Hunting Forum

My wifes company moved us to Jacksonville, FL. My wife convinced me that I should leave my job (that I hated) and retire even though I'm only in my 50's. I thought I could spend more time hunting & fishing. But I need someone to point me in the right direction. I quickly found out that all the hunting is in GA or SC but all the property is land leased. I have no problem joining a club if I could find one or leasing property (but still would like someone to hunt with). If someone knows of property to hunt on or know's of a club please let me know. I hunt large and small game plus duck hunt. Safety is key!

Have you posted this in the FL.section as it might get you more responces .The state section is further down on the board .

If you think there is no public hunting in FL then you haven't taken the time to research it. There is something like 15 million acreas of public Wildlife Management Areas in the state. Some are on quota and you need to apply but many are not. I was stationed in Pensacola for 3 years and could hunt deer less than 3 miles from my driveway on Perdido River Wildlife Management Area. It was a quota hunt but I never failed to draw the permit and I took deer every year.

I suggest you spend some time of the Florida Wildlife Commission website and do some checking around. Don't write it off out of hand because you'll miss out on a lot of good hunting.

i live in NE florida and i've had good luck in the osceola national forest.it's public land,over266,000 acres.you need a management stamp but no quota permit.the deer are not as big,buck average about 150 lbs. does average about 90 to110 lbs,but you see plenty of deer.i'd like to show you around that piece of property if interested.there are other mamagement areas here as well.contact me 505-1099.

Dont forget the military bases either. Both Tyndall and Eglin have a lot of ground for hunting. Never hunted Tyndall, but I did hunt Eglin. And Eglin covers well over 450,000 acres.

I was stationed at McCoy Air Force Base (Orlando) in the '70s, Any sporting goods shop or bait shop can (and probably would be happyto) point you in the right direction. The biggest Largemouth bass I have ever cuaght was within the city limits of Orlando. (the Navy base there). Ocala Nat. Forest is Huge also. Watch out for the Slithering wiggly things there. They like to lay in the shade of the Palmetto bushes.!!!!!