OSCEOLA TURKEY HUNTING-South Florida Wild Osceola Turkey Hunts

EVERGLADES ADVENTURES has been in operation since 1989. The owner, Captain Mark Clemons has been professionally guiding since 1986, and is a native of South Florida. We operate on several privately owned properties in Hendry County. The properties in total consist of over 20,000 acres.  

These properties are cattle, citrus, sugar cane and farming operations which consist of improved pastures, oak hammocks, swamps, water retention areas and cypress strands.

We have a good population of Osceola turkeys, which consists of several different family flocks. We feel that we have prime turkey habitat, which is well managed, a very healthy turkey population and a relaxing environment for you to enjoy.  

In the past 23 years, we have been fortunate enough to take several hundred clients (sometimes as many as 35 in one season) on Osceola Turkey hunts. In the past several spring seasons we have hunted turkeys (7) seven days a week from before daylight to after dark for (5) five weeks strait with no breaks. This has become too much for us to continue. 

Starting this season (Spring 2008), we are reducing the number of turkey hunters we take each season to no more than (10) ten. We will only hunting turkeys (3) three days a week with no more than two hunters at a time. We will  be hunting alligators and wild boar on the remaining (4) days of the week. Due to this there will only be (5) weekends which to hunt. We will only be taking 5 reservations for two people each weekend. 

Also, I will be guiding all of the hunts myself without the use of any additional guides. This will allow me to know exactly what takes place on the property as far as where turkeys have been harvested and where hunters have previously been placed or have called from.

We feel this will improve the turkey hunting experience for our clients by reducing the stress on the property and the birds by giving them a (4) four day break between hunts. This change should also result in a near 100%(one hundred percent) success rate for our clients.

We will also begin to offer a limited number of Fall Turkey hunts during mid November thru Early January. These hunts will only be conducted during the weekdays as not to interfere with our Duck and Dove hunts on the weekends.

SPECIES OF TURKEY We feature the beautiful WILD Florida subspecies Meleagris gallopavo osceola turkeys which are native only to SOUTHERN and South CENTRAL Florida.

SEASON Spring hunts beginning on the first Saturday in March and ending the first week in April.

RATES   $3750.00 per-two person, three days and two nights, two on one with guide.

LODGING We have comfortable, modern air-conditioned lodging on site for our guests.

MEALS  Hearty home cooked meals are included in the hunt package.

RESERVATIONS Our season is very short, only five weeks; therefore it is important to book your hunt as early as possible to reserve the dates of your choice. As soon as the state of Florida sets the dates, we begin taking deposits and making reservations.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE We require a 50% (fifty-percent) deposit to confirm your reservation. The remaining balance is to be paid by February 1, 2008. Payments can be made by cash, personal or business check, traveler’s check, cashiers check or money order. Checks should be made payable to EVERGLADES ADVENTURES. The deposit and final payment are non-refundable, but are transferable within the current season as scheduling permits. Thirty (30) day advance notice of cancellation is required.

PRESERVE TYPE HUNT We do not hunt over bait, behind fences or release birds prior to the hunt. This is NOT a preserve hunt utilizing pen raised or stocked birds. We only offer pure (WILD) Meleagris gallopavo Osceola.

GUIDED VS NON-GUIDED We offer fully-guided hunts. Guided hunts are semi-guided hunts, two persons with one guide.  We assist many hunters each year in their Grand, Royal or World Slams with our specialty in harvesting only customer selected trophy gobblers.

BIRDS We limit the number of adult trophy gobblers harvested to one per-person, per-season. However, in certain circumstances we allow the harvest of a second bird for a trophy fee of $750.00. We allow the harvest of adult trophy gobblers only, but will make an exception for young first time hunters. We only harvest adult trophy gobblers with beards of eight inches or greater. 

HUNTING LICENSES Complete information concerning requirements of licensing, costs of licenses and purchasing licenses (on-line or by phone with credit card) please click on the following link:    LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

HUNTING HOURS Florida has changed the legal shooting hours on private lands to allow for all day hunting from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

HUNTERS IN CAMP We like to be on a very personal level with our clients. For this reason our hunts are limited to no more than two (2) hunters at a time. 

PRE-TRIP PHYSICAL CONDITIONING We suggest that all of our clients be in good physical condition. You should do some pre-season conditioning such as walking a few miles each day. The only physical requirement for this hunt is walking.

