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Hunters show off their haul from a pheasant hunt at Roberts Ranch in Palatka. -
Zeus is the resident pheasant retriever at Roberts Ranch in Palatka.
Putnam County is filled with hunting opportunities whether it is bird, reptile, deer or hog.
Caravelle Ranch Wildlife Management Area has more than 24,800 acres of open area, hardwoods, and palmetto flatwoods for ample turkey hunting. Turkey season is from September to March. Deer, hog, migratory bird and small game hunting is fair to good, according to the Florida Wildlife and Fish Commission. There are also four 50-acre dove fields.
Trails are closed during hunting season. Caravelle is located at 7986 National Forest Road, 11 miles south of Palatka.
Dunns Creek Conservation Area is off Tram Road, where U.S. 17 and State Road 100 intersect in San Mateo. It has various game, including white-tailed deer, hog, turkey and waterfowl. The spring turkey season is April 2-4 and April 16-18, while the general gun season is in December.
Private hunts from God’s Country Outfitters in San Mateo, 7 C’s in Crescent City and Roberts Ranch provide hunts for hog, turkey, deer and gator.
Roberts Ranch owner and manager Joe Roberts said pheasant hunting is especially popular in the area. On weekends from November to March, about 40 shooters line up for 400 pheasants released at the ranch. The pheasant events bring in out-of-county dollars, he said.
“It’s an outdoors-type atmosphere you’re not able to get in a big city,” Roberts said.
“We draw a lot of people from Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach. It’s a chance to get away and to get in the woods.”
Pheasant hunting is less expensive than a deer hunt and hunters get to fire a considerable amount of ammunition.
“You end up going through five or six boxes of shells,” Roberts said. “You get to sharpen your skills.”
Following state guidelines, migratory birds such as mourning and white-winged doves, ducks, geese, woodcock and crows must be hunted during the seasons when they are listed as legal to hunt. A no-cost migratory bird permit is available when purchasing a hunting license.
The Georgia-Pacific Wildlife Management Area, west of Palatka on S.R. 100, contains more than 3,600 acres of creek bottom hardwoods and pine palmetto flatwoods. It is known for small game and turkey hunting, although deer, wild hog, and migratory bird hunting is adequate. The wildlife management areas do not allow dogs or all-terrain vehicles.
Hikers and kayakers are frequent patrons of Etoniah Creek State Forest, located off S.R. 100 on Holloway Road in Florahome. The 7,145-acre site boasts sizable deer, squirrel and turkey hunting populations, while hog, migratory bird, and small game hunting is fair.
The state expects hunters to have acceptable licenses, permits and stamps. Those exempt from all license and permit requirements are:
-Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older;
-Residents who possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate;
-Residents in the U.S. Armed Forces not stationed in Florida while home on leave for 30 days or less, and
-Children under 16 years of age are exempt from all license and permit requirements.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 and 16 years of age or older must pass a Florida Wildlife and Fish Commission-approved hunter safety course prior to receiving a hunting license. However, a hunter safety mentoring exemption allows anyone to purchase a hunting license and hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter 21 years of age or older.
Call 888-486-8356 to receive a temporary hunting license and a permanent hunting license will be mailed within 48 hours.
Season dates, quotas and criteria vary by area for archery, crossbow, muzzle loading gun and general gun seasons for hundreds of different animals. More information is available at myfwc.com/hunting/season-dates