Apalachicola Florida Waterfowl Hunting Opportunities

Keith Dolbeck

Keith Dolbeck

New member
I am planning a vacation to Apalachicola, Florida next January and I was looking for some advise with respect to: Waterfowl hunting guides for hire, what waterfowl species might be encountered, are the hunting opportunities inland on rivers and swamps or out in the bay(layouts) or whatever else that may be pertinent to duck hunting in that area. I am not looking to invade someone's hunting territory, only to have a nice hunting experience with a guide while on vacation. Thanks Keith
 
Keith, Dani and I hunted with a friend this year in the panhandle who has a good friend who guides in the area. He joined us a couple of times when he didn't have clients. We were hunting the Bay for Redheads and Bluebills and got to spend a most excellent afternoon in his layout rig for those. He also does Canvasback and Ringneck hunts on inland lakes and is very successful there as well.

Super nice guy with excellent equipment and a great attitude. Not a clue what he charges but I can tell you he's one of the good ones.

Spencer Brannon- don't have a phone number for him but his e-mail is
Spencer.Brannon@Level3.com .
It's not a Waterfowl Mecca but its a pretty place to hunt. Ringnecks are going to be the most common birds on freshwater and Bluebills and Redheads will be the main targets on the Bays. Scoters can be around on the Bays though they weren't real common last season, (at least where we were). Some puddle ducks on the fresh water but my experience there says go to hunt divers and be happy for the occasional extra's....

Hope that helps.

Steve
 
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I was actualy talking about doing the same trip with nikki next winter (she enjoyed hunting but she just cant handle the cold for too long) . Ill have to come to your house Steve and steal all your avacados. Im hoping that we just buy a house in the big bend and never come back.

Its scallop season too, mmmmm.
 
No scallops at that time Chris....that's a summer thing.....
I'm 300 miles from the area we're talking about so it would likely be cheaper to buy some Avocado's at the Farmers Market....
It's a gorgeous place for sure and I'm just re-learning it after many years of not having hunted it....
If you do make it out make sure you let me know and if I'm that area at the time maybe we can get together for a Avocado sammich....


Steve
 
Whoops i meant to say oyster. Scallops on the brain though. Nikki and i cooked scallop and shrimp scampi for valentines day.

The pictures of the red heads were awesome. I would be that crazy yankee hunting in shorts. Plus if i live in florida i have a real good excuse to get a fan boat.
 
Steve,
Thanks so much for all your help. I think Mr. Spenser Brannon's web site maybe called "Torreya Outfitters". I will try to contact them. Do you hunt other areas in the Florida panhandle that I should explore as well? I love to hunt with my young Black Lab , but this is probably not possible on a guided hunt. I appreciate your advise and if you ever think about hunting Lake Champlain in WAY UPSTATE New York, I will be happy to return the favor.
Thanks again!
Keith
 
Keith, I don't know this for sure but I believe Shannon's main focus is layout shooting which pretty much eliminates the use of a dog, (the main reason I've never become a layout hunter). There are other opportunities where a dog is useable, (Dani posted pictures of a Bay hunt that we did from shore that you can find by searching posts by Dani), but you'd need a boat and decoys. If I'm in the panhandle when you're there I'm sure we could figure something out on a hunt.

Keep my e-mail handy, nuvan@comcast.net , and we can try to arrange something.

Chris, Winter Is prime time for Oysters though I know nothing about the ability to harvest them wild since so much of the production is leased. I'm sure there are opportunities. I just buy mine in a bar where someone else endures the cuts associated with shucking them. They shuck I pay and we both end up smiling.

Steve
 
Steve
Thanks again! I will look for Dani"s posts to see the pictures. I am new to this site so I am not sure if there is a way to search for someone's posts or if you just have to scroll the pages.
Roger on keeping your e-mail handy. I will be in touch to at least let you know when my plans to come to the panhandle materialize.
Keith
 
Keith, if you go to Search Posts at the top, then in the username section, or look for posts only made by section (something like that), type "Dani" then search and then all posts I made would come up....and that works for everyone you wanna search....if you have a keyword then you can search that way too....

But, here is one post I made about the divers in the panhandle hunting

http://duckboats.net/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=257598;#257598
 
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