those enthusiastic 2 year olds already died as Jake’s.
Can email me at -<—- myusername@hotmail.com if you want more intel.
If looking at next year you are pretty much looking at a guided/outfitted hunt. The good news; if any, is that with the tough economy you may be able to talk an outfitter into a hunt at a relative bargain. Still expect to pay somewhere around $3K for a single bird hunt.
Quota WMA permits for high quality units are now commanding 2-4 preference points. If starting this year; you are looking at 2027 at best. Non-draw public options are out there; with a less than 5-10% chance of success.
I want to be very clear that turkey populations are way down in FL. Private land is a vastly superior option compared to public. I did a 4 day hunt on what most would argue is FL’s best public land hunt in March. In years past it wasn’t uncommon to hear dozens of gobblers. In 4 days I heard two. Most of the birds harvested were Jake’s. I see no reason to be optimistic about next year being better. Those enthusiastic 2 year olds already died as Jake’s.
Can email me at -<—- myusername@hotmail.com if you want more intel.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 9:58 am to wiltznucs
Thanks for the info! TNT Outfitters is booked until '26 so looking at getting in on that and yes about everything I found is around $3,000 (they were a little less) which is understandable since Florida is the only place to get an Osceola.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 3:01 pm to Theduckhunter
quote:
Anyone got any advice on potential public areas to research?
I will say though the areas I hunt in north and central Florida are technically in the Osceola range, they are at best hybrids with Easterns and look like Easterns. If you want an Osceola that looks like an Osceola, go down south.
The meat eater episode on Osceolas is a good one.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 3:14 pm to VolSquatch
Osceola is a myth, proven genetically. I'd say hunt them where you feel like an osceola should be, orange groves or deep in the swamp. Otherwise they are an eastern beyond an imaginary line in the sand. From someone who tried extremely hard to get mine, and my son's
Posted on 5/6/24 at 3:17 pm to nolaks
Its a myth that you spent a lot of effort trying to obtain?
Just go to one of the public spots around St Aug/Gainesville and shoot a turkey if you think its a myth.
It won't be what you're looking for visually, but it would technically be an Osceola per FWC
Just go to one of the public spots around St Aug/Gainesville and shoot a turkey if you think its a myth.
It won't be what you're looking for visually, but it would technically be an Osceola per FWC
Posted on 5/6/24 at 3:35 pm to VolSquatch
quote:
Its a myth that you spent a lot of effort trying to obtain?
Yes, have you not improved your understanding and therefore changed your opinion on something based upon trying to further your knowledge through research? We drew the line, same as if you killed one in Alabama and one in Mississippi on two sides of the imaginary state line. You did accomplish something, but the line was an artificial border that some person before you came up, not a true genetic deviation like exists between the rest of the subs.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 4:18 pm to nolaks
quote:
Osceola is a myth, proven genetically.
You aren’t wrong ^
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