Author Topic: Florida recommendation (Read 2207 times)

BBF · « **on:** July 01, 2009, 09:26:35 AM »

Mrs. BBF and myself have made arrangements to spent most of the 2009/2010 winter in Florida.

Besides a fair amount fishing I am hoping to get a hog hunt into that time. Any recommendations?

This will be a rifle hunt for (non-trophy) game since I intend to turn that hog into food and don't have interest or room in mounting a head. I prefer not to use dogs.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2009, 09:38:28 AM »

The Brady Ranch. http://www.bradyranch.com/

I believe they have the largest herd of axis deer in the nation and also have great hog hunting.

There is another I think in walk in water, FL or some such but for the life of me I can't think of the name of it. It too has a good reputation.

Do a Google search for "hog hunting in florida" and you'll get a whole long list of possibles.

Land_Owner · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2009, 12:20:15 PM »

With the guy next door, and I mean next door, cutting me off by trapping the neighborhood hogs, there is NOTHING for me to offer in Mims at this time or I would invite you.

cocomen69 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2009, 03:33:29 AM »

chappysoutfitters.com in Moorehaven, FL. I was just there last weekend hunting with my 12 year old daughter. Excellent service by the outfitter/guide. Saw lots of game and harvested a great Boar. Couldnt be happier with the place. Jim is great. Oh... and did I mention that they are the MOST reasonable place to hunt with the best quality hogs I've seen for a long time....

BBF · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2009, 07:16:22 AM »

Thank you all for the replies.
GB, that Brady Ranch is a Trophy Hunt for boars and their prices are according

Zeeks · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2009, 03:30:04 PM »

There's alot of places in Fla. L&R High Adventure Outfitter ( advertise $150 Meat & $275 Trophy) Southern Fla, Bear Bridge Ranch in Eustis ( Central FLA) $195 or 2 Hog Special $295
I know theres others but thats the ones I found in Hog Hunter Magazine. I've started to keep a bookmark of about every hunt'n & outfitter I've come across by state. Pat

cocomen69 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 03, 2009, 06:22:06 PM »

Yeah, I've hunted with L&R before... Theyre OK, but want a premium for a "Trophy" hog. The nice thing I liked about Chappy's is that they only charge $50 to hunt, and IF you kill a hog, they charge an additional $100. But thats for ANY hog. The one we killed last weekend was 220 Lbs and had 2" cutters. MANY places would have considered that a "trophy hog"... and want to charge extra. Not at Chappy's.

Zeeks · « **Reply #7 on:** July 06, 2009, 03:41:48 PM »

Chappy's do you have any info or location of this place?

Dee · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2009, 04:10:40 PM »

Quote from: Land_Owner on July 02, 2009, 12:20:15 PM

With the guy next door, and I mean next door, cutting me off by trapping the neighborhood hogs, there is NOTHING for me to offer in Mims at this time or I would invite you.

So he was trapping them huh? I remember the conversation you and I had on another tread concerning this. He must be selling to a canned hunt outfit. Have you baited any trying to draw them over? I don't remember.

cocomen69 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2009, 05:32:47 AM »

Quote from: Zeeks on July 06, 2009, 03:41:48 PM

Chappy's do you have any info or location of this place?

Here is the website, Bro...

www.chappysoutfitters.com They are in Moorehaven, near Lake Okeechobee. Their website has some good pics of the kills they produce there, and their pricing. BTW, I am not affiliated with them, just a satisfied customer.

Land_Owner · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2009, 06:59:12 AM »

Quote from: Dee

So he was trapping them huh? I remember the conversation you and I had on another tread concerning this. He must be selling to a canned hunt outfit. Have you baited any trying to draw them over? I don't remember.

Dee,

I can only suspect the total absense of hogs on my 20 acres and the presence of 20+ hogs in his pens, is his trapping them. I used to maintain a 24/7/365 corn feeder, but when it started to only feed the squirrels and coons I knew something was afoot. He is selling live hogs as food. He does not process or butcher. Whether he is selling live hogs for canned hunts is another matter and one n which I have no knowledge. The presence of hogs throughout Florida, especially surrounding the St. Johns River flood basin, is HUGE!

swordfish · « **Reply #11 on:** July 14, 2009, 05:38:59 AM »

