Steve Addison : Good Season so Far

Good Season so Far

Florida Sportsman member: Flredbones

So far have had a pretty good season, can’t kill anything with hooves and fur but thankfully the wing hunts have been different. Our first hunt was almost TV perfect with three of us.

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Solo Hunt Success

Florida Sportsman member: micci_man

Five minutes later I get home and before I pulled in the drive the front door was opening. She was ready to look for her deer. We go to the plot and she shows me where he exited the plot. We take up the blood trail that she showed me and 45 yards later we found her deer.

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Ga Bucks

Florida Sportsman member: etohprn

The deer were moving good two weeks ago and then started to shut down again. They were coming out during the daylight following does and the switched right back to coming out just before dark.

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Central Florida Eight

Florida Sportsman member: ROGERSANCHEZ

I killed this buck on my lease in Hillsborough County yesterday. He was chasing a doe throughout the swamp I was hunting. A few grunt calls got his attention for a second and I dropped him with my 20 gauge slug gun.

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WMA Ten

Florida Sportsman member: tarpontamer2007

While I’m scanning all the open areas 100 to 200 yards out I catch movement. The buck is at 40 yards and I have no clue where he came from. I instantly noticed he is a shooter and focus on the shot. He is quartering too me so I take to shot right through the front shoulder. buck runs off 40 yards and piles up.

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A Great Season

Florida Sportsman member: Catalina26

Neither me or the wife were able to pull permits but i did have some very lucky family and friends. With a total of 5 permits all for the same area i really had my work cut out for me.

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Idaho Mulees

Florida Sportsman member: shallowexpectations

A lot of hunters joined us on the first two days of a 7 day hunt. On day 4 though I was able to place my dad in front of a quality 3 point with great mass.

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Making Memories

Florida Sportsman member: bottomtime

I said a little prayer that he might be rewarded with a deer sighting for being so patient. About 2 minutes later, I looked to our left and saw a deer headed our way. Turned out to be a little (165 pound) six point buck. I whispered for him to sit very still and he whispered back,”are you going to shoot it?” I whispered, “do you want me to?” He said yes and I made thunder again.

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First Buck

Florida Sportsman member: publiclandhunter12

My buddy could not make with me on Sunday so I went solo. With the wind blowing perfect, and conditions to be perfect I went for it. I set up on the edge of the swamp in my climber, as soon as the sun came up the monster stood up at 100 yards!

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Bear Hunt Success

Florida Sportsman member: Mackokid

As we hit the first side trail we heard what sounded like something falling out of a tree? We stopped and listened to see which direction it came from. After a minute or so we saw some movement roughly 30 yards off the trails into the brush and it was headed our way!

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The Best Birthday Present

Florida Sportsman member: floridacrackr

My two boys, who are 3 and 4 were extremely upset because I couldn’t take them and I promised them i would take them before the season was over. Well, my 3 yr old didn’t let me forget about that promise. He told me that’s all he wanted for his birthday was to go alligator hunting. Since I work 3 Saturdays a month this past weekend was going to be our best opportunity.

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Dream Hunt

Florida Sportsman member: maq attaq

We spent all of the next two days searching high and low for Danny’s bull. We rode 40 to 50 miles each day on the four wheelers all over the mountain to no avail. Finally,on the last morning, at first light, the stars aligned and Danny had a bull moose dead in his sights at 115 yards. He took it down with one shot from his .308.

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First of Many

Florida Sportsman member: down4dacount

Forum member down4dacount‘s son recently took his first buck. As you can tell from the picture, it was big smiles all around! Nice work!

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Great Start to the Season

Florida Sportsman member: dilligaf84

Forum member dilligaf84 has recently taken two nice bucks on private land. He was able to harvest these animals with a rifle thanks to FWC’s weapon of choice program. Nice work!

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Finishing Strong

Florida Sportsman member: grennie-slayer

He went down and right next to where he went down a big gator popped up. I wasn’t gonna miss twice in a row and snagged him. Two hours later we got him to the boat. He wouldn’t give up and managed to bend my spear when the tape wouldn’t break.

