This is probably one of the top locations for doing an exotic hunt in Florida. Nice lodging, reasonable costs, experienced guides and staff, butchering available at extra cost, meals of exotic game, and just a great deal of fun at modest cost.
GATORS
Gator hunts on public waters (Lake Okeechobee) here run August 15 to end of October and they have sizes from 6’ up to genuine dinosaurs well in excess of 10’. Hunts involve boats and the use of a rod & reel to attract and “hook” the gator; then a bow/crossbow/air bow to get a line into the gator; a harpoon is sometimes used to get a second line into a big gator; and finally a “bang stick” is used to dispatch the gator at boat side. These hunts are incredibly exciting and are great for pairs of hunters, whether 2 buddies or father/mother-son/daughter, as one person can be fighting the gator with rod & reel while the other hunter gets ready with the bow. They also have year-round private land gators hunts with your choice of weapon, including rifle. All gators hunts are near 100% success.
They offer a public water 6’-8’ gator package (evening/night time), including a hog and 2 nights of lodging and all meals, license/tags for just $2,000, or go after a 9’ dinosaur gator for just $3,000, including 3 nights of food and lodging, and license/tags (add $750 for 10ft., add $1,500 for 11ft, add $3,000 for 12ft). THEY AVERAGED CLOSE TO 11FT. ON THESE HUNTS THE LAST 2 YEARS! THIS IS A TREMENDOUS VALUE FOR BIG GATORS!
Year-Round Private Land Alligator Hunt Prices
Daily fee of $250 plus:
6 foot – $1,400
7 foot – $1,500
8 foot – $1,750
9 foot – $2,750
10 foot – $4000
11 foot – $5500
12 foot – $8000
13 foot – $12000
Lodging and meals is $150/day per person.
Skinning is included, but butchering is $125/gator. License is approx. $60.
WILD BOARS/HOGS
Florida has one of the largest populations of wild boars in North America, and this outfitter has 2,000 acres of prime hog hunting on this private, fenced ranch. The terrain consists of mostly palmetto bush, with some open areas. Hunt from a Swamp Buggy, from treestands, over feeders/water holes, by stalking, using dogs and even using night vision (hogs are very smart and be can very hard to hunt during the day without the use of dogs). They will cater to your desires and budget to customize a hunt for all ages, beginner or expert. They harvest about 300 hogs a year, so they definitely know what they are doing!
Hog Hunting Packages
2 Days/1 Night – $575
3 Days/2 Nights – $825
Packages include meals and lodging and 1 meat hog (add $150 for a trophy hog). Additional meat hogs are $225 each.
Day-Hunts
Afternoon hunt, or thermal hog hunt – $450 per person (includes 1 trophy or meat hog; meals and lodging not included). Additional meat hogs are $225 each.
Add thermal package to any hunt for extra $125 per person.
ARCHERY TROPHY AXIS BUCK
You are hunting on 2,000 acres near Okeechobee within the Seminole Reservation. The axis deer are self-sustaining – living, growing and breeding here. Some really large trophy animals are available here and are only hunted during the month of June and hunts are restricted to archery tackle. On average you should expect a 32” buck. Trophy Axis: $6,000. Includes 5 days of lodging.
DUCKS
Florida offers some outstanding duck hunting. The season is split into two part, with a one-week hunt in late November, with the second part opening early December and lasting until late January. If you are looking for a “bird slam”, they have some species that are usually only found much further south, including mottled ducks, black-belly tree ducks, ringnecks, and teal. Hunts are half-day and can either be in the morning, which typically lasts 4 to 5 hours after sunrise, or choose the afternoon for about four hours before sunset. Limit of three hunters to a boat.
They hunt not only the famous Lake Okeechobee, but also various public water lakes and rivers as well as private land. On private waters, they hunt a mixture of swamps and big reservoirs on dairy farms. Each hunt could be in a different location. On day they might run the airboat in the shallow marshes of Lake Okeechobee, and the next morning take the mud boat out into some open water ringnecks, then pack up and go to a private dairy to hunt a reservoir for black-bellies.
Ultimate Waterfowl Challenge Package
Specifically targets the Florida mottled duck, black belly whistler, and fulvous.
3 days/4 nights – $2,300 per hunter; 4 days/5 nights – $2,900 per hunter
Min. 2 hunters required. Includes meals and lodging.
You can bring your own shotguns or you can rent one for $50. You will need to purchase a Florida duck hunting license/migratory bird permit, Florida waterfall permit, and a federal duck stamp.
BOWFISHING, FRESHWATER FISHING
They also offer bass or peacock bass fishing for 2 people for $400 (4 hours) or $450 (6 hours) plus live bait (above 2 people, add $100), and even offer 4-hour nighttime bow-fishing trips for $1,250/night for up to 5- 6 people.
THERMAL VARMIT HUNTING
Includes all thermal gear needed to hunt coyotes (and bobcats when in season) for $1,000 for up to 2 hunters.
OSCEOLA TURKEYS
If you want the Turkey Slam, you must hunt in southern Florida. It is the only place you can take an Osceola turkey and be sure it is a pure-blooded Osceola. This outfitter has excellent turkey hunting in the heart of their home grounds, and experienced guides, but he only does a few turkey hunts each year, and they are usually booked well in advance. Season starts first Saturday in March and ends the third Sunday in April. You will be hunting 20,000 private acres with an average success rate of over 90%.
4-day hunt including one turkey AND one meat hog, meals, lodging and guiding is only $3,500 per person.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations are in 4 private cabins attached to a beautiful lodge right on the ranch. Each room has a private bath and satellite TV. There is no WIFI, and cellular service is spotty. They cater to small groups and usually have no more than 5 hunters at a time, but they have room for 7 overnight guests. Accommodations are definitely suitable for spouses, but there is not much to keep non-hunters occupied while hunters are in the field, and the ranch is about a 45-minute drive from the nearest town.
GETTING THERE
The lodge is located in south-central Florida, near Lake Okeechobee. The outfitter will provide driving directions to the ranch, but please note that most GPS units tends to direct you to a remote corner of the ranch, rather than the entrance to the ranch, so please keep driving until you see the well-marked main gate.