Spring Gobbler season has come to an end and it’s kind of a blue time around the old farm. I wait all year for that chance to go out on opening morning and sit beneath the oaks for a talk with the turkeys. After several weeks of doing just that, it’s mighty sad to see it come to an end. I enjoyed another great season with many success stories, made a few new friends along the way and learned a lesson two from some of the trickier toms that got away.
Now, all of my Spring Gobbler gear has been carefully cleaned, sorted and put away. My beloved old Winchester, model 12 has been stripped, thoroughly cleaned and placed back into the safe and I’ve lots of photographs and notes from the field I have cataloged and saved. It’s over…. But, only ten and a half short months from now, we get to start all over again!
Now, it’s transition time, as there are still great opportunities to get outside and procure some fresh organic meat for your tables. I’ll be doing a bit of fishing throughout the summer, keeping my family well-stocked with catfish and bream, but more often than not, I’ll be taking to the woods in search of wild hogs. Sus Scrufa the Florida Piney Wood Rooter, is pretty well populated in all parts of Florida and are an absolute joy to hunt. They’re that perfect blend of intelligence to make the hunt challenging, yet dumb enough to make you not have to work too hard. Afterall, it gets hot this time of year.
A small handful of public lands will be opening each month for special opportunity hog hunts, the first beginning in the Richloam Wildlife Management Area in Lake and Sumter Counties. I’ll be there with a good friend and his black mouth cur to try and put a hog or two on our tailgate. As well, I have opportunities becoming available to me through locally guided hunts. Most guides can accommodate a wide range of hog hunting experiences, depending on the method of hunting and weapon of choice. As I meet each of the local guides and discover all there is to know about their operation, I’ll be passing that info along to you.
I get asked very often about where to go for hog hunting opportunities, so I’ll be compiling a list of not only the guides, but their services, so that you might be motivated to get up off of the couch and take to the woods to bring home a fine mess of fresh pork for your own family. I’ve got my Ruger Vaquero, in .45 Colt ready to accompany me on one of my upcoming hunts and my Damon and Howatt recurve bow with turkey fletched cedar shafts ready to join me on another. It’d be great fun if you would too!
As always, if you have any feedback, suggestions or even just want to share a good hunting story, give me a shout at [email protected]. God bless and good hunting!