I highly recommend Hog Heaven Ranch. Bob and Diana are great people and have an outstanding setup for the best prices I've seen. They have a "Summer Special" for meat hogs going on right now. You will get a hog if you hunt there. No dog hunts.
Call them or E-mail them. Here is a link to their website. http://www.hogheavenpreserve.com/about.html
They don't have the hidden extra pricing that I've seen at most other places. Be sure before you book with any of the outfits that you ask exactlly what their prices are. The most common scam is the say hog hunt for $125 but then add on the price shooting hog on top of that.
Hog Heaven will dress your hog 1/4 it or leave it whole, what ever you want, and ice it down in the cooler you bring. They supply all the ice you need, even for your beer coolers, NO EXTRA CHARGE.
They have plenty of "meat hogs" and trophy hogs. Tell them what you want and the guides will put you on them. A guide will assist you or just set you on you spot, what ever you want. No extra charges. They are straight up with prices of meat -v- trophy hogs and will guide for you if your not sure what you should be shooting at. If you don't have your rifle with you, Bob has plenty for you to use, no charge. I'm telling you they are frickin' great people to hunt with.
Tell them Elvis says hi. (inside joke that they will get a kick out of) They know me well. I'm a swordfish guide and lure designer here in South FL. and go hog hunting as much as possible. I've taken groups of 12 hunters there and also as few as 2. They will take good care of you.
Swordfish

BTW, I am not affiliated with them, just a satisfied customer.

BRL · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2009, 09:15:08 AM »

Okay, all this talk about hog hunting...let's go! My freezer is out of sausages.

I've been to Brandy Ranch and would definitely go again. They always have "meat hog" specials. You might have to call and ask. I took an axis deer (management hunt for a lesser quality deer = $350) several years ago and they let me take a hog for free, even skinned it for me at no charge.

Also hunted Ross Hammock Ranch. Nice lodge, good food, so so guide. He put me on a stand near a feeder that was empty. Didn't see 1 animal that evening, not even an exotic. The next morning he put me in a different stand where I shot 2 hogs about 10 minutes apart. Then, waited 7 hours to go pick up my hogs in the field. A little long for what I told him was going to be for meat, I thought. Then my guide shipped my meat to me after butchering it...received 25 pounds of meat. I emailed the owner, who apologized and talked to the guide and emailed me back saying that that's all the edible meat he could get from both hogs (a 190# hog and a 70# hog). The owner told me he would let me take a hog for free on the next hunt I booked. I'd consider trying there again if that guide isn't there. They had a lot of exotics and their stands were big box stands which were comfortable.

BRL · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2009, 09:18:35 AM »

...and Dixie Sportsman's. This was a day hunt. Didn't see lodge and brought my own food. But, saw a lot of hogs and took one after about 3 hours of walking. Fun day and would do it again.

Brian

bow777 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 15, 2009, 11:42:58 AM »

BBF:

After going to most places mentioned here, all I can say is call and ask questions before you go. Be very specific as to HOW you want to hunt your hog, if not you will soon find yourself and the Mrs on a real quick Buggy ride looking down at some hogs with immediate pressure to shoot. Another outfitter which has been mentioned here, you will find yourself and the Mrs & A Guide right next to you on stand telling you what hog to shoot and not to shoot.

To mention a few that I would rate real good are:
Sunshine Outfitter- Buck or Froggy in Stewart, Florida
Rockin W Ranch - Dennis Cruze in Wauchula, Florida
Chappy's - Lakeport Florida - Has a NEW owner named "Jim"

IOW do your homework!

BRL · « **Reply #15 on:** July 15, 2009, 12:12:20 PM »

Agreed! No matter who you talk to, call all the outfitters you are considering and ask them all the same questions. Then, determine which you feel the best about. Good luck.

Swampman · « **Reply #16 on:** July 15, 2009, 12:51:09 PM »

Using dogs is great fun. Don't bother to come to the western panhandle. There aren't enough to bother with.

SwampThing762 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 15, 2009, 04:18:56 PM »

Hunted at Bear Bridge Ranch with my brother-in-law, 2 of my 3 nephews, and several friends of the family. Plenty of hogs to choose from there. You hunt from a stand in a clearing. The guide, Scott, puts you in the stand and then brings the feeder out to spread corn in the clearing. After that, you have your choice of any hogs in the clearing to shoot or not shoot. For a fenced preserve hunt, I found it to be very enjoyable. the bunkhouse was very comfortable as well.

Something else I mention. The ranch generally only books one party at a time. I recommend it, and I plan on going back there this year.

ST762

BBF · « **Reply #18 on:** July 16, 2009, 07:35:34 AM »

Thank you All, I have time ( at least 3 months) to check and talk.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #19 on:** October 11, 2009, 03:47:30 PM »

BBF, this is not about hog hunting, but you mentioned you are going to Fla. this winter.

Great. I usually spend some time in Az. but the last few years the quail hunting sucks. So I gave some thought to Fla. Have a 23 ' trailer. My girlfriend and I are not interested so much in the sunny swimming beaches, but one we could fish and hike. What if I may as are you planning??? My dentist, now retired, rents a condo in Key West I think, but it is like 4000 / mth?

?Wish I had been a dentist

Not really. Have considered staying inland and just traveling to the beach to fish and hike. Thanks.....