I am thinking about purchasing some land either inside the Ocala Forest or directly adjacent to it for a hunt/base camp. Just something big enough that I could roll in with a few trucks and set up a primitive camping spot for the weekend during hunting season and be able to perhaps hang some feeders or establish some small food plots . If you had your choice of area, where would you begin your search and why? I have no experince with this area at all.
Some criteria that came to mind
1) Feel safe leaving behind your wife & kids (if tagging along) / truck /equipment while out in the woods all day hunting
2) A lower density of other hunters but still have the ability to take some game
3) Being away from any ATV trails
Does this even exist out there? I am open to other recommendations or perhaps you have some criteria I have not thought of you would be willing to share.
The only thing about having private land in/next to a WMA is you'll have people setup right by your feeder on the WMA side. There's nothing you can do about that since they are legal, unless they are turkey hunting.
The only thing I have heard from folks who actually have spots like this is they are getting hit by the meth heads and other thieves. I don't think I would leave anything past a couple of days. My opinion, I don't think this problem exists too much during hunting season as it does in the off season.
And I'll second what Kortsman said, you'll have every tom, dick and harry hunting just off your property once they find out you have some kind of feeder or food source bringing stuff in.
I appreciate the feedback guys, I did not relaize it was that bad out there. So it sounds like I need to forget the idea of food plots or feeders on the property and I would definately not leave any equipment there year around.
If I just wanted a good camp spot for entering the forest for hunting during season, where should I begin to look and why?
South side around Altoona, East side around Astor, West side around Silver Springs
Do you have an idea of what section of the forest you'll be hunting? Hopkins Prairie, Lake Delancy, or the Pipeline Dog unit?
If you plan on the dog section south of HWY 40 you could probably find a lot or something just north of Altoona off of 19. Paisely is another one. Astor would be a good pick for Hopkins and Pipeline and there are a lot of full time residents over there you could get acquainted with to help keep an eye on your stuff.
I can't give you anything on the west side by Silver springs. Check ocala 4 sale .com if you can on property - you might be able to pick up a vacant lot or something like that in the Salt Springs area. Good luck - and if it works out I'll help ya in any way to get ya set up. I only live about 30 minutes (20 as crow flies) from there.
