Guest skunkape2007 Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 I'm a long generation Florida Cracker. I grew up hunting down here in the swamps and I was first raised to hunt on swamp buggies. After the county took all my Grandfathers land for developing homes & "natural parks", my family started to hunt up north. Now after a couple of years still hunting I notice that buggy hunters and airboats hunters routinely use the tactic of "jump and shoot" deer and hog. Is this ethical? Florida is difficult terrain, with the thick foliage and water level, so these vehicles are necessary and I own each. Under Florida law it is illegal to shoot in a vehicle with a motor on or moving but is it ethical to hunt from the vehicle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Welcome to the forums. I'm a long generation Florida Cracker Grew up with a few good old boys back in Florida that might have been considered to be what you are calling yourself here. Dont recollect any of them using airboats or swamp buggies to hunt from though. Now after a couple of years still hunting I notice that buggy hunters and airboats hunters routinely use the tactic of "jump and shoot" deer and hog. Is this ethical? What I view as ethical may not be the same as what you view as ethical. Would suggest that being an ethical hunter would be to do what you know as right when you know you could get away with not doing right, think Aldo Leopold said something along those lines and I agree with them. Under Florida law it is illegal to shoot in a vehicle with a motor on or moving but is it ethical to hunt from the vehicle Illegal here to hunt from any vehicle that is able to be licensed to be driven on the highway. It is now legal in this state to hunt from and atv, farm vehicle, or tractor so long as it is not on a roadway or moving. Again, ethical is doing what you think is right. Personally I would not hold anything against someone doing what is legal where they are, even if I might not personally do it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Down there, anything that would get me up away from all those stinking snakes would be appreciated as a way of hunting. The higher the better. I hate snakes!!!! Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest skunkape2007 Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Thanks for responding. WTNhunt, I agree with what you say but ethics go beyond laws. Doc, your right about those snakes. I stepped on a good many of mocassins. I stepped on the head of one without knowing and my buudy had to tell me not to move. He ended up cutting the head off of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 WTNhunt, I agree with what you say but ethics go beyond laws. Re-read what I posted. Ethics have to do with doing what you know is right. Laws dont dictate ethical practice, however someone who does not follow the laws is also unethical in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 I stepped on a good many of mocassins. Most common snakes I recall in the area of central Florida where I did most of my growing up were pygmy rattlers, eastern diamond backs(they get big), and coral snakes. Did not see too many water moccasins in that area, but got plenty of em around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 Most common snakes I recall in the area of central Florida where I did most of my growing up were pygmy rattlers, eastern diamond backs(they get big), and coral snakes. Did not see too many water moccasins in that area, but got plenty of em around here. Ok, so if guys want to roll around in those big tall swamp buggies when they are hunting down there, it ok with me. I probably wouldn't hunt down there any other way. Even at that, I would have to invent and wear a pair of snake bite boots that zipped up over my head. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 I live in florida and dont hunt here just for the same resons many of you mentioned 1 being snakes...man i hate snakes and spiders too. Florida is like a jungle Im also not sure about hunting with a dog for deer. I am not sure how these guys can get a good shot on a deer that is running full speed from a pack of dogs. Very starnge to me. I go out riding my fourwheeler and see guys and gals hunting from the road ,waiting for the dogs to run deer out across the road and they shoot at a deer running. Now im a bow hunter and that just wouldnt work. please dont take offence im not being rude I just dont understand how that is ethical. I will keep hunting in maryland with my bow. maybe Ill hunt florida one day but i just dont like spiders and snakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 Ok, so if guys want to roll around in those big tall swamp buggies when they are hunting down there, it ok with me. I probably wouldn't hunt down there any other way. Even at that, I would have to invent and wear a pair of snake bite boots that zipped up over my head. Doc LOL , thatis pretty funny. Dealing with concerns with snakes here is expected most seasons up until about the time the muzzleloader season opens up, even then, have seen snakes occasionally slither through under my stand. Have seen copperheads still moving around on a few occasions late in Novemeber here, so I try to never rule out that they might be around or out anymore unless it is below freezing. Deer season is not really so bad, most of our hunting is done from elevated stands, and you just have to pay attention walking in and out. Turkey season is what is usually bad. Nothing like laying on the ground and hearing the leaves moving as a snake is approaching . Have had a few get pretty close and it can be a bit unnerving especially when you got a bird talking and you are faced with the decision to kill the snake and give up the chance at the bird or to let the snake go and hope it wanders away . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 LOL , thatis pretty funny. Dealing with concerns with snakes here is expected most seasons up until about the time the muzzleloader season opens up, even then, have seen snakes occasionally slither through under my stand. Have seen copperheads still moving around on a few occasions late in Novemeber here, so I try to never rule out that they might be around or out anymore unless it is below freezing. Deer season is not really so bad, most of our hunting is done from elevated stands, and you just have to pay attention walking in and out. Turkey season is what is usually bad. Nothing like laying on the ground and hearing the leaves moving as a snake is approaching . Have had a few get pretty close and it can be a bit unnerving especially when you got a bird talking and you are faced with the decision to kill the snake and give up the chance at the bird or to let the snake go and hope it wanders away . You left out one option which would probably be the one I would choose. That is: Scream like a little girl and run out of the woods. One incident like that and I would be only getting my turkey from the super-market. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Ethical and legal are two seperate things. I think if you don't feel comfortable with a legal hunting practice you shouldn't do it. Dog hunting is fairly popular where I'm at, but I don't believe you should take shots on a moving target if you don't have to and don't belive that letting an animal chase game off of one persons land onto yours is ethical. Both common practices here, but legal. If I were riding into the woods on private land on an ATV and saw a buck of a lifetime, I would take the shot. It's legal here. Ultimately, it's up to you. As long as it's legal, it's your decision to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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