41 public places to turkey hunt in Florida

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In my early twenties, I got into the turkey hunting scene. A good friend to whom I looked up to revealed the joys hunting long beards, and since then, I tend to become absent minded as spring approaches each and every year. The pursuit of the Wild Turkey is different. They are arguably one of the most fascinating species you will find in the woods, and can become quite aggravating to the turkey hunting enthusiast. As one of those enthusiasts, I am lucky to live in the great state of Florida and have access to the most coveted of all the sub-species. The Osceola. The Osceola is the smallest of the sub species, but is known for their burly, longer than normal spurs, and healthy long beards. These birds are generally less vocal than the other sub species, making them a real challenge for experienced and inexperienced hunters alike.

Revisiting my early years as a turkey hunter, I can remember getting lucky and having the opportunity to hunt private land. In most cases private dirt can increase you success rate due to less hunters, and better habitat management. My first two years turkey hunting were completed on a ranch that had very little pressure and great habitat/food sources for the birds. Even with those two key elements in my favor the trials of turkey hunting proved to be more powerful than just having a good place to hunt. Some may laugh, but I had very little help, and experienced a comedy of errors and mistakes that will most likely surface in a future article.

Fast forward to my third year. I would have never imagined my first gobbler would have come on public land, but that year my ability to hunt private land was no longer a reality. I reluctantly started studying wildlife management area maps, and decided to give Uncle Sam’s land a whirl. I started with J.W. Corbett in Palm Beach County and quickly realized I was in for a whole new education. The subject was still “Wild Turkey” but is closely resembled math curriculum. I was calculating how far I had to walk, what time I needed to leave to beat hunters to my/our spot, and trying to figure out how to budget for missed days at work so I could hunt during the week to avoid other hunters. It was crazy, but I quickly nailed down a game plan and executed both my plan and my first turkey. Back then there weren’t as many wildlife management areas open for Spring Gobblers, but today we have 41. Before I list these Florida public turkey hunting areas, please let this article act as encouragement to those that don’t have access to what they think is prime turkey hunting property. The NWTF that made great strides in creating and managing Florida’s Turkey hunting population. Take advantage of their work and bag your bird. Time spent scouting and hunting new places will eventually put you in position to kill a Florida public land longbeard!

If you would like to learn more about turkey hunting make sure to visit this site's Florida Turkey hunting forums. Floridafishandhunt.com has thousands of members that can help point you in the right direction!

 

#1 Arbuckle WMA
13,531 acres in Polk County. Season runs March 23-25 and April 6-8. There are 10 no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping allowed only by permit from the Division of Forestry by calling 863-635-7801.

#2 Big Bend WMA-Jena Unit
12,522 acres in Dixie County.

#3 Big Cypress WMA
565,848 acres in Collier, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Season runs March 7 - April 12. Camping allowed.

#4 Bull Creek WMA
23,646 acres in Osceola County. Camping allowed.

#5 Devil's Hammock WMA
7,635 acres in Levy County. Season runs March 20-28. There are 15 no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on a first-come, first-served basis.

#6 Green Swamp WMA
49,768 acres in Polk, Sumter and Lake counties. Hunters must have a quota permit to hunt the first weekend, but there are 200 no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of season. Camping allowed only by special permit from the FWC.

#7 J.W. Corbett WMA
60,288 acres in Palm Beach County. Season runs March 6 - April 11, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only. Camping allowed.

#8 Jumper Creek WMA
10,552 acres in Sumter County. Camping allowed.

#9 Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Area
20,360 acres in Polk and Osceola counties. Camping allowed first-come, first-served only at designated campsites. Management area permit not required.

#10 Kissimmee River Public Use Area
23,433 acres in Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola and Polk counties. Area is split between Central and South hunting zones. When hunting the South Zone, the season runs March 6 - April 11. For camping information only, call the South Florida Water Management District at 800-250-4200, ext. 3019. Management area permit not required.

#11 Lake Monroe WMA
3,098 acres in Volusia and Seminole counties.

#12 Lochloosa WMA
11,149 acres in Alachua County. Camping allowed only by permit from St. Johns River Water Management District; call 386-329-4404.

#13 Log Landing WMA
1,147 acres in Dixie County.

#14 Richloam WMA
58,146 acres in Hernando, Pasco, Sumter and Lake counties. Hunters must have a quota permit to hunt the first nine days, but those without one may hunt the remainder of the season, beginning March 29 through April 25. Camping allowed only by permit from Division of Forestry; call 352-754-6896.

