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Post by outdoorsfl on Jun 23, 2024 10:54:01 GMT -5
Pulled a general gun quota for Tosohatchee WMA. In part, I applied because you are permitted to take a doe (freezer-filler). While I have driven by this WMA about a million times, I have never hunted it. OnX shows the area to be pretty thick, with a lot of swamp, plan to find oaks/pinch points between the deeper/wet areas. The FWC brochure stated that there is no camping during hunting season and that hunters must check-in prior to hunting, both of which will be a bit of hassle for an out-of-towner. Anyone have any experience, tips, etc. with this WMA? Thanks in advance!
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Post by shodog on Jun 23, 2024 11:11:17 GMT -5
There are a lot of hogs in there. Gotta park at designated parking spots. Also seems fairly crowded. They give a lot of permits for that place and it seems to me that it has a higher rate of folks that show up than most other quotas that I've gotten. The squirrel hunting is fantastic. The check in process is no prblem. There is really only one way in anyway and they come to your window and give you a card to show you checked in. Takes a few seconds.
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Post by swampdog on Jun 23, 2024 11:30:07 GMT -5
Father in law killed his only Florida buck (7 pt.) there. I liked the habitat, though I only hunted it once after it opened a long time ago. I believe the close proximity to Orlando and that growth corridor makes it pretty popular for hunter attendance. Go scout and enjoy your hunt.
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Post by richm on Jun 23, 2024 15:15:28 GMT -5
Ive hunted it a handful of times. Never seen a deer from a stand. Is what it is.
The have 150 permits per hunt plus guests for 7,000 acres.
At the end of the season, after 6 or 9 hunts, there will be 100 deer on the board. Biggest buck will be 150-160 pounds.
Some guys crush the hunt, most dont see a thing.
Good luck!
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 23, 2024 17:08:43 GMT -5
A quick Toso hog hunt without dogs.  _ The place is predictable as far as numbers every season but it's not as easy as you might think. I feel the parking situation helps the hunting but hinders the effort... if that makes sense. |
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Post by meateater on Jun 24, 2024 11:57:16 GMT -5
A quick Toso hog hunt without dogs. View Attachment_ The place is predictable as far as numbers every season but it's not as easy as you might think. I feel the parking situation helps the hunting but hinders the effort... if that makes sense. looks like a slow day, was it raining or 105 degress out.  |
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 24, 2024 12:09:36 GMT -5
A quick Toso hog hunt without dogs. View Attachment_ The place is predictable as far as numbers every season but it's not as easy as you might think. I feel the parking situation helps the hunting but hinders the effort... if that makes sense. looks like a slow day, was it raining or 105 degress out. Lol! You got me brother.  A slow day indeed. Temps started out in the 50s but climbed rapidly of course. To be fair though, we only planned to day hunt it. The pic was taken around noon at the check station and I figured I had enough to clean at that point so we threw in the towel... Think I was back in Palm Beach and showered before 1700. I think we all need more slow days like these.  |
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Post by 6thgen on Jun 25, 2024 7:16:23 GMT -5
Killed my first deer with a bow there in 83 or 84. I think it was the first or second year it was open. I still have the palmetto frond the arrow went through before it hit her. I also shot a hog that day at 4 feet and it took the arrow and ran off like nothing happened... We slip hunted and used an old logging tram road that went east to west. We walked under a stand hunter that was asleep. He never knew me and Dad walked by. Good luck out there.
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grizzl
Junior Member
Posts: 21
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Post by grizzl on Jun 25, 2024 12:27:52 GMT -5
My son and I hunt it every other year because of preference points and it being the closest WMA we can scout thoroughly before the season. We do get on deer but its hard hunting..lots of scouting every year because the deer are transient. Got to find the food source being utilized..acorns are few and far between each year. There are good deer there but getting a shot on them with a 3 day quota is *lucky*. We get our deer during Muzz mostly before GG pushes them nocturnal.
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Post by swampdog on Jun 25, 2024 12:52:42 GMT -5
That’s great intel griz and perfect for our new guy.
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 25, 2024 13:05:14 GMT -5
I was lucky enough to hunt the lease on the south border (Fat City Hunt Club) several times about 20 years ago with one of our now deceased harbor masters.
There are definitely some nice deer around that area. The woods used to join the WMA to the lease back then. Now I believe that fence line has been flat cleared from the WMA fence to about 200 yards inside the lease. A lot of the toso hunters used to poach that fence line so the rancher or the hunt club had it cleared.