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Great Start to the Season

Florida Sportsman member: tarpontamer2007

About 150 yards out I see movement and it is a buck jumping through the grass straight at me. The deer eventually gets to 30 yards and I make a perfect shot on him. He makes it about 150 yards and piles up, perfectly symmetrical 10 point.

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Lake Okeechobee Lizards

Florida Sportsman member: bobert421

With one night left before I had to return to work and my dad had to fly home we decided to call in pro and went with a guide. We called up Alligator Inc. and they had Phil and his wife Tammy available to take us out. Phil did a great job and we ended putting a pair of nice size gators on the boat filling our tags before dark.

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Glades Buck

Florida Sportsman member: hooksetter

Forum member hooksetter took this good buck out in the Glades, opening weekend of season. The arrow connected at 45 yards, to have the deer down only 70 yards away. Nice work!

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Father and Son Hunt

Florida Sportsman member: bgeorge

Took my son out to fill his tags. Rain made it tough to hunt daylight last night, so we left the water and went back this morning. Two done by 8:30. Much easier to sort through them in the daylight. 10′ 5″ and 8′ 3″.

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Filling the Tags

Florida Sportsman member: bgeorge

Put the boat up on plane and made a run at him. Visually marked him with a wind shear line on the water and he went down with 150 yards to go. Shut the boat down as we got close and with a few casts from the crew we had him on the 12/0. Worked him for a little while and got another rod on him. My dad who is 72 shot him with our double trouble dart mounted to the spear gun.

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The Girls Bag a Good One

Florida Sportsman member: trg03

The treble quickly sank and was stuck in the mud so I passed off the rod and grabbed another. After three more failed attempts with the second rod, the passed off rod started peeling off drag and our 5’2″ 90 pound permit holder was fighting a 10’9″ 270 pound dinosaur.

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An Adventure to Canada

Florida Sportsman member: Big Bend Brian

After a bit it stands and turns to sniff Kaitlyn’s bolt in the ground and gives me a broadside shot. The shot looks good and about ten seconds later and real close, it gives a death moan, followed by 2 others.

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Chasing Trophies

Florida Sportsman member: harbison

Off at a distance we spot three real trophy boars, but they give us absolutely no chance at a shot; they are on the run. Looks like they did not get that big by mistake, they have us patterned. Finally one monster stops and looks back, big, really big, mistake. The Marlin 45-70 put him down.

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Last Day Luck

Florida Sportsman member: omegafoo

He’s quartering away from me and I made up my mind the first clean shot I was going to stop him. He got 30-35 yards, I clucked, he stopped and picked that white noggin’ up high, BOOM!

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Private Land Success

Florida Sportsman member: Mackokid

He was able to get them to about 50 yards when the first one started strutting towards his decoys. Shortly after he had all 6 birds walking pretty towards him. The largest of the group started walking up and he nailed him at 30 yards.

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Ending the Season Right

Florida Sportsman member: floridacrackr

I closed the distance to about 50 yards and the ol Tom had enough, his head turned blue and his posture changed. He puffed up and started walking towards me. I knew it was about to go down! This bird got to about 20 yards and charged me and Butch at full speed ahead. He got to about 2 feet before he realized something wasn’t right and turned away and I let him have it at literally 5 feet!

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First Birds

Florida Sportsman member: duckhunter305

I quickly learned that turkey hunting and duck hunting are a completely different ball game and like most people I struck out my first season. After this duck season my friends and I decided that this season we would put the time in and get our birds.

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Making Memories

Florida Sportsman member: floridacrackr

We only had Saturday morning to get it done as I had church and Easter plans with the in laws. Well, it didn’t take long to get on a couple of gobbling birds and we had one down by 7:30. I can’t even explain the feeling of sharing this moment with my grandfather.

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Central Florida Success

Florida Sportsman member: down4dacount

Had a great week long hunt in central zone with family and friends. Hunted with an old buddy and took his kids out and got them on their first birds . Nothing like getting kids or new hunters on game.

