Where would one start looking for public wild hog hunting in Florida? Is a permit/ license required on public land, who regulates it, how to obtain it, etc? Any help would be appreciated!

Looks like Florida is very secretive about how to go about hunting pigs, seems odd considering the fact that they supposedly have a pig problem.

Ping 4nolz and Droptine59 for starters. They can get you pointed in the right direction I'll bet.

Just go to FWC website for a list of wildlife management areas.They will have details and regulations that vary by WMA.It depends on where you'll be.

Check out myfwc.com to start. That’s our state game commission website which will show you all the regs & license requirements. Hogs are fair game year around on private lands. All the management areas have specific seasons but most have hog hunt days throughout the year. Also, there’s a lot of private hunt concessions if you do some web searching. I live in North Florida which is way different than central & south Florida. Another thing to remember, it’s HOT & buggy here through the summer. Be glad to answer any questions you have & good luck!

https://myfwc.com/hunting/wild-hog/

4nolz@work, anything specific that you can recommend near Sarasota, can be an hour or 2 drive from there? Floridians would know best. Thanks

sounds like some real fun is in the works for sure. Good luck with it all

Where in Fla do you plan on hunting ? .... Might want to watch your step also YOU DON'T WANT to step on a eastern diamondback , pygmy rattler, cotton mouth , coral or get squeezed by a giant python or " mature cougar " @ The Rolex Club ! LOL ....... Don't ask me how I know ...........

Mechanic I'm on the Suwannee River on the Georgia line I stay out of central and South Florida unless forced to go.

Vaquero 45 , thanks for the heads up, will be staying near Sarasota, I have a pair of snake boots just for the occasion!

I'am way down south , I have no info in or around Sara . I do know on CraigsList theres always a bunch of canned hunts being advertised . I don't do them myself , the success rate is very high . I know guys that go on them like 250 for a meat hog , so called trophy's are around 600 . There usually in an out of there in like around three hrs .

They have hunts by Lake Okeechobee. I believe that’s within 2 hours of Sarasota.

$250 a hog

http://www.okeechobeehuntingguide.com/hog -hunts/

There are a lot of “Outfits” in the Okeechobee area, big area too.

The high success hunts are pay hunts with bait or dogs.Just going out solo in a WMA probably single digit success rate.But "meat hog" hunts are pretty cheap.

Thank you folks! If anyone has any more suggestions please let me know!

Years ago , like near 20 I shot a 400 pounder plus wieghed on a scale w/ a 30 ott 6 like @ maybe 40' running towards me caught in a heavy like thick bush palmetto culdersac . It was not coming at me imo to attack me basically tryin to run around me . That was free range on the Lightsey Cattle Comp in Lake Whales , Fl. I paid for that hunt , but it was truly worth it . Don't know if the Lightsey CowMen still offer those hunts but if interested might try calling them .

Where eagles dare ....................... we had to put my little Mazda pu basically a Ford Ranger and a Hummer on a cattle barge to get to where the big "ugns " roamed .

Vaquero 45 that’s a sweet hog, also the barge is the real deal for sure. I will try to get in contact with those guys! Thanks much

Back in the l990's I hunted Jumper creek when i visited family a few times. Lot's of hog sign and i did run into them but back then i was just getting started in hunting and didn't know squat. It was thick along the river and perfect hog habitat. Find where they are leaving to feed at surrounding ranches and set up and wait. There will be hair on the barb wire fences where they cross.

Mint…. Great pointers!!! Thanks

Sarasota Archery Club might have some information, here I their website for contact info: https://www.sarasotaarchers.org

Local bow shops that ,Ishtar have info: Brothers outdoors https://www.brothersoutdoors.us/ Ask for Kevin or Aaron

Centershot Archery: https://centershotarchery.com/ Ask for Darryl

Osceola national forest outside lake city lots of hogs big country

Srqbow, thanks for the information, i will call these guys up. Thanks again

The Osceola is a big scary place. I saw a panther at night one year, another year a Yeti looking man was standing on the side of I-10 at 3:00 am many miles from anything.

Try West Shore Outfitters in Ocal or Tiger Island Outfitters north of Tampa. Run by good guys. Tigers Islad has a 3 pigs for 250.00 hunt

They say there not that far up north , but I have seen up close an personal in Jennings , Fla , two Burmese Pythons . Thats real close to the Fla/Geo line . By the big rest area , when you first enter Fla on I75 south bound .

Check Florida's Wildlife management areas on MyFWC.com. To hunt pigs on them will require a Management Area stamp as well as an out of state license. Frankly, the further south you go the better your odds. It is difficult to find hogs in my area in Volusia County. Three Lakes WMA in south central Florida may be a good bet. Possibly Arbuckle WMA in southern Polk and Northern Highlands County.

Georgia and Alabama should have plenty of them too. We have them all across the south bad enough that they cause a lot of damage.

One of the big questions is what time of year are you planning the trip for? Many of Florida's wma land is hog hunting by season only and Florida's small game season is coming to a close soon. Most of the state managed lands don't allow hog hunting during turkey season. FWC does allow for some state land hunting in the off season but I am not aware of any of those near Tampa. You can find thos areas by google searching "fwc summer hog hunting opportunitie". If you're planning a spring or summer trip, you'll probably need to look at hunting private land with an outfitter. I feel that if time is limited and you want a shot at a hog, then private land is well worth the money.

Swampstick, good info, thank you!

All you need is a wildlife management stamp no hunting license required. Find a WMA look up the specific rules and go harvest some pigs. If you can find droppings that where they usually end up and good place to sit.

I have hunted hogs in Florida several times . It’s a blast ! I usually hunt about 2 hours inland from Tampa . I have family in that area. If hunting private land no permits required because hogs are considered a nuisance animal not a game animal in that state. I had one of there fish and game people tell me to shoot all the hogs I wanted and shoot the ones I don’t want . LOL. There are some public hunting areas that may charge a small access fee . It’s actually very easy to find land to hunt in Florida . Most farms if you see crops of some type growing the owners of the land are happy to let you hunt . A lot of farmers down there pay people to come on there land to get rid of the hogs . Best of luck !

I was recently in Appalachia and did a little research and it seems pig hunting on public the season was around summertime. Open all year on private land.

That should read Apalachicola

Public land hunt is waste of time. Call Hoppy Kempfer at Osceola outfitters if you want to kill hogs

Yeti was probably down there for spring break.

It's virtually impossible to get a hunt with Hoppy. I have hunted there every year for 20 years. His hunters keep booking year after year before they/we leave. He told me last week that he simply doesn't have any spots open for the folks who call.

Yep, This January was our 22nd year hunting with Hoppy and we always fill up the camp and I've got a waiting list in case one of my group drops out.

That is true Dave. Good problem to have if you are in business.

Hoppy is the best. I have been there four times. His two sons are also a pleasure to hunt with. Awesome family.

Public lands have their seasons and require a hunting license. Private land/outfitter is 365, 24/7. No license required. I lucked out with a friend who has private farm.

Pigs are tasty but filthy bastards. Watch a few Omnivore you tube videos on processing....

The few I shot where infested with mites and ticks. Had to literally power wash em before processing

Florida is "different".

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