More specifically central Florida hunters. I’ve never done much deer hunting in central Florida. Now that I live here I have access to 500 acres in Pierson. Went and walked the place Saturday and found little that made me excited to get out there and hunt. Found more bear sign than deer sign. What is the preferred natural browse around here? I found some good water oaks dropping with little to no sign under them and 100’s of acorns on the ground. The food plots aren’t getting browsed much either. Did found some turkey oaks that seemed to be dropped out with some cracked hulls that may be a good early season option, but I thought for sure the water oaks would be a hot spot. This place has a little bit of it all swamp, pine flats, live oak hammocks.... where would you expect to find deer? You can bait here but corn doesn’t seem to be a good option cause the bears take that over. Is there any bait deer like that bears won’t eat?

Sweet potatoes work great but it takes a little while for the deer to get used to them. I also use peanuts. We have bear around our area and they never seem to bother our corn feeders

Kinda off mark, but my daughter saw a buck chasing does on the side of the road coming back to the hotel from Magic Kingdom

Not off the mark, but does it have any turkeys?

Yes tons of turkeys, but I know how to kill them. I need help with the deer

What kind of Ag fields are on the north boarder of the property?

This. I've seen them hit cucumbers,tomatoes,strawberries and everything else they grow around this/that area. I'd check that property line out and see what it looks like. Good luck man.

Good luck for sure. I hunt north central Florida and the deer are small. Full grown doe 70-85 lbs. Bucks over 130 lbs are rare as well. Checked out a club today in south central Georgia that has plenty of deer and overrun with turkeys. Already have permission to hunt this coming turkey season. Saw a group of gobblers this afternoon that were real dark but fans appear to be a light tan in color. Anxious to see them strut this spring. I think they are a cross between Eastern & Osceola.

jibuc10, they seem to eat just about anything down here. We did good in our plots planting iron clay peas.
Lots of guys do corn but bears wear it out.
I’m by no means anywhere near an expert on Florida deer, mainly hunted bama, but more than happy to check with some buddies that are and get you some more information. Plus I’m not that far from Pierson.

Ferns. They are surrounded in black wind screen deer aren’t using them. Only “ag” is cow pasture that you see on the south border.

Not the discussion i was expecting with the title of Florida Hunters -

Should have looked at where the OP was from!!

There are a pile of deer and turkeys around Pierson.

I travel to Alabama to hunt deer. I dont seriously deer hunt in Florida. It can be so tough. I use soybeans in my feeders so the bears dont destroy them. I dont know where you can get them in Pierson but a guy in Madison sells them. He is right off i10. Billy Bob's deer barn is his name on Facebook. I mainly Turkey hunt and deer hunt in Florida. Alabama has the best deer and to be honest the people are a lot nicer.

I mean Turkey and hog hunt in Florida not deer.

Funny thing about this property is there aren’t any hogs. Perfect habitat for them and plenty of food. Hate to say it but I wish there were some hogs out there. I’m now looking into planting some oaks out there.
Anyone know if sawtooths will grow there? I’ve also seen that possibly swamp chestnuts will grow there as it’s the very bottom of their range. I know those two species are very desireable for deer. I have found nuttal, and Shumard oaks in local nurseries. Do deer like them as well?

We had a bunch of aholes from Florida come in and steal our lease many years ago. One of our members told them about the place and offered the owner a lot more $. Heard they trashed the place and the owner has since passed away.

I guess that greedy land owner liked the way them $$$$ spoke to him!

If your going to invest in plants. I suggest persimmon and blueberry's. Corn is great but you have to rig your feeder so it is bear proof. I have never had the chance to do a food plot. The hogs always destroy it. I am sure it would do well in the late season.