This weekend’s hunt almost didn’t happen. With the government shutdown affecting access to certain public lands, there was no opportunity to scout the area beforehand. Chris and I had to make some quick decisions about where to set up once we arrived. Fortunately, Chris made it out early and set up camp on Friday, while I arrived Saturday morning with our ORV permit ready to go.
Saturday afternoon greeted us with classic South Florida conditions—hot, humid, and almost completely still. There was barely a breeze as we drove about five miles from camp to our hunting area. We both positioned our stands near well-traveled game trails and settled in, hoping that patience and a bit of luck might bring a buck into view. Not long after getting set up, Chris spotted a doe moving through the area, but that ended up being the only deer sighting of the afternoon. The heat, occasional rain, and what seemed like thousands of birds kept us company until sunset.
Sunday morning brought much better hunting weather. Temperatures were cooler and the heavy humidity from the previous day had lifted. Chris and I parked at our spot just after 6:15 AM and stepped out of the truck into a quiet, foggy morning. Almost immediately we heard something that made the moment even more memorable—two Florida panthers growling somewhere nearby, one to our left and one to our right. It sounded like we had unknowingly interrupted their own hunting plans.
For the first hour we continued to hear the growls echoing through the woods from different directions. The fog hung low over the cypress and pines as the sun slowly began to rise. Around 9:15 AM I finally spotted a doe emerging from the edge of a cypress swamp roughly twenty-five yards behind me. I quietly snapped a few photos and waited, hoping a buck might be trailing her path. Unfortunately, none appeared.
About an hour later another doe suddenly ran across an open clearing roughly 150 yards in front of me and disappeared into the pines near Chris’s stand. I quickly sent him a text message as a heads-up, but he had already heard the movement and managed to capture some great video as the deer passed through his area.
By the end of the weekend we weren’t bringing home any venison, but the hunt was far from a disappointment. In just two hunts we saw three deer and experienced the rare sound of Florida panthers moving through the woods around us. Encounters like that remind you that being out in the wild is about much more than filling a tag.
Thanks again to Chris for joining me on the hunt this weekend. A special thanks as well to my sponsor, Stone Hart’s Gun Club & Indoor Range, and to my family for their continued support.
See below for some photos and the video of the doe crossing Chris’s stand.
October 19 – 20, 2013
Erik Alexander
P.S. Indiana deer hunt next month!
Deer Hunting in Florida Public Lands
What challenges come with hunting deer in Florida?
Florida deer hunting often involves dense vegetation, swampy terrain, and warm weather conditions that can limit animal movement. Hunters must rely heavily on scouting, understanding travel corridors, and positioning stands along game trails to increase their chances of seeing deer.
Are Florida panthers common to encounter while hunting?
Florida panthers are extremely rare and are mostly found in South Florida wilderness areas. While sightings and encounters are uncommon, hunters and outdoorsmen occasionally hear or see signs of them when spending time in remote habitats.
Why is scouting important before a hunt?
Scouting helps hunters identify active trails, bedding areas, feeding locations, and travel routes used by deer. When scouting isn’t possible, hunters often rely on visible game trails and natural funnels to choose stand locations.
What makes a hunt successful even without harvesting a deer?
Many hunters consider time spent outdoors, wildlife encounters, and shared experiences with friends or family to be just as rewarding as harvesting game. Seeing animals, learning from the environment, and enjoying the wilderness are all part of the hunting experience.