I have heard many times from a couple different Toso Prostaffers to head for the gas line down south and then head for the river. Go until you cannot go anymore, then go a little farther. One of them used to use his mountain bike to hunt down there until he retired and moved to Tennessee. He always seemed to do pretty well, but he lives to hunt.
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grizzl
Junior Member
Posts: 21
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Post by grizzl on Jun 25, 2024 16:22:16 GMT -5
<abbr>deleted for format</abbr>
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grizzl
Junior Member
Posts: 21
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Post by grizzl on Jun 25, 2024 16:26:03 GMT -5
I have heard many times from a couple different Toso Prostaffers to head for the gas line down south and then head for the river. Go until you cannot go anymore, then go a little farther. One of them used to use his mountain bike to hunt down there until he retired and moved to Tennessee. He always seemed to do pretty well, but he lives to hunt. That is one well known strategy and many people do that (to the extent the have the stamina, even with a bike, that is 3+ miles back..trouble with that is WATER. The roads/firebreaks FLOOD making biking and walking a nightmare like last year...that was bad..they closed main roads because of flooding...If you plan on doing that, go to the USGS webpage for CHRISTMAS and log the River Gauge Height the day you scout there and see how passable it is. Then watch the gauge until is is up higher and scout it again and so on...I could tell you the magic number but you need to earn your stripes hunting public land :)Good Luck! |
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Post by outdoorsfl on Jun 30, 2024 15:43:10 GMT -5
Bump for out-of-owners: any nearby campsite recommendations?
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grizzl
Junior Member
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Post by grizzl on Jul 1, 2024 11:15:25 GMT -5
Bump for out-of-owners: any nearby campsite recommendations?
The landowner right across from the entrance rents "space" for a camper.....
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Post by highfastflyer on Jul 2, 2024 19:55:29 GMT -5
When does it normally dry out, in the fall? I was down there yesterday, July 1st and all the trails are underwater and I didn’t have any big rubber boots with me. I won’t make that mistake again but wasn’t expecting a swamp out there. I hope it’s not so wet during the hunts. What footwear do those who hunt it recommend, do I need full hip waders or just knee high boots.
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Post by One Man Gang on Jul 2, 2024 20:18:42 GMT -5
It will likely dry out some going into Fall but if it's that wet wear tennis shoes and plan on getting wet. Knee boots will kill you.
If you insist on rubber boots keep em under 16" high and plan on getting your feet wet and emptying your boots every time you cross a deeper spot.
If you were hunting down here in the south zone the sooner you resign yourself to getting soaked up to your coconuts, the happier you'll be with the hunting.
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Post by richm on Jul 3, 2024 5:59:36 GMT -5
I wear store brand muck boots but pretty much wear a pair of lace up boots for stumbling around in the water - should probably just get a pair of jungle boots and call it a day.
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Post by nuthinfancy on Jul 3, 2024 6:21:00 GMT -5
It will likely dry out some going into Fall but if it's that wet wear tennis shoes and plan on getting wet. Knee boots will kill you. If you insist on rubber boots keep em under 16" high and plan on getting your feet wet and emptying your boots every time you cross a deeper spot. If you were hunting down here in the south zone the sooner you resign yourself to getting soaked up to your coconuts, the happier you'll be with the hunting. This. Too many get caught up with trying to stay dry and it ends up 10x more uncomfortable for them. Put on some sneakers and shorts and just accept the idea that you will be wet. Once you get to the stand you dry out pretty quick |
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grizzl
Junior Member
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Post by grizzl on Jul 3, 2024 8:16:50 GMT -5
When does it normally dry out, in the fall? I was down there yesterday, July 1st and all the trails are underwater and I didn’t have any big rubber boots with me. I won’t make that mistake again but wasn’t expecting a swamp out there. I hope it’s not so wet during the hunts. What footwear do those who hunt it recommend, do I need full hip waders or just knee high boots.
We just had allot of recent rainfall (within days). Toso drains SLOW..the gauge is at 2ft. Give it a couple days and it will be passable. BUT it doesn't dry out..look at the historical gauge (especially for Oct 2023) and you can see how bad it can get. Last year they CLOSED allot of TOSO because of flooding.
