Never hunted S fl, but that is what the guys say. And this is all based on hunter feedback, not FWC data on rut activity.
There are reports of some areas of extreme S fl of the deer in rut as we speak
And yes Gary, you can drive as little as 10 miles and the rut times be months different
For the Everglades the timing is spot on. But else ware it's not in that zone. They will never be able to make everyone happy unless their is 30 zones. I like the idea of moving it earlier in the year. It will keep many people at home because it is down right hot that time of year! But it will be nice to hunt the rut during archery season in the Glades. 😉
Amazing, really. I always seem to miss the rut because I can't get away to hunt during the time it usually happens in GA and other places we hunt. If they implement these zones and dates, I could theoretically get a bow set up and be hunting on my birthday next year (August 1st)!
Time it right and you could hit a rut from Aug through Feb!
here are a couple links to maps with some estimated whitetail conception dates, thru-ought areas of the state, these dates come from embryos found in harvested or otherwise killed does ,(predation or road killed) that have been examined thru the years. Its info like this that is one of their big considerations on the zones and dates and such. not input from people that in the words of FLDXT
FWC takes advice from people that spend 7 days a year in the woods and think they are Michael Waddel, when in reality they probably have never killed a mature buck in there life and especially in South Florida.
