Deer populations can also vary, due to the fact that South Florida does not have the rich soils that promote good growth. Also, periodic episodes of high water can adversely impact populations. High water is currently resulting in lower than normal populations on the Everglades, Holy Land and Rotenberger WMAs. Williams rates the populations in Big Cypress and J.W. Corbett as “moderate,” noting that Dupuis Wildlife and Environmental Area currently has a fairly high number of deer.

While the bow-hunting picture in the South Zone isn’t as good as other areas, there are some bright spots.

“The biologists who score the racks from this region note that some of the best racks come from Dinner Island Ranch and Dupuis,” Williams explains. “These are both managed as low-quota areas, but those hunters who obtain a permit will be hunting on some of the most productive lands in the region.”

For those unable to obtain a permit, Williams notes that the J.W. Corbett WMA is managed for larger numbers of hunters and has a better deer population than those areas impacted by high water.

CENTRAL ZONE
Moving northward, the bow-hunting picture brightens considerably.

“In the central region, the peak of the rut historically occurs from mid-September to mid-October,” offers FWCC biologist John Ault. “That has also been backed up by studies. We biologically tested over 900 does taken on lands in central Florida, and the results indicated that the greatest number of does were impregnated within that time period. The rut will overlap that period, but this is the historic peak, and with the archery season running from 23 September to 22 October, hunters are right in the middle of it.”

For bow hunters, that’s upbeat news -- and Ault has even more.

“I have no indication at all that the deer population within the Central Zone has undergone any decline in the last five or six years. That doesn’t address individual small areas of WMA or private lands. It’s an overall assessment of the region. But the deer population is certainly not declining.”

Combine a stable deer population that, research indicates, is already at high levels with a season during the peak of the rut, and it’s clear that bow hunters do have an edge over firearms hunters in this region. Bucks during the peak of the rut are far less wary when they’re running around chasing does. Given that archery is the first season of the year, the bucks haven’t yet encountered legions of hunters. That’s plenty of reason to grab a bow and head to the woods. There are a number of public land areas in the zone where you can do just that.

“The FWCC has a whole spectrum of wildlife management areas that range from very restrictive to wide open,” Ault says. “They can’t all be managed for trophy bucks only. The public wouldn’t stand for that. What we can do is create quality opportunities in some areas and less restrictive access in others. We try to create the environment on the lands we manage that will give hunters that choice.”