Normally I wear 16" snake boots (please don't go killing snakes out there). If water is high I duct tape the top of my boots to "limit water". Also, I carry a 10ft bamboo pole with it marked at my boots maximum height. You can probe to find the best path to take. I do just fine with 16" boots...just look for natural rises and cross on high ground..often that means going off the fire breaks walking parallel. The breaks get rutted deeper by work crews...
Also..get a bug suit and thermocell. The mosquitos are bad..especially on a stand
Like I said...hard hunting
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Post by swampdog on Jul 3, 2024 8:33:07 GMT -5
One of my last season turkey hunting forays with a buddy, we got off the path well before daylight, and were in a cypress pond/swamp up to our waist. I had my wallet and cell phone in my shirt button up pockets. When we got to the “hill” he had to poor water out of his boots. I just opened my stool and set down. Pair of leather boots that let water in and out. I walked them dry enough they never bothered me and changed socks at noon.
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Post by meateater on Jul 3, 2024 9:43:33 GMT -5
merrell moabs,,,,,,,,,,,,,, put over 1000 miles on a pair years ago , all sand and dry ground. today i wear them all deer season and they are wet then dry over 30 x and still comfortable and in good shape. ive given up on rubber boots since i put in miles and miles somedays and always get wet over my knees. pair i got now going on 3rd season and i hunt a lot. snakes and water be damned i wanna be comfortable.
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Post by swampdog on Jul 3, 2024 12:02:39 GMT -5
Good point meat and OMG. I also use a staff when I’m wade duck hunting, or scouting, as the staff aids with boot sucking muck and balance. Have you noticed if you have boots of a certain height, the water is always at minimum 1” above your boots?
Brand I use a lot is Bates. It’s tough has a good sole and is comfortable and water proof to about 6”. It has a side zipper and a laces. I use the zipper just for ease of putting them on and slipping them off. Once you step over the top, just enjoy the refreshing feeling and keep on going. I think my pair five years ago, was a touch north of a hundred bucks.
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Post by One Man Gang on Jul 3, 2024 12:21:31 GMT -5
merrell moabs,,,,,,,,,,,,,, put over 1000 miles on a pair years ago , all sand and dry ground. today i wear them all deer season and they are wet then dry over 30 x and still comfortable and in good shape. ive given up on rubber boots since i put in miles and miles somedays and always get wet over my knees. pair i got now going on 3rd season and i hunt a lot. snakes and water be damned i wanna be comfortable. This is EXACTLY my line of thinking as well. I have 2 pair of Moabs that I use. I had a pair of goretex Solomons that I used for years but the sole finally started to peel away. They worked good up to that point. The Moabs have held up considerably better at a much better price point. I agree with Meat. Dam the snakes and the water. I want comfort. |
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Post by Crkr 23 on Jul 3, 2024 12:29:24 GMT -5
I remember my uncle hunting the glades in high top canvas basketball shoes. Some places it ain't a matter of if your feet are going to get wet, just when.
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Post by tampaspicer on Jul 3, 2024 12:42:38 GMT -5
If it wasn't cold I always wore an old pair of tennis shoes for wandering around the swamps. Sometimes I'd have to cross chest deep water to reach islands in the swamps. That's where all the game goes in the middle of hunting season.
I've jumped quite a few bucks out of cypress stumps in the middle of a creek. Shot at a few but never connected. Last one was huge and we put the dogs on him. That sucker ran all the way up the creek almost to one road and turned around and lost the dogs before crossing another road. Them bucks ain't stupid.
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Post by richm on Jul 3, 2024 15:23:21 GMT -5
We use paddles as walking aids when duck hunting.
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grizzl
Junior Member
Posts: 21
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Post by grizzl on Jul 3, 2024 16:57:57 GMT -5
I had the Rocky Mountain Rubber boots...they weighed a ton and if water got in them they chaffed my heels real bad. I just bought a pair of Twisted X Men's 17" Viperguard Snake Boots - Slip-Resistant and Waterproof Knee-High Hunting Boots . They weight about 1/3 of my previous boots and fit much better. Haven't tried they yet but the weight factor should be major. I prefer snake boots vs tennis shoes just for piece of mind..I bust allot of brush getting to my trees.. |
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Post by TRTerror on Jul 3, 2024 18:33:52 GMT -5
Flats Fishing Wading Boots for me..
I've drilled holes in the sides and light socks.
Feels rather nice on your feet.
I love to walk down the trails and find all the folks with knee boots standing at the edge of the first big holes..just staring at the water.
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