Sidetracked
New member
Everyone knows the habits of wildlife change. It's also a very good idea to do the scouting yourself. However, the laziness of wildlife usually keeps the habits fairly predictable. I figured I would try to give a little info to hunters in the area...
I spent 6 years living in FWB, Mary Esther, Navarre, and Holley. All of those years, I was hell-bent on bagging some swamp deer. I scouted every chance I got, no matter what time of year it was. As luck would have it... I was out of the country or hunting Muleys for 5 years straight, during deer season. Last year, I scouted just like the prior years. However, again, other priorities kept me from hunting the first half of the hunt, and I moved away before most units reopened in January. I never bagged my swamp deer.
That being said, these are my observations for the Western Half of Eglin; that may help you get started. I'm sorry, I never had a GPS device. All locations have to be described, or are Google Earth coordinates. Also, many of the roads I cite are terrible. You need to walk, not care about your paint, or use an ATV on many of these roads.
Unit 12: South to North, along 87.
Dean Creek: (East of Holley)
Where Watering Head Creek and Dean Creek meet, I saw good bucks on a regular basis; all the way up November. Tons and tons of acorns on the ground every year.
Where Watering Head Creek crosses the power line road, top of the hill to the eastern side of the crossing.
I saw a few decent bucks running just below the crest of the hill every morning, until last year. I never saw them last year, but the tracks were still around; even down by the water.
Be careful at the crossing itself. I was charged by a bear twice last year, and the crossing changes with every rain. (Watch out for the burned out S-10 blazer in the road.) The western side of the crossing has a big mud pit before the climb up the hill. Don't even try it unless it's dry, or you have good tires.
East side of 87 at Road 726. (about 1/2 mile north of where the power lines cross 87. The road is gated, but unlocked unless FPCON Delta.)
Once you get away from 87, there is an area of new-growth timber on the north side of Road 726. The time of day did not matter. I saw every type of buck and doe imaginable, every time I came through here. It was a very good spot, but small. Everything else around here is pretty barren.
Long Branch Creek.
I won't even try to give details. Every time I was in this area, I hated it. Too much swamp. But... there were a fair amount of deer close to the bay.
Hicks Creek.
This 'creek' is dry 6 months out of the year. Don't believe people that tell you otherwise. Scouting the southern parts of it are worth your time, but you'll have to hike it. The roads are nearly impassible.
The triangle created by Road 736, the Yellow River, and Hicks Creek is a great place to see some nice does and good bucks. It is not a good area to hunt, however. It is hard to find a tree that will be safe enough for a stand, and if you try to move on foot; the deer will hear you before you see them.
Road 736 between Hicks Creek and Aux Field 10.
Both sides of the road have good areas. Look for new growth, small gullies, and thick ground cover. You'll know the areas when you see them.
The pond on Hicks Creek.
If you fish, you may already know about this place. Fantastic fishing... and fantastic hunting. The problem is the fact that the deer move along a trail in the swampy section slightly to the southwest. If you set up in the trees north of the crashed F-86 (30*32'52"N, 86*57'32"W), you should have a herd moving toward you in the morning. After that... your guess is as good as mine. I hated the bugs that came with daylight. There are gators in the pond, but not too big.
Weaver River pond.
Just north of the campground, and northeast of here... The deer seem to like this area, but it's a bi$%h to hunt. Too thick for most people.
Buck Pond.
The western side of the pond doesn't have monster bucks, but some decent ones. To the south, I have seen a few does. It's not a big area. If you watch it in the morning and at night, you'll see something. They love the gully that is lower than pond level on the western side of the pond. It is a beautiful natural funnel. (Semi-popular area)
Everything East of 87 and north of Road 211. (Boiling creek and vacinity)
It's a great area. I won't lie. If I had been able to hunt last year, this would have been my first stop. The triangle between Poplar branch, Cherry branch, and Boiling creek is a fantastic little spot. But... there are a lot of Miltonians that hunt this area. ...Like flies on a turd... If you really want to go here, try Dry Hollow (almost as far east as you can go before unit 14). There will be fewer people.
