One of the most coveted and sought-after game species in Florida is the Osceola turkey, also known as the Florida turkey. This unique bird is one of five subspecies of wild turkey in North America. The Osceola lives on the Florida peninsula and nowhere else in the world, making it extremely popular with out-of-state hunters. It’s similar to the eastern subspecies (found in the Panhandle) but tends to be a bit smaller and typically a darker shade with less white barring on the flight feathers of its wings. The white bars on the Osceola are more narrow, with an irregular, broken pattern, and they don’t extend to the feather shaft. It’s the black bars of the Osceola that actually dominate the feather. In conjunction, secondary wing feathers also are darker. When the wings are folded across the back, the whitish triangular patch formed is less visible on the Osceola. Osceola feathers also show more iridescent green and red colors, with less bronze than the eastern.
Early Season Benefits
A Florida turkey hunt is perfect for that avid sportsman who just can’t wait until mid April or May for their local season to open. As you would expect, spring arrives much earlier in Florida than the rest of the country and turkeys will be in their full mating rituals. Aside from turkey hunting, this is the perfect time to fish for large-mouth bass in the post-spawn season and play golf, often by the same ponds where you fish. Nearly the entire state is within an hour’s drive of salt water and coastal towns abound with charter services to help you sample salt water action. If you have a youngster 15-years-old or younger, she/he can hunt on special youth weekends slated for February 25-26 South of S. R. 70 and March 11-12 in the rest of the state. This map will show you the “walk-on” areas for Florida turkey hunting which makes planning and preparation at this late date much easier. Florida has both the Eastern and Osceola subspecies of wild turkeys so speak to unit managers about the particular birds the unit holds. Good Luck:
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers 42 public hunting areas statewide where hunters need only to “walk on” to hunt spring turkeys.
Hunters need a hunting license ($17 for residents, $46.50 for nonresident 10-day license), management area permit ($26.50) and turkey permit ($10 for residents, $125 for nonresidents) to spring turkey hunt on the following areas listed below.
These licenses and permits can be purchased in Florida at county tax collectors’ offices and at most retail outlets that sell hunting/fishing supplies. They also can be bought with a credit card by calling 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356) or at GoOutdoorFlorida.com.