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Spurless Gobbler

Florida Sportsman member: Florida Bullfrog

I was able to help my buddy get his first Florida gobbler this morning. The bird worked in all the way to 70 yards away and then ducked into some planted pines. I told my buddy that the bird was probably going to come out to our left and pop out right in front of us. That’s exactly what he did, but he hugged the line of palmettos the blind was in all the way to the blind’s window.

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Redemption

Florida Sportsman member: hoggator

When they got parallel to us, I ranged them at 65 yards. Every step after that, they were going to get further away. I called again, and they answered, but kept walking. Too far for my son to shoot! Some would argue that maybe too far for me as well! I leaned across my son, rested my elbow on his thigh, told him to cover his ears, and let the Mossberg 835 with 3.5” Longbeard XRs sing.

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Northwest Turkey

Florida Sportsman member: featherfanatic

Set up on a bird that was across a creek. Didn’t figure I could do anything with him and I was right. He flew down the other way. Next think I know 2 birds gobbling behind me. Get turned around and after 4 more gobbles here they are. My hevi-shot connected and my buddy that was with me missed.

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Layin’ em Down

Florida Sportsman member: Ruff One

No hen talk, but I did hear one gobble so I knew he was there. The hens started flying down with 12 finally settled in out in front of my blind. I yelp and he gobbles, so I just knew he was headed my way. I hear the drumming and he’s there, but guess what? He heading out to the hens in the field until he sees “Pretty Boy”. He changes direction and he on his way to the decoy where he runs into a load of number 5′s.

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Youth Turkey Success

Florida Sportsman member: hoggator

At 8am my friend had 8 hens walk by through the ferns on the edge on the cypress. All they could see, were just necks and heads sticking up past the ferns. At 8:10 here comes a second set in the same direction with 7 birds. Except this time, the last bird has some red on his head.

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Hogs in the Offseason

Florida Sportsman member: CaneDiver65

Been able to hunt some good hogs over in Chiefland this offseason. Trying to get these hogs thinned out on our property but it has been tough.

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Turkey Down

Florida Sportsman member: dilligaf84

With a gobble at about 40 yards my son turns around and says nature’s calling and he can’t hold it. When he turned back around the gobbler was 20 yards lined up perfect but caught the movement and took off. Realizing it was probably game over we answered nature’s call and set back up on the same spot. No more than a minute later this jake pitched down right where the previous bird spotted us and saved the day.

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Down South Success

Florida Sportsman member: floridacrackr

Forum member floridacrackr and friends had success with the turkeys opening weekend, going 3 for 3 on birds.

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Youth Gator Hunt Success

Florida Sportsman member: Gone_Fishing

My son took his first Alligator in the a YHPF Youth Hunt Saturday at Dupuis WMA. He lost two 8 footers and then harvested this 6’5″ gator. Those South Florida canals have some bad rock ledges. All 3 kids took gators and the kids did all of the casting and rod work and hit them with the bang stick.

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Wife’s First Pig

Florida Sportsman member: bgeorge

We slipped into the stand and she was enjoying the woods. Little cool and windy but just after six 3 pigs came down the swamp edge and she dropped one in its tracks. It was her first time that she shot at an animal and I think she is hooked.

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Taking Care of the Coyotes

Florida Sportsman member: ROGERSANCHEZ

Killed a female in the morning and a big male in the afternoon. I’ve killed lots of coyotes, but never two in one day!

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Coming Down to the End

Florida Sportsman member: FowlMouth824

We hunted till 11:45, and finished up with 14 birds for 3 hunters. A nice mixed bag with teal, shovelers, ring necks, scaup, and yes, a drake red head for my buddy. The drake was the last bird killed so it was a heck of a way to finish up the day.

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Good Dose of Ducks

Florida Sportsman member: down4dacount

forum member down4dacount shared some photos of some this seasons hunts. Nice!

After being in the stand just about an hour I stand up to stretch real slow and I look behind be and in about a 3 foot gap in to palms I see this buck standing there eating. I didn’t have much time to shoot but I knew he was a shooter so I pulled up the 30-30 and let it do the work.

