About like most of the public land in Alabama. Not a whole lot of private leases available due to the govt owning almost everything between the coast and I10 from Navarre all the way to Defuniak Springs, so the locals put a ton of pressure on both Eglin and Blackwater. There are some really good turkey killers that pretty much "live" all spring on both. If you are hunting blackwater, I'd try to get away from areas near Karick, Bear and Hurricane lakes as a bunch of those guys, that hunt it every day from opening day til the last day of the season, set up camp at the campgrounds at those lakes and use them as a home base. Eglin is big but the birds tend to stay in very specific areas. In addition, almost half of Eglin is in what is referred to as "closed areas". These are areas with active military missions and testing going on and there is absolutely zero admittance. Years ago, I had decent luck targeting birds roosting in the closed areas and setting up just across the line in an "open" area and calling them over the line to me. Word to the wise, if you've got a bird gobbling, do not cut at him, work him hard, or attempt to make him gobble any more than he already is. If you do, you'll be inviting half a dozen other hunters to move in on top of you. Both areas remind me of how it used to be on the old Boykin WMA in Citronelle. There are quite a few birds, both are on regular burn rotations, and you can definitely kill a bird on them, but it's going to take some scouting and leg work. I havent hunted either in years. Peach can probably give you some more up to date info as I think he still hunts blackwater a little bit.
Last edited by abolt300; 02/14/22 03:00 PM.
