Hunting Season!

[Ironcat]

Any other hunters out there?

Wintertime is huntin' season and I can't wait to get out there. I've only been doing it a few years now but I love it!

It all started a few years ago when my wife bought me a hunting trip for my birthday.

That's me kneeling, holding my piggie... 215 pounds and I killed him with a knife.... yes that's right, here in Florida we like to kill our pigs up close and personal!
Here's a link to the website if you guys want to see some other cool dead piggies.
http://www.a-wild-boar-hog-hunting-f...4-24-04-am.htm

So anyway, I am going deer hunting the weekend after Thanksgiving. Anyone else out there like to get "in touch" with Mother Nature?

[Airbozo]

Nice Ironcat!

My uncle owns a ranch down in southern colorado and raises pigs and sheep and some other smaller livestock. He _always_ uses a knife to slaughter his personal hog (he is now 76) and made me and my little brother do the same. Makes you respect the whole cycle of life and eat what you kill motto.

I have not been hunting in a very long time though, since I moved to california. Still fish and crab, and abalone dive, but that kind of catch is a little distant. Good luck hunting! How long is the season in florida and what is the limit?

[nil8]

I go catfish and trout fishing in the spring and summer and every few years go out and bag a deer. I'm the only person I know that eats deer, so one will last me several years. I still have about 20 lbs left in my freezer. I'll get another next season.
When I was young I hunted rabbit and squirrel.

Isn't boar hunting dangerous?

[Timoi]

I don't personally hunt but I know some good friends who do. They hunt mostly deer and moose but sometimes go for bear, a coyotee, or partrige (is that how you spell it? anyways they are kind of like wild chickens or something) They usually bring home 3-4 big animals a year. NOTE they are grandparents and provide for their children and their families (one is single and other has family of 4) and for our family which includes 5 more people. Oh yeah and don't forget themselves!

[simon275]

Every thing is either endanged or you need to do alot of paperwork. Over here is Aus.

[Ironcat]

Nice Ironcat!

Good luck hunting! How long is the season in florida and what is the limit?

Season depends on where in the state you live... Florida is a long thin state divided up into 3 or 4 regions, each with their own (slightly overlapping) season, so in theory you can just move up the state as you go, extending your season along the way. Size and bag limits depend on what you're hunting, which region you are in, what part of hunting season you're in (bow season, muzzleloader, antlerless deer, etc) and whether or not you are in a WMA (wildlife management area set up specifically for public hunting rights).
P.S. I would love to go abalone diving but it's too cold! Here in FL we go after lobster and stone crab, but I dive in a 2mm shortie all year long!

I go catfish and trout fishing in the spring and summer and every few years go out and bag a deer. I'm the only person I know that eats deer, so one will last me several years. I still have about 20 lbs left in my freezer. I'll get another next season.
When I was young I hunted rabbit and squirrel.

Isn't boar hunting dangerous?

I LOVE small game season and we have a ton here in FL, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, otter, mink, skunk, nutria, coyote, you name it!
Yes, boar hunting could be considered dangerous, wild boar are famous for being nearsighted and ornery. Their (very sharp) tusks can be 3 or 4 inches long with another couple inches under the lip and they can disembowel a dog (or a hunter) in a second.
We use dogs to track them by scent and then corner them until we arrive (of course, by that time, they are a little pissed so you gotta be on your toes!)

Every thing is either endanged or you need to do alot of paperwork. Over here is Aus.

Hey Simon can't you hunt kangaroo? I thought they were like nuisance critters... and rabbit and wild hog are introduced species that I am sure you're government would be only to happy to be rid of!

[Zephik]

Is it very hard to kill a boar by hand with a knife? lol I can't even imagine doing that...

Tell us a story!

GAH! I love stories, like my uncle, he tells huntin stories all the time! He's pretty good too, I suggested that he write a book! Or maybe a video? Because his facial and vocal expressions really put you in that mood. You know the one, the one where you are sorry you weren't there right next to him! lol Bah, I want to go huntin. Not to kill... I guess its just not in my blood. But I want to go... like... hmm... I guess I just want to be a tagalong lol

-SF

[SgtM]

I remember my first dear season. My dad sat me down in front of this tree, and said just look and listen, then went off somewhere. He came back a while later to find me asleep and fresh droppings only a few feet away. For me, it was never about what I bagged, rather just getting out and doing it.

We went fishing this year only to find that there is a pair of nesting Bald Eagles at the lake. (we don't have many here in Ohio). Suddenly, I didn't care much about the fishing pole anymore. Watching those Eagles was amazing. Luckily, my kids were with me so I could share the moment with them.

[Airbozo]

2mm shortie!?! damn I wish I could wear that even one day in norcal...

The cold water is the biggest detractor in abalone diving. Otherwise it is great fun! We usually go twice a year and get our limit every day, although we have backed off to make sure _nothing_ goes to waste The restrictions on abalone are pretty tight due to the drastic drop in the abalone population. Abalone is now only available north of San Francisco. You ever get out this way in april -june I'll make sure you get some abalone action...

nil8: my father in law and I are the only ones that eat deer here also. Since neither of us hunt we go to this resturant in santa cruz to get our fix. They serve 3 different kinds of venicin, wild boar, ostrich, buffalo, aligator, and just about anything that is not on the endangered list...

[nil8]

I can't find a single DOC authorized butcher in this area to buy deer from. It's illegal to buy and sell game in Missouri without a license. If I could buy it, I wouldn't hunt deer. I'm not a big fan of hunting large game. I don't mind it so much, just prefer to fish.

Here in central MO we only have to worry about the occasional wild dog pack or rare bear/mountain lion. Both are becoming more and more rare because Missouri is having a climate shift.

Bison is delicious and 3 times leaner than beef. Good stuff.