Unit 3: (Limited to Archery the last few years)
Road 722 and the power lines. (West half of the unit)
Just South of where Road 722 crosses the power lines, I saw a herd running along the power line road every morning I was here. Nothing special about the bucks, but we're talking about dog-sized deer anyway...
Eastern half of the Unit.
It's hard to describe exactly, so I'll just give a general area. The southwestern corner of this unit... Herd of 12-15, one very large doe, one very nice 5x6 buck.
Unit 14:
Robert's Pond. (North of Hurlburt)
I really wanted to bag this sucker.... there is a an old scraggly atypical buck running around near this pond. He had 6 points on one side, and a spiny grapefruit on the other. I usually saw him in the evening. If anyone from this forum ever takes him... I want a picture.
The 'V' between Alligator Creek and Turtle Creek. (North of Hurlburt)
(30*28'43"N 86*40'46"W)
Without fail, I ALWAYS saw 2-3 different herds moving around here. The downside... If you aren't hiking through swamp... you aren't getting close. There is only one road to get you in, and it doesn't go far.
Beware of going south of Alligator creek. Hurlburt has some kind of 'Biological Testing' going on. A large portion of the area is fenced off.
Aux Field 4.
The biggest buck I saw while on Eglin. Right on Knot Creek, due west of where Road 633 meets 236. (30*31'17"N 86*36'19"W) I've also heard many accounts of other good deer coming out of here. The best hunting is archery season, though.
North of Timberlake.
Timberlake was a pain in my ass. The deer know it is a safe-haven, and love staying on the 'safe' side of the power line road. However, you can often catch them in the mornings, moving south from the north side of the road into the protected area.
Poachers...
I saw a lot of evidence of poaching around Holley, Buck Pond, and all over the Boiling Creek area. At the very least, keep a knife on you while in these areas.
Take this info as you wish. I figured I would share, since I'll never hunt there again. I'll be back in Muley territory soon, and no longer need a swamp deer.
Good luck.
I spent 6 years living in FWB, Mary Esther, Navarre, and Holley. All of those years, I was hell-bent on bagging some swamp deer. I scouted every chance I got, no matter what time of year it was. As luck would have it... I was out of the country or hunting Muleys for 5 years straight, during deer season. Last year, I scouted just like the prior years. However, again, other priorities kept me from hunting the first half of the hunt, and I moved away before most units reopened in January. I never bagged my swamp deer.
That being said, these are my observations for the Western Half of Eglin; that may help you get started. I'm sorry, I never had a GPS device. All locations have to be described, or are Google Earth coordinates. Also, many of the roads I cite are terrible. You need to walk, not care about your paint, or use an ATV on many of these roads.
Unit 12: South to North, along 87.
Dean Creek: (East of Holley)
Where Watering Head Creek and Dean Creek meet, I saw good bucks on a regular basis; all the way up November. Tons and tons of acorns on the ground every year.
Where Watering Head Creek crosses the power line road, top of the hill to the eastern side of the crossing.
I saw a few decent bucks running just below the crest of the hill every morning, until last year. I never saw them last year, but the tracks were still around; even down by the water.
Be careful at the crossing itself. I was charged by a bear twice last year, and the crossing changes with every rain. (Watch out for the burned out S-10 blazer in the road.) The western side of the crossing has a big mud pit before the climb up the hill. Don't even try it unless it's dry, or you have good tires.
East side of 87 at Road 726. (about 1/2 mile north of where the power lines cross 87. The road is gated, but unlocked unless FPCON Delta.)
Once you get away from 87, there is an area of new-growth timber on the north side of Road 726. The time of day did not matter. I saw every type of buck and doe imaginable, every time I came through here. It was a very good spot, but small. Everything else around here is pretty barren.
Long Branch Creek.
I won't even try to give details. Every time I was in this area, I hated it. Too much swamp. But... there were a fair amount of deer close to the bay.
