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First FL public land deer

I have spent ALOT of time in Green Swamp. It is a hard hunting for sure, but used to be better. I have shot 2 bucks there, one in 1997 and one in 1999, both near the check in gate. Deer hunting improves at Christmas as that's when the rut starts heating up in that area.
 
Been a while since I posted anything on here!

I moved down to FL about 2 1/2 years ago, and let me tell you - the deer hunting in these swamps is some of the most challenging hunting that I have done! I lived in West TN for about 8 years and I must say that the hunting I had out there was amazing. From there I moved out to Utah, and a few years of hunting the mountains out there was another blessing. Now living down here I have come to appreciate what I had even more. The deer densities down here are low, and there are so many places that are thicker than all get out for the deer to hide in that it is an accomplishment to see a legal deer, let alone tag one.

To put it into perspective, I looked up the harvest report for the public land that I hunt on - last year there were 13,012 hunter days (there is a check in station where hunters are counted as they come in) and out of all of those there were only 50 bucks taken. That is less than 0.5% of a success rate (I do not know the number of individuals that hunt out there, as I probably accounted for at least 20 of those hunter days myself last year).

My third year hunting in Green Swamp WMA and it finally came together - I had found an area on Friday during the scouting day that looked promising and had that "feel" to it, only way I can describe it, when I walked into this spot at the edge of a swampy area I knew I wanted to hunt it. I came back Saturday morning and had two does come through around 8:30, but nothing else. I still felt really good about it though, because even seeing a couple of does is a good day at GS. The next morning I almost decided to sit in another area, but went with my gut and headed back to that spot. I ended up positioning myself facing 45 degrees off from where I was facing the day before, and around 8:45 I caught movement in the palmettos. The sun hit his antlers just right and that is what tipped me off. Shot was about 70 yds and he ran towards me and I watched him go down about 30 yds from my tree.

I have killed some great deer in Indiana and Missouri, and even got to harvest a cow elk while out in Utah, but this guy will rank right up there in my eyes as one of my trophies, just for the amount of work that goes in to taking a buck out of the Green Swamp!
I've hunted green swamp years ago. There use to be some nice bucks killed out of there back in the 90's. Congrats on that buck it is hard work indeed.
 
That's awesome nice buck I've also hunted the green swamp in the early 90's tough place. Pretty cool to see how many people have also hunted thanks for the story and pics congrats
 
I lived in that area for a while (clermont, fl) and i have hunted that place many times. The very first time I sat, i passed a small eight the turned out to be the biggest deer I ever saw on that place over the next four years. It is an absolute nightmare to hunt in my opinion so
I moved back to TN
 
I hunted in Richloam a handful of times when I first moved here - that place and the dog hunters are straight scary!
I have no use for hunters who use dogs to chase deer. Seems chickenshit to me. Saw many running for their lives from Richloam into Green Swamp with their tongues hanging out and completely exhausted. Not fair chase by any means.
 
have no use for hunters who use dogs to chase deer. Seems chickenshit to me. Saw many running for their lives from Richloam into Green Swamp with their tongues hanging out and completely exhausted. Not fair chase by any means.
Everybody to their own I use dogs for Squirle and rabbits and coons never had a chance to hunt somewhere dogs are allowed for deer but I would be game I personally think it would right fun be way more exciting hearing the race knowing here it comes yep I would be game
 
Everybody to their own I use dogs for Squirle and rabbits and coons never had a chance to hunt somewhere dogs are allowed for deer but I would be game I personally think it would right fun be way more exciting hearing the race knowing here it comes yep I would be game
Public education I presume?
 

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