Take Another Road: Finding Adventure in Florida Wildlife Management Areas

What'cha Lookin' At? - Spirit of the Wild WMA

Its no secret I love the outdoors, like most folks do. Even when I was a young boy in Virginia during the cold winter months, I would pour over the latest issue of National Geographic, the Smithsonian or even early issues of Florida Sportsman. I would sometimes imagine going to those far away places as a photographer living the adventure.

Osprey Standing Guard - Babcock-Webb WMA

Morning Deer - CREW WMA - Flint Pen Strand

It turns out that nature photography is very much like those adventures I imagined. Its actually a lot like hunting. Birds, animals and insects just don't seem to get the idea that they are supposed to freeze and say “cheese”. You have to stalk your quarry in hopes of squeezing off a precious few photos before they scamper into the brush. Florida has a plethora of unusual and rare animals to hunt with a camera and I have found the best place to start are the hundreds of Wildlife Management Areas and State Forests that are comprised of millions of acres throughout the state.

Roseate Spoonbill - CREW WMA - Flint Pen Strand

Patience is Key - Big Cypress National Refuge

I am not much of a “birder” in the sense that I don't know the names of most birds. But, they sure are fun to photograph. They don't sit still for long and there is so many different types. I find it a very challenging adventure to seek out specific birds that are hard to photograph. For example, the Crested Caracara has a very small isolated population in Florida. I have never seen one in my area, let alone photographed one, so plans were laid for my photo hunting adventure. We travelled through Lee, Collier and Hendry Counties visiting several WMA’s and a State Forest and ended up at the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed, or Crew. After walking miles of trails, we found them. They are skittish, so getting great photos proved to be difficult, but we were successful.

Even Insects Need Attention - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Pileated Woodpecker - Okaloacooche Slough State Forest

There are so many factors that can determine whether a wildlife photography trip ends in success such as time of day, equipment, stealthiness and patience. You cant expect to drive through a WMA and take pictures from your car, although with some luck that does happen from time to time. Its important to prepare for a sometimes lengthy hike through dense brush, or to sit in a blind for long periods of time. Getting the right shot may mean a significant investment in lenses, but some lower priced lenses can also perform well. A little research goes a long way. You can find out a lot about the species you intend to target and plan for the best time to stalk them by searching online resources.

Herons, Spoonbills, Ibises and Storks - CREW WMA - Flint Pen Strand

Be Stealthy for Big Rewards

Perhaps the best thing about wildlife photography is just being outdoors. The more time spent quietly walking trails will reveal more animals and plants that are normally not noticed. For me, it enhances an already deep love and appreciation for nature and wildlife and you get to bring something home. I have realized that I don't have to go to those faraway places to find what I am looking for, I can explore the millions of acres right here in Florida and live the adventure.