My name is Mickey Locke. I run www.reeladdictioncharters.net (Offshore Fishing) out of Panama City. I swapped out a Fishing trip for a deer hunt in this area and was wondering if anyone had any information on what time frame the rut is and if this was a pretty good area for decent bucks. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Capt. Mick

I've hunted that area in past. Gorgeous country with an abundance of deer, turkey, varmints and most likely hogs. As I recal, the rut was around mid to late November. Buck size will depend on the size and management practices of the property owners. You could reasonable expect a mature buck to be in the 120-130 range. Exceptional bucks would be larger and rarer.

Thanks LP for the response.....I mainly hunt Florida so just hunting somewhere new will be exciting to me! The biggest deer Ive ever killed was 120" so if I can get something close to that I would be happy! I can go anytime in December so Ill probably choose the first week now. Thanks Mickey

Deer in that part of the state are highly addicted (raised on) to corn. Go during the week, put out a couple of bags of corn in areas you can see from your stand (not just by a feeder) and sit all or most of the day. Big bucks are rare in this area. Expect to see a ton of deer. Hunting pressure and management practices can make or break a ranch there.

The owner told me I could come anytime in Dec. Right now its looking like the last week of Dec. is the when Ill be able to go. Do yall think I would be wasting my time? Or would the buck be more apt to come to corn being there ran down from the rut?

The only problem I see with coming so late is that many of the older, mature bucks stand a good chance of having busted up antlers from fighting.

Post rut is definitely a good time because the bucks will come to corn after getting run down from the rut.

I think earlier in Dec. would be best though.

they should be in or getting ready to be in the second rut by that time. Lots of deer in that area, you will go home with one