Where can I hunt Osceola turkey in Florida?
For the Osceola turkey, there’s one more key habitat—the swamp. Cypress, pine, or oak roosts, as well as palmetto flats, are some of the Osceola’s choice habitats.
What counties in Florida have Osceola turkeys?
Where to Find Osceola Turkey. The National Wild Turkey Federation and the FWC recognize, in their respective turkey registry programs, any wild turkey harvested within or south of the counties of Dixie, Gilchrist, Alachua, Union, Bradford, Clay and Duval, to be an Osceola subspecies.
What dates is turkey season in Florida?
2021 Spring Turkey Season Dates Spring turkey season south of State Road 70 opens March 6 and runs through April 11 on lands outside of the wildlife management area system. North of State Road 70, the season opens March 20 and runs through April 25.
Are Osceola turkey tags Limited?
Hunters must have a quota permit to hunt the first weekend, but there are 200 no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of season. Camping allowed only by special permit from the FWC.
Do Osceola turkeys gobble?
Although the Osceola usually will gobble good from the roost, once that bird hits the ground, if he gobbles even two more times, you’re extremely lucky.
Where is the best place to turkey hunt in Florida?
Want to go big? Richloam WMA is one of seven expansive land tracts in Withlacoochee State Forest. The Richloam tract, over 58,000 acres all told, sits in Hernando, Pasco, Sumter, and Lake counties. It’s classic Florida turkey habitat, with bottomland hardwoods, cypress swamps, and oak hammocks.
What’s the difference between Eastern and Osceola turkeys?
In general, Osceola turkeys— named for the famous Seminole leader Osceola—are smaller and a bit darker than eastern turkeys, and have less white barring on the flight feathers of their wings. If you see one walking around, the wing patch will look pretty white on an eastern, whereas on an Osceola it’s darker.
Is there a wild turkey season in Florida?
Season Dates Spring turkey season south of State Road 70 opens March 6 and runs through April 11 on lands outside of the WMA system. North of State Road 70, the season opens March 20 and runs through April 25.
Can you turkey hunt with a rifle in Florida?
General gun season — Centerfire rifles, shotguns, centerfire pistols, muzzleloaders, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, crossbows and bows may be used. 2 Fall and spring turkey seasons – Shotguns, rifles, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, pistols, muzzleloaders, crossbows or bows may be used.
How can you tell the difference between Eastern and Osceola turkeys?
Osceola – The Osceola (or Florida) turkey has the narrowest range, occurring only in central and south Florida. They closely resemble Easterns except they tend to be leaner with longer legs, and their primary wing feathers have heavy black barring, as opposed to Eastern where the black-white barring is more even.
How big are Osceola turkeys?
Description and life history of the Osceola wild turkey Males usually weigh between 15 to 20 pounds and females 8 to 12 pounds on average (NWTF 2018). Males have iridescent green and red hues on their feathers (not as bronze as the Eastern subspecies), while females have a dull feather finish.