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Great Ending to the Season

Florida Sportsman member: dolfan450r

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Flintlock Buck

Florida Sportsman member: bgeorge

Had made a quick trip to PA and came back with the Flintlock still loaded. Decided to take it out today and see what I could drum up. This guy came slipping by and stopped just perfect. Pulled the hammer back and squeezed it off. When the smoke cleared he had just dropped in his tracks.

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Persistence Pays

Florida Sportsman member: omegafoo

I saw one shooter on a lease in 2012. Biggest buck I saw was a small spike on public land during the 2013 season. Saw 11 different bucks hunting with a friend at his place in central ga this year, but nothing that met my age requirements. Finally, the day after Christmas one presents me with a shot!

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Weekend of Ducks

Florida Sportsman member: micci_man

Sunday afternoon was a different story. Pretty steady action from the git go. We knocked down 12 but lost 2 that dove and never came back up.

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8 Point Bow Buck

Florida Sportsman member: dolfan450r

I get off the phone with her and I’m texting my hunting partner to tell him, i thought to myself “I need to nock an arrow incase a big one is following her”, not 2 minutes later I see this buck coming down the same trail she was on and he’s at 30 yards. Luckily I just happened to still be in shooting position, I let him get to the 20 yard mark I pre-ranged, stopped him with a mouth grunt and let it fly…whack!

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Boar Down

Florida Sportsman member: Oakley

I started to feel discouraged since I didn’t get a shot off but I kept heading in and next thing I know I was 15 yards from a little boar. Needless to say I pulled the trigger on my old .410 and he instantly dropped.

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Hard to Get Hogs

Florida Sportsman member: Harbison

Suddenly a very respectable gray boar stops an looks back to check on us. He is so far away. Is a humane shot possible at that distance? Our especially equipped cart provides a very stable platform from which to shoot. Let’s try it; Brian agrees! I hold my breath and put the cross hairs just under the monster’s ear. Ever so slowly I gently touch the trigger. Bam! To my amazement the large boar falls.

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On the Retrieve

Florida Sportsman member: eorlando

Forum member eorlando posted some excellent retrieving photos from previous duck hunts. It looks like a good time was had by all, hunter and retriever.

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Doe Down

Florida Sportsman member: Lc-Hunter86

Forum member Lc-Hunter86 wife dropped a nice doe last week. That’s some good eats!

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Ducks for All

Florida Sportsman member: down4dacount

After some coaching he got the hang of it . He had an awesome day . Getting a new shotty and killing a Hen Canvasback . All of us got to kill at least one trophy bird .

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Duck Hunting with the Boys

Florida Sportsman member: ecueagle

I had a great morning hunt Saturday with a friend and our youngins. We ended up taking 1 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 5 GWT, 4 BWT.

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Opening Day

Florida Sportsman member: Cast&Blast

Well that was fun! Had my limit in 20 minutes. Could have had it in 5 but i was being “patient” waiting on something other than teal.

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Last Minute Success

Florida Sportsman member: If_it_flies_it_dies

He’s standing behind some grapevines so I still cant see the headgear real well, but at this point I don’t care. I have a clear shot at his chest and it’s a legal buck on my last hunt. Bad day to be him. I take aim at his chest, take my time and BOOM goes the slug gun.

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Neighborhood Pests

Florida Sportsman member: Big Bend Brian

Five minutes later the one that walked past me appeared right in front of me and I turned the green light on, covering the beam to diminish the light beam, I estimated it was at 20 yards and brought the crossbow up holding the green light under the crossbow. As the illuminated red reticle sight got right behind the hog’s shoulder I opened my hand to make the beam stronger and let er rip.

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Another One Down

Florida Sportsman member: Lc-hunter86

He appeared to have a little better head gear so I told her to hit her grunt call and estrus bleat to see if he will come in…what do ya know? He starts making a beeline for us! He presented me with a perfect 22 yard broadside shot and the rest is history!

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Awesome Youth Deer Hunt

Florida Sportsman member: Big Bend Brian

one girl had deer hunted with her father for 3 years but had yet to get a deer and also Aliyah, who had never hunted before but was so proud of taking her first deer. Of the eleven youth hunters that participated, nine of them got a deer!