#15 Three Lakes WMA
54,628 acres in Osceola County. Camping allowed.

#16 Upper Hillsborough WMA
5,178 acres in Polk and Pasco counties. Wednesdays and Thursdays only. There are 75 no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping allowed.

#17 Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA
124,623 acres in Brevard and Indian River counties. Camping allowed.

Eastern turkeys inhabit these areas

#18 Apalachicola National Forest
581,837 acres in Franklin, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties. Camping allowed.

#19 Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area
86,140 acres in Franklin and Gulf counties. Camping allowed. Management area permit not required.

#20 Aucilla WMA
47,532 acres in Jefferson and Taylor counties. Camping allowed.

#21 Big Bend WMA: Hickory Mound Unit
14,427 acres in Taylor County. A no-cost, daily use permit is required to hunt March 20 – April 4 and is available at the check station.

#22 Snipe Island Unit
11,687 acres in Taylor County. Hunters must have a quota permit to hunt the first 16 days, but those without one may hunt the remainder of the season, April 5 - April 11.

#23 Spring Creek Unit
14,600 acres in Taylor County.

#24 Tide Swamp Unit
19,538 acres in Taylor County. A no-cost, daily use permit is required to hunt March 20 – April 4 and is available at the check station.

#25 Blackwater WMA
191,148 acres in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Camping allowed.

#26 Choctawhatchee River WMA
57,299 acres in Bay, Walton and Washington counties. Southern (non-spring turkey quota area) portion of the area may be hunted without quota permit. Camping allowed.

#27 Econfina Creek WMA
41,159 acres in Washington, Bay and Jackson counties. Quota permit not required to hunt after the first 9 days, except in the Cat Creek and Fitzhugh Carter areas (where quota permit is needed). Camping allowed only by permit from Northwest Florida Water Management District; call 850-539-5999.

#28 Eglin Air Force Base
265,000 acres in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. Hunting and camping allowed only by permit from Jackson Guard Natural Resource Office by calling 850-883-1152. Only shotguns, bows and muzzleloaders are legal.

#29 Escambia River WMA
34,476 acres in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Camping allowed.

#30 Joe Budd WMA
11,039 acres in Gadsden County. Saturdays and Sundays only. There are 20 no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters may use bows and muzzleloaders only. Camping allowed.

#31 Lower Econfina River WMA
3,004 acres in Taylor County. Season runs March 20-28.

#32 Mallory Swamp WMA
30,283 acres in Lafayette County. Season runs March 20 - April 4.

#33 Ochlockonee River WMA
2,790 acres in Leon County. Saturdays and Sundays only. Only shotguns, bows and muzzleloaders are legal.

#34 Osceola WMA
266,270 acres in Baker and Columbia counties. Camping allowed.

#35 Pine Log WMA
6,911 acres in Bay and Washington counties. Season runs March 20 - April 4. Camping allowed.

#36 Point Washington WMA
12,414 acres in Walton County.

#37 Santa Fe Swamp Wildlife and Environmental Area
5,627 acres in Bradford County. Only bows and muzzleloaders are legal.

#38 Steinhatchee Springs WMA
20,909 acres in Lafayette, Dixie and Taylor counties. Season runs March 20 - April 11. There are 40 no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on a first-come, first-served basis required to hunt the first nine days.

#39 Talquin WMA
3,053 acres in Leon County. Saturdays and Sundays only.

#40 Upper Chipola River WMA
7,377 acres in Jackson County. Camping allowed only by permit from Northwest Florida Water Management District; call 850-539-5999.

#41 Yellow River WMA
29,674 acres in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Quota permit not required except when hunting Grassy Point and Burnt Grocery Creek areas. Camping allowed in non-quota areas.

Comments  

 

+1 #5 ooaccordon18z 2010-05-08 00:08

j.w. corbett is a nice place for turkeys

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+1 #4 TrkysFsh 2010-03-25 22:12

Lochloosa sucks

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0 #3 Bilge Master 2010-02-14 10:12

I may hit up the Kissimee, but will hunt mostly private land this year. I hope )

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+1 #2 2010-02-09 13:30

Haven't made any plans even. Bt if--and a Big IF--I do set out for turkeys, then it's J.W. Corbett for me.

Stinks that Hungryland isn't open for Spring Turkey.

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-1 #1 Bilge Master 2010-02-07 17:59

Where is everyone hunting this season?

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