This area can only be accessed by boat and is very difficult to hunt. You must wear hip boots or waders because of the mud that can be more than waist deep. It is loaded with gators, snakes and bugs - we hunted in colder weather, otherwise they can be unbearable. I was there this week in temps close to 70, and saw many gators and snakes; I forgot my thermocell and the skeeters and no-see-ums tore me up, plus I brought home a dozen ticks! I am a relatively new boat owner and not used to tidal rivers, especially when the tide range is 6-8 feet. The first year, I got stuck on a sand bar on a submerged tree and burned up my water pump and ruined the outboard. Very expensive lesson. The second year, I learned to be very careful where to park my boat...
In that case, I only planned to scout an island for an hour, but one hour turned into three with several hog encounters and eventually a dead hog to cut up and pack out. The boat was taking on water in the back when I returned and was probably a half hour from being swamped. Oops.
I also had to tow out a buddy's boat last year when his outboard quit. This year the starter on my outboard acted up some and I had the only boat that week; I was worried that we would have to swim back to the boat ramp. Not fun with all the gators and snakes around.
For the second week I even mounted a back-up outboard, to help prevent being swept out to the ocean if the primary outboard quit on me...
I returned solo this week to hunt a new spot that I was warned could only be accessed for a very brief period during high tide. I arrived at high tide and promised myself to just look around for an hour. Well I found hogs within 10 minutes and stalked one group after another, completely losing track of time for over 3 hours. My boat was high and dry when I returned, and I had to wait for 6 hours before I could escape... :mad:
I guess if it was easy, anybody could do it. I can't wait to attend my next PBS membership hunt.