On-your-own waterfowling is easy and convenient to do in the Sunshine State.
Biologists say up to 25 percent of the Atlantic Flyway duck population winters in Florida – somewhere between 2 and 4 million birds.
Unlike many other top waterfowl states, much of Florida’s best duck hunting is open to the public. In fact, I’ve rarely hunted on private property in Florida, simply because there is such outstanding waterfowling open to everyone.
Terrific Florida duck shooting is available on federal wildlife refuges, on state-operated areas, and on hundreds of large, weedy, marsh-lined lakes, rivers and big coastal areas as well.
Florida duck hunters can enjoy excellent shooting almost anywhere there is water – from the Panhandle to Tampa Bay, and from Jacksonville to Lake Okeechobee west of Fort Lauderdale.
The average Florida shotgunner has outstanding opportunities to “free-lance” duck hunt without much interference from other sportsmen. And it’s available statewide, often within the shadows of major metropolitan areas.
The upper St. Johns River is stiff with ducks, mostly woodies, teal and ringed- necks, and there are plenty of places where waterfowlers can hunt without ever hearing another shot from hunters during a morning.
While big lakes like Kissimmee, “Toho,” Okeechobee, George and Rodman Reservoir, and rivers like the Indian, Banana and St. Johns can harbor thousands of wintering ducks, often the smaller lakes of the state have the most overlooked opportunities for Florida water fowlers.
One key factor that makes a Florida spot appealing to birds is hydrilla. Ducks relish the abundant aquatic weeds, and almost wherever it’s found ducks abound.
One outstanding area for ducks that has much hydrilla is the upper St. Johns River – beginning at the south end of Lake Monroe (near the town of Sanford). From there through to Lake Hellen Blazes it’s a duck paradise. But sportsmen should be warned, however, that hunting the Upper St. Johns River marsh is no easy feat. It’s half-water, half-muck, a labyrinth of creeks, lakes, cuts and brush, infested with reptiles and insects. But it’s the winter home to thousands of teal, wood ducks, ringed-necks and mottle ducks, with a few gadwalls, pintails and widgeon mixed in.
One of the most popular and best duck spots in Florida is Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, on the east-central coast near the town of Titusville. It’s within sight of Cape Canaveral and the Space Shuttle launch pads. Duck hunting is allowed on thousands of acres of the 140,000-acre refuge, but the hunting permit process takes a bit of figuring to insure against violations.
Special refuge permits and designated hunting days are established for various refuge zones, so hunters must be sure to check with refuge headquarters before hunting to learn the latest regulations.
Much of Merritt’s best hunting is found in small, brackish, mangrove-lined impoundments. No permanent blinds can be constructed on refuge land, so wader- clad hunters stand in water, concealed inside leafy mangrove edges. A large variety of duck species can be taken at Merritt, with divers like scaup, ringed-necks and redheads abundant in open areas; pintails, widgeon, teal, shovellers and gadwalls available throughout the smaller ponds and impoundments. Merritt can be hunted by shooters working out of big boats, small johnboats and canoes, or simply wading to likely spots off roads. There’s something for everyone at Merritt, and it’s a sure bet that top duck hunting is available somewhere on the refuge during every day of the open season.
Guana River WMA is another good duck area managed by the state and open for public hunting. Located on the Atlantic Coast north of St. Augustine, it’s a Ducks Unlimited MARSH project and has responded well to management by harboring plenty of wintering ducks through the open season. Teal and scaup are in good supply, with puddlers most common in the upper marsh area.
The Potashcorp – White Springs WMA in Hamilton County is a duck-infested 4,000-acre public hunting spot, sure to offer good shooting for teal, ringed-necks and shovellers. For a wide variety of duck species, few places in the Sunshine State can rival Potashcorp. Everything from canvasbacks to geese can be seen during the course of a fall-winter waterfowl season. Special regulatios are in effect at the WMA, and hunters are advised to contact the state game department office in Lake City for complete hunting details.
Florida is blessed with hundreds of other lakes, marshes and river swamps that are wide open to public waterfowl shooting. Time must be spent scouting for ducks, and learning on-the-water ropes of an area in the dark, etc. But with some effort excellent hunting can be found for wintering ducks.
Almost every North Florida river and lake lined with hardwoods attracts migrant wood ducks. The best wood duck waters have swampy, flooded timber. Opportunities for “jump shooting” woodies are excellent on many rivers, some within the shadows of Jacksonville.
Florida has as good duck hunting as it does fishing, and often it’s even more consistent – especially in late December and January when freezing temperatures in the North pushes birds by the millions into the Sunshine State.
Not too many waterfowl guides work Florida marshes. But a good one is Chris Castle of Wide Open Guide Service (phone 904-669-3210) in St. Augustine.
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