Hicks Creek.
This 'creek' is dry 6 months out of the year. Don't believe people that tell you otherwise. Scouting the southern parts of it are worth your time, but you'll have to hike it. The roads are nearly impassible.
The triangle created by Road 736, the Yellow River, and Hicks Creek is a great place to see some nice does and good bucks. It is not a good area to hunt, however. It is hard to find a tree that will be safe enough for a stand, and if you try to move on foot; the deer will hear you before you see them.
Road 736 between Hicks Creek and Aux Field 10.
Both sides of the road have good areas. Look for new growth, small gullies, and thick ground cover. You'll know the areas when you see them.
The pond on Hicks Creek.
If you fish, you may already know about this place. Fantastic fishing... and fantastic hunting. The problem is the fact that the deer move along a trail in the swampy section slightly to the southwest. If you set up in the trees north of the crashed F-86 (30*32'52"N, 86*57'32"W), you should have a herd moving toward you in the morning. After that... your guess is as good as mine. I hated the bugs that came with daylight. There are gators in the pond, but not too big.
Weaver River pond.
Just north of the campground, and northeast of here... The deer seem to like this area, but it's a bi$%h to hunt. Too thick for most people.
Buck Pond.
The western side of the pond doesn't have monster bucks, but some decent ones. To the south, I have seen a few does. It's not a big area. If you watch it in the morning and at night, you'll see something. They love the gully that is lower than pond level on the western side of the pond. It is a beautiful natural funnel. (Semi-popular area)
Everything East of 87 and north of Road 211. (Boiling creek and vacinity)
It's a great area. I won't lie. If I had been able to hunt last year, this would have been my first stop. The triangle between Poplar branch, Cherry branch, and Boiling creek is a fantastic little spot. But... there are a lot of Miltonians that hunt this area. ...Like flies on a turd... If you really want to go here, try Dry Hollow (almost as far east as you can go before unit 14). There will be fewer people.
Unit 3: (Limited to Archery the last few years)
Road 722 and the power lines. (West half of the unit)
Just South of where Road 722 crosses the power lines, I saw a herd running along the power line road every morning I was here. Nothing special about the bucks, but we're talking about dog-sized deer anyway...
Eastern half of the Unit.
It's hard to describe exactly, so I'll just give a general area. The southwestern corner of this unit... Herd of 12-15, one very large doe, one very nice 5x6 buck.
Unit 14:
Robert's Pond. (North of Hurlburt)
I really wanted to bag this sucker.... there is a an old scraggly atypical buck running around near this pond. He had 6 points on one side, and a spiny grapefruit on the other. I usually saw him in the evening. If anyone from this forum ever takes him... I want a picture.
The 'V' between Alligator Creek and Turtle Creek. (North of Hurlburt)
(30*28'43"N 86*40'46"W)
Without fail, I ALWAYS saw 2-3 different herds moving around here. The downside... If you aren't hiking through swamp... you aren't getting close. There is only one road to get you in, and it doesn't go far.
Beware of going south of Alligator creek. Hurlburt has some kind of 'Biological Testing' going on. A large portion of the area is fenced off.
Aux Field 4.
The biggest buck I saw while on Eglin. Right on Knot Creek, due west of where Road 633 meets 236. (30*31'17"N 86*36'19"W) I've also heard many accounts of other good deer coming out of here. The best hunting is archery season, though.
North of Timberlake.
Timberlake was a pain in my ass. The deer know it is a safe-haven, and love staying on the 'safe' side of the power line road. However, you can often catch them in the mornings, moving south from the north side of the road into the protected area.
Poachers...
I saw a lot of evidence of poaching around Holley, Buck Pond, and all over the Boiling Creek area. At the very least, keep a knife on you while in these areas.
Take this info as you wish. I figured I would share, since I'll never hunt there again. I'll be back in Muley territory soon, and no longer need a swamp deer.
Good luck.
(My backyard was about a mile from Unit 3.)