Loxahatchee wildlife refuge

Did you draw the Strazulla unit or the interior hunt? Big difference in habitat and deer numbers

plan a weekend to scout before, otherwise your wasting your time. interior you need a boat or canoe.

only 5 permits giving out i think, kayak will work. read the rules theres a good amount of them, yea if you got the time to scout its worth it its a once in a lifetime hunt. i also got that permit 11/1 thru 11/3 interior.

After doing som research that looks like the only way. Can’t hunt within a half mile of the levee’s or canoe trail, which means you’ve got to battle a fair bit. I guess I’ll have to figure out how realistic it is to move around over there, because it looks like there’s really only one cleared boat path in the non-motorized section, with only a couple of off shoots about a mile in.

If 5 people show up for this hunt none will succeed, unless down4dacount or meateater is one of the 5.

The truth is (if my recollection is correct) EVERYTHING is stacked against you.

I'm grateful for the opportunity but this was just a plug nickel token to appease SFWMDs demand for more opportunities. Otherwise, this, combined with shit poor habitat management, the FEDs were going to lose their cushy lease on this property.

I only wish SFWMD would have kicked the FEDs out and reverted this place back to WCA 1, like it should be.

strazulla was like a duck hunt at sta 3/4 10 years ago on opening day, 8 point and 2 hogs down by noon the first day, nice dry trails and good habitat but from what i heard the interior hunt is a totally different hunt, no ebike trails or easy walking levees. cant return the permit so ill give it a go.

That whole east levy north of Boynton gave up a few bucks to me. I discovered them while dove hunting the farms on the edge.

There used to be a group of leucistic deer there too.

I was going to say yesterday that you were pretty much pissing in the wind trying to deer hunt there without a airboat. To use a airboat in there you need a airboat permit. If you're lucky enough to be drawn for a permit you must pay $100 and pass their in house, mickey mouse inspection.

Airboat use is very restricted so read the brochure. I'm not sure if you are granted automatic airboat entry if you get a deer hunt permit so I reiterate, REALLY read the brochure before you leap in. Know the rules. Carry them with you! Many of the wardens at LOX do not even know the rules themselves! I'm being serious here.

Back in the 70s we duck hunted there from airboats like free people. Canoe-ists, outboarders, and airboaters shared equally and had zero confrontations. Now it's just another place the Feds have famucked up.

Couple last things: I'm sure there are some good, maybe great deer here but I wouldn't even attempt a interior deer hunt in this place without a airboat. You probably won't be able to paddle in far enough from the permitted entry time to even hunt the mornings. If you do go, the deer will be way up to the north in a impenetrable jungle of dead/living malelueca, climbing fern, and other uncontrolled invasive plants. It will be muddy and mucky, and you will have to be out of the area by a specified time so plan your exit accordingly. The Feds WILL readily write tickets. If they were serious about conducting a proper deer hunt on the refuge they would allow the canoe-ists to enter/exit from the 20 mile bend boat ramp. Have your life jackets and other required gear. Bring a lot of water! The only thing they care more about protecting their precious deer herd, the dumb ass alligators, and their invasive jungle is protecting you from yourself!

These ARE the facts, so I wish you all the luck! It's going to be a monumental non stop uphill battle from the minute you leave your house to attempt your first scouting trip.

I appreciate the info One Man !

From everything I’ve read and heard from diving into this space recently ( hunting and angling ) seems like it’s quite a time to get into the sport between pressure, access, regulations. My mindset going in is it’s an adventure and it’ll be fun to have the space to myself and a couple others to experience the Everglades.

I’ll keep you guys updated as I proceed !

lotta rules , sucks to have to enter and exit at 1 spot, if there are no islands within 3 miles of launch im gonna look into paying someone with a airboat for a day, maybe 2. but is that even allowed, guess that guy can be the non hunting guest, we will see its not till nov 1st so plenty of time to figure out all the restrictions.

Why in the hell would somebody drive from Jacksonville that far south to hunt crap.
Heck the Georgia State line is only like 75 miles North.
I'd go North and hunt a freakin WalMart parking lot before I'd drive way down there to see lot's of Coots and Gators...maybe 2 Does standing there looking at you...

Hahaha that’s a fair point, I’m just after the experience more than anything. If I don’t harvest anything I’m not going to be beat up about it. I’ve never been down to the Everglades either so it’ll help me check that off the bucket list, and dido on the airboat if I go that direction, never been on one of those either !

Lol! I told Meat I would pull him in on skis with the airboat but he declined.

I hope he connects but the truth is, he's going to get WORKED and I'm afraid the juice may not be worth the squeeze. I just want him to be prepared for what awaits.

I have a hunt that weekend but I'm looking for a willing airboat taxi for him.