bowhunting deer in florida

[ifish424]

Hi, my name is Ian. This is my first time in this forum. I am moving to Pensacola this weekend to start flight school soon. I am kind of upset that I am going to miss the rut up here in Rhode Island by just a week, since I have some good spots with big rubs and scrapes that I've been hunting. Anyways, I was just wondering if I could get any tips from you guys on where there is any good bowhunting near Pensacola. Thanks alot.

[Drayton]

Sorry I can't help you, I'm about 10 hrs South. This forum does not have enough traffic from Florida.

Try floridafishandhunt.com. It's a young and growing Florida forum with a lot of good people.

[Bullfrog 31581]

I can't give you any specifics as to where to go, but I can encorage you in that NW Florida (the panhandle) is the best hunting in the state. The deer are much bigger up there and Hunting land is easier to come by up there than it is in other parts of the state.

You may wish to start here.

http://myfwc.com/hunting/

This is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's webpage. Check out the clickable WMA map to see what public land is close to you. You can then check the regulations for that WMA (wildlife management area) to see if you can gain access to it. WMA's vary in terms of how and when they can be hunted. Some only require a WMA stamp and allow an infinite number of hunters to access the area throughout the season. Others require special permits that are gained either through raffles or on a first-come, first serve basis.

Looks like the two closest WMAs are Blue Water Creek and Escambia River. Blue Water Creek requires a recreational use permit ($200) and it has 7 openings left as of the time I checked the webpage. Its 400 hunters on 21,000 acres. That might be kind of cramped. Escambia River is 34,000 acres, and it looks like its open to anyone with a management area stamp. You can buy a management area stamp when you get a hunting licence. I don't know what the hunting is like in either place.