It has been said that the farther north you travel in Florida, the more southern the state becomes. Indeed, Southern hospitality is alive and well in northern Florida, as well. A shining example is the Spencer Farm.

Wendy Pettis shows off the largest and first of the three feral hogs she downed on last year's Spencer Farm hunt. Photo courtesy of Wendy Pettis.

Started by Fred Spencer, the working cattle ranch spans more than 4,000 acres. A humble family, they've quietly gone about their business of raising and selling "ordinary woods cows" for many decades. Though the farm has been in the family for four generations, it now seems like an anachronism in its native community. It is a short drive to the sprawling shopping and dining Mecca of Orange Park to the southwest of Jacksonville.

Yet, the Spencer Farm and family continue to thrive and also have become ambassadors of hunting. They've introduced hundreds of folks to the sport. Patti Foster, previously a regional director for the National Wild Turkey Federation, has first-hand knowledge of that.

"I approached Fred's son, Frank, years ago," she recounted. "I asked him if he was open to allowing youth and disabled sportsmen hunting privileges on his land. He was thrilled with the idea. So, we organized several outings.

"The next progression was getting the ladies involved," Foster continued. "Twice a year for the past five years, we've held all-women's pig hunts on their property. These specialty hunts have really gone over well.

"The Spencers allow us to hunt hogs, deer, coyotes and bobcats -- animals that are destructive to their land or kill the baby calves," she added. "Daddy Frank, now in his 70s, still stops by to visit. However, he has turned the camp hunts over to his sons -- Teddy, Mark, Johnny and Jesse. Their sons, the fourth generation, are young adults who also help out at the events."

"It's wonderful to be able to share this incredible piece of property with these outdoor women," Teddy Spencer said on behalf of the family. "It's a safe environment for the ladies to feel comfortable and learn the sport. All we ask is that each year at least half the participants are fresh faces. We like to see gals return from previous hunts, but want to encourage more women to understand and enjoy hunting."

The Pig Hunt
Debbie Halderman has been hunting for more than three decades with her family, beginning when she was 9 years old. She enjoys sharing her passion and organized a recent Women in the Outdoors Hog Hunt at the Spencer Farm. The WITO events are affiliated with the NWTF.

"I head out with members of the Spencer family a week or two before the hunt to put up ground blinds," she described. "We then set corn out every few days. The hunt is limited to around 15 participants. We encourage hunter's safety course completions before the trip and on the first night we hold a safety meeting. Almost all of the women have fired their guns, but many have not harvested an animal.

"The ranch has a couple of rustic cabins that we sleep in and a great area to cook out, dine and socialize," Halderman also noted. "Campfires are an integral part of the experience.

"If the gals are novices they may request a guide. The Spencer men, other area hunters, and past attendees of the trip all volunteer to help. The guides do not shoot -- they are solely there to help if needed. They may help transport, skin and clean the hog. Many women want to take care of their own kill, but some don't want to. We encourage their participation, but don't force them."