Biologist Abbott described over half the area as "scrub habitat" with scrub oaks, saw palmetto, and sand pines. Most years, deer get plenty of quality mast in this habitat. He suggested scouting areas where clear-cuts abut the scrub.

Other areas to target are pine flatwoods that had controlled burns within the last year or two.

Eglin AFB WMA
Eglin AFB doubles not only as an Air Force armament and training center, but also as a great hunting area in Walton and Okaloosa counties. Roughly 65 percent of the base's 464,000 acres is open to hunting.

Eglin has something for all types of deer hunters. There are dog-hunt, archery-only, and still-hunt-only areas. Some of the regions are managed for quota hunts and have check stations, while others are open all season.

One area that has gotten rave reviews, however, is the 8,000-acre archery-only area. On February 18, 2004, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kenneth Davis arrowed a 10-point buck that scored 126 2/8, thus qualifying for the P&Y All-Time Record book.

Last season, David Brooks of Niceville downed a fine 9-pointer that scored 124 3/8, missing the P&Y benchmark of 125 by less than an inch.

Here, unlike in other areas of the state, October and November are not the months of the rut. On the sprawling military base, the rut kicks into full swing in early February.

Choctawhatchee River WMA
The Panhandle has some tremendous public places to deer hunt, and one of them is the 57,300-acre Choctawhatchee River WMA in Bay, Holmes, Washington and Walton counties.