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South Georgia Fun

Florida Sportsman member: rrbgtt

Tori’s boyfriend, Dean took out one the cull bucks we have on the “to be disposed of” wall and Toni shot, what she thought was a doe at about 200 yards. It ended up being a button buck, but that happens to the best of us.

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Muzzleloader Buck

Florida Sportsman member: relicshunter

The smoke cleared the opposite way he ran so I saw most of the exit and heard a great big crash. Upon retrieval I found him to be a nice 7 point, 132 pounds, check station estimated him at 3.5 years old.

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Season in Review

Florida Sportsman member: creekgeek

The big buck left a good blood trail and was pretty easy to find even in water but he only went about 15 yards. The two smaller bucks left no blood at all in the first few yards. The first of the smaller ones was also in a swamp and completely covered himself with mud.

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Vacation Buck

Florida Sportsman member: HuntnFL

He finally stopped 200 yards away and I was able to get a shot and put him down. I thought he was just a nice 8 but when I walked up I realized he was a 13 pointer. Needless to say, it made up for my unsuccessful bow hunt.

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A Couple Nice Bucks on a Windy Weekend

Florida Sportsman member: Lc-hunter86

The second morning she managed to whack a very nice 7 point about 45 minutes after daylight. He was very run down, probably from chasing does. Even so he still weighed in at 136 pounds.

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Youngest’s First Deer

Florida Sportsman member: huntmstr

“Emma, get the gun. It’s a buck for sure,” I whispered. I stuck the barrel out the window and Emma laid across my lap as she trained the scope on the deer’s torso.

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A Great Weekend

Florida Sportsman member: Lc-hunter86

He was only able to hunt one day of the permit so we had to make something happen from one evening of scouting and one day of sitting. Well we got it done opening morning!

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Public Land Stud

Florida Sportsman member: FloridaBoy

I let my buddy decide where to hunt the first afternoon and he decided to make a clutch move and try the area one more time and guess what? It worked out!

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New Personal Best

Florida Sportsman member: HookandStick

I took my best bow buck Friday evening. He is a typical 10 point, I believe he’s pretty old as well. At last light he appeared and gave me a 25 yard forward quartering shot.

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Making it Happen

Florida Sportsman member: Git-R-Dunn

I watched the does and Turkey,which were only 20 yards away,and I just happened to look to my left. Here comes a nice 8 point. I wake up quickly,as I was running on 4 hours of sleep.

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Big Eight Down

Florida Sportsman member: dilligaf84

This buck had been cruising roughly 700 acres based on trail pics so it was anyone’s guess where he would show up. He came in checking for does at last light. Haven’t put a tape on him yet but looks like he may break 100 inches.

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Buck in the Swamp

Florida Sportsman member: away

Around 6:15 I hear what sounds like a deer creeping through the water and can barely make out feet in the distance before he makes a turn and starts angling toward me. Stopped him at about 28 yards quartering to me. Passed right through and he piled up 30 yards away.

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Buck Down

Florida Sportsman member: roachbuster

With the woods being wet from rain overnight this deer snuck up on me, looked over and he was 15 yards away. when he got behind a tree I stood up pulled back and shot him. I hit him perfect but arrow didn’t come out other shoulder.

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Filling the Freezer

Florida Sportsman member: rrbgtt

I dropped her off and turned the tractor around headed back to the clubhouse. Before I made it back, she called and said to turn around. She had shot a doe. She said they came out into the plot just as the tractor pulled away. This time one made the mistake of getting within range.

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Quick Kill

Florida Sportsman member: jhandyman

We launched the boat and had a gator on the line in 5 minutes. 30 minutes later, the boats back on the trailer and we’re headed home. 7’5″ and about 2 inches missing from the tail.

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Central Florida Nine Point

Florida Sportsman member: Gone_Fishing

Took this 9 pt Wednesday morning at 7:20am following a doe. No official weight, estimated at 135 to 140 pounds. 47 yard shot with a 100 grain RamCat. This buck didn’t have much width but he had some nice mass and interesting character to the rack.

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Bucks and Bacon

Florida Sportsman member: jnicholson1437