Snail Kite heaven: Lake Kissimmee, Florida

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11. Looks like most hunting periods will NOT be when we'll be there!

http://myfwc.com/hunting/season-dates/

Deer and some other game seasons would be in effect, but:

http://myfwc.com/media/2657128/MigratoryGameBird-Regulations.pdf
First Phase: Nov. 23 – Dec. 1, 2013
Second Phase: Dec. 7, 2013 – Jan. 26, 2014

We'd be down the last week of January - my husband's birthday is the 30th, so we'll just miss it.

When we visited Merritt Island NWR, it was the week after the season ended and the ducks were still really skittish, though we still got to see a lot of them, especially in the wetlands along the roads where hunting was not permitted. Most other birds were OK and we got lots of pictures.

Birds are pretty smart about hunters. Way back after we'd been on our farm for a few years and didn't allow hunting, a guy bought the land next to us and planted millet and corn to attract doves. During the season he'd go out before dawn to try to shoot doves - and not see a one. Meanwhile, they'd be roosting in the trees and on the wires, waiting for him to leave so they could go back and dine on the bounty he provided. He'd leave and see hundreds of doves on our property - it frustrated him no end.

Our wildlife population doubles as soon as hunting season begins - we still allow only limited hunting. One young man, and he only takes one or two old does a year to help manage the population. We had so many deer they were no longer healthy, so this is good.