PRIVATE LAND OR PUBLIC We will be hunting only on private lands. We have several thousand acres of managed, prime turkey hunting habitat leased for use in our turkey hunts.

EQUIPMENT You will need a cooler for transporting your bird’s home if you are planning to use your taxidermist. A small pair of binoculars, small flashlight, as well as any calls, seat cushion, or any other personal hunting equipment that you may require. We also would suggest you bring a still or video camera with extra film for the very excellent scenery. The last several seasons clients have witnessed Florida panthers during their hunts.

FIREARMS We suggest the use of only twelve gauge or larger shotguns and using a three-inch or longer, high brass magnum load of twos, fours or sixes or perhaps a duplex two and four. All shotguns’ pattern differently so please pattern your shotgun subsequent to your hunt with the loads that you will be using. Most of our shots are in the twenty to thirty yard ranges with a maximum shooting range of forty yards. You should use camouflage tape on your firearm and not a camouflage socks, as they tend to obstruct your sights. Also, you will need some form of soft case for your gun for transporting it on our vehicles.

APPAREL For this hunt you will need full camouflage clothing in a dark green pattern. You might require waterproof hiking boots, preferably knee-high as it is very possible we could get into some water. Your clothing should consist of long sleeve shirts and pants, facemask, gloves, and a hat. Also you may require some form of camouflage rain gear. You should bring a couple of different camouflage jackets one light and one heavy as the temperature varies from the low thirties to the upper seventies. It is much colder in South Florida with the high humidity than up in the northern states.

NON-HUNTING GUESTS We currently do not allow non-hunting guests along on the hunt, but there are great motels in Naples area or the Ft. Lauderdale area with excellent beaches, fine dining, and plenty of sights to be taken in by your guests while you are in search of your long beard.

SUCCESS RATES We generally achieve a 75-85% success rate on our three-day hunt. Our harvest rates are determined by the percentage of successful hunter’s Vs non-successful hunter's per-season.

TAXIDERMIST We have several that we recommend and can handle the complete process including handling the mount and the paperwork. We can arrange to ship your turkey to your taxidermist if you prefer which a whole frozen turkey next-day air to most southern states runs around $150.00.

NEAREST AIRPORT The Southwest Florida International Airport located in Fort Myers or the Ft Lauderdale Airport are the closest and the most convenient. These airports are located approximately one and a half-hours from where you will be hunting.

RENTAL CAR If you are flying into this area for the hunt we recommend that you acquire a rental car, which are available at the airport.

BEST TIME OF SEASON Most clients consider hunting pressure. Hunting pressure is not a great factor to consider with us as we have such a large area to operate. However, there are many variables other than hunting pressure to consider. Weather is the most important factor to consider when hunting turkeys. Rainfall, length and severity of our winter season, especially late season cold fronts have a determining factor in the time of season in which the turkeys decide to begin mating. If they have started, a severe cold front will shut them down for several days. Also there are two peaks in the gobbling activity, the first one which is the mating peak when the hens are most receptive and another after the hens have started setting on their nests. All of the dates in which this occurs change from year to year and remains a mystery to us until after the season has already started and we are completely booked.

TURKEY HUNTING IN FLORIDA

If you are considering coming to Florida in pursuit of an Osceola Turkey, the following should be considered prior to arranging a hunt.

BIRDS. If you are coming to Florida to hunt real wild Osceola turkeys, be sure that the hunting service offers them. Make sure they are wild turkeys, not turkeys purchased at a game farm and placed into an area just prior to the hunt. (Yes, this is a common occurrence.) Research how to tell the difference between an Eastern, Rio Grande, Bronze and an Osceola. Farm turkeys have shorter legs and the feathers are ruffled and broken as they have been caged. The feathers on a wild bird should be in excellent condition. The only damage on the birds should be the ends of the primary wing feathers due to strutting. I am not currently aware of Osceola’s being available for sale anywhere. However, Eastern, Rio Grand, and several crosses of these are readily available to the public for use in hunting preserves.

Operators should have some idea of their turkey population. This can be by turkeys per acre or just the total number of turkeys that they expect to be harvested during the upcoming season. Harvest records for the previous season will give you a good idea of what is currently taking place on the property. There should have some form of active wildlife management program. If they are harvesting birds they need to be doing prescribed burning, mowing and some form of supplemental feeding. Some operations only allow the harvest of trophy birds while others allow the harvest of any gobbler including jakes.

PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC LANDS. Some operators offer hunts on public lands at a reduced cost to you and some without the reduced rate. If they explain you will be hunting a combination of public and private, be sure to find out how much public and how much private. You should have enough land available to you on your hunt to work several birds if necessary. Florida is not like other states in this respect. In my opinion you need a minimum of 800 to 1000 acres available to each hunter in your party. Your operator should have enough land available to you so that you are not hunting any of the land being hunted by others in your party or other parties for that matter. Some operators still only allow morning hunts. If you are hunting on public lands you are only allowed morning hunts. The Florida regulations allow for all day hunting on private lands.

GUIDES. Turkey hunting, especially Osceola turkey hunting in Florida, in my opinion, you need an experienced guide. If you are coming in from out of state for instance , it is impossible for you to pattern the birds in the area in which you will be hunting. You have the topography of the area to consider, the areas where the birds are roosting, and the areas that they are traveling and at what time of day all of this occurs. You need to know where they are loafing, feeding, and most of all strutting. You have to know where to set-up for your hunt as well as your approach to the set-up to consider. If you are looking for a trophy bird, this needs to be completely scouted out prior to your arrival. There are just too many variables on a turkey hunt to come to Florida and try it without a knowledgeable guide.

REFERENCES. Make sure you ask for references. Any legitimate operator will gladly supply references on request. Ask for references, which have hunted with the operation more than once. Operations that have repeat customers are a good indication of a quality operation.

SUCCESS RATES. Success rates and how they are determined can be very tricky. You need to understand how each individual operator determines them. Just like our 1999-success rate was 15 hunters, 15 birds, however, we didn’t achieve 100% success as one hunter went home without a bird and one hunter harvested two. Success rates should be based on successful hunters vs. non-successful hunters. Anything above 50% is a good rate if they are hunting fair chase and are being truthful about the rate. You have to remember that you are (with some operators) hunting wild birds in their environment and Osceola turkeys are the most difficult of all the sub-species to harvest. They are also considered to be the toughest North American game. So you take all this into consideration and you see why a lot of hunters go several seasons (hunting on their own or with other services) before harvesting their first bird, much less a trophy.

BAIT. Hunting over bait in Florida is illegal (except on Indian reservations). Regardless, it is not ethical in my opinion. Hunting turkeys over bait is like hunting chickens in a hen house. It takes away from the experience and is definitely not fair chase. It seems ridiculous to come to Florida to hunt over a pile of corn. It is not necessary if your guide is experienced and you have prime habitat with a good population of turkeys.

LODGING. Lodging is up to the client. You should ask for a description of the lodge or camp. You might even ask for pictures of the inside. Just be sure you are satisfied with what they offer for the money. Florida offers everything from large extravagant lodges to tents in the bush.

TAXIDERMY. The operation you choose should have a taxidermist available that handles lots of BIRDS. If at all possible ask for his name prior to the hunt and call and talk to him personally. If he is a legitimate taxidermist he should be able to answer any of your questions. This service should be included in the hunt. If not it should at least be available to you. If you are going to mount the bird the taxidermist doing the mount should skin it out. This will save future conflicts concerning the mount.

HUNTING OPERATORS. Please be careful in the selection of the hunting operation you choose. Each season we hear terrible stories from our clients about their previous experiences with other operators from everything from being arrested for trespassing to being arrested for hunting over bait. Last season we were approached during season by hunters who had paid $7200.00 for four (4) hunters to hunt opening weekend with an operator which didn't exist. They found him on the internet. There are several legitimate operators in Florida. However, there are many more operators that are not. Remember to ask lots of questions, talk to the references they supply, get as much information as you can. Remember, research, research, research. There is a lot of false advertising from operations in Florida due to the demand for Osceola's. Websites which provide little or no information concerning their operation must make you ask yourself why? Don't trust what the operator tells you. Check operations out through other means. Contact the state game commission. Here is the link to there website: http://MYFWC.COM. contact the turkey biologist in the region you wish to hunt. Remember, don't believe everything you hear or read. Especially on websites.

Take a tour of just some of our more photogenic successful clients. 

Turkey photos

We hope you will consider us in your great quest for an Osceola long beard.

Sincerely,

Captain Mark Clemons 

Thank you for your interest in EVERGLADES ADVENTURES