Cross Country Outfitters, LLC

Formerly known as B & J Outfitters

 Psalm 42:1  As the deer pants for water, so my soul yearns for thee, O Lord.

Florida Osceola Hunting, Spring 2008!

National Turkey Calling Champion Lance Hanger, Owner of Tomaflage Jay Bordelon and son Cody Bordelon with Brady Giles.       

All of the ground is private and consists of a variety of habitats, from cypress hamocks to improved pastures to planted pines.  We use both ground blinds and natural blinds, and have had a 100% shot opportunity for the past 5 years.  The last two years, we have had ten hunters in camp on the opening weekend, and all ten were tagged out before 10:00 am.!

Your Hunt

Not only is the Osceola turkey one of the most sought after birds, but it is also one of the more elusive and harder to kill birds in the Grand Slam.  They are the most cautious, less vocal bird, but have the baddest spurs of the bunch.  Add an array of biting insects and thick foliage, and one has the perfect recipe for a memorable hunt.  The perfect combination of over 13 years of experience in both the hunting and guiding arenas, dedication to scouting, strategic blind placement, and consistent calling ensures you of the tom of a lifetime.  You will be hunting on over 6,000 acres of private ground, covering a variety of Florida’s beautiful terrain; secretive swamps, hardwood hammocks, rolling grasses, and piney woods.  We use many different types of blinds, from Doghouse and Double Bull pop-ups to natural bushes and pine tree brush-ins.  A guide is available to call for you on a 2:1 basis, depending on your preference and needs.  

Your hunt includes:

     Meals and accommodations

     Professional guide

     Country gourmet meals 

     Field-handling and basic preparation of game

Items not included:

     License and tag

     Beer and other alcoholic beverages

     Extra lodging and meals outside of hunt package

     Gratuities

Lance Lowery with a monster Osceola !  Five year old, 20 lbs, 1 3/4 spurs!

  Location and Local Terrain

     This area of Florida is unique in that most of the various habitats across the state can be found in the local area.  From acres of cypress knee swamps to pockets of hardwood hammocks filled with oaks, and pastures of rolling grasses to piney woods and palmetto thickets, your hunt with Cross Country Outfitters will show                                      you the best of what Florida has to offer.  We hunt these Crown Jewels of the Grand Slam west of Ocala in a town called Chiefland near the coast.  We are a full county below the Osceola line, so there is no doubt that these birds are full blooded Osceolas.  Our birds typcally weigh between 17 and 19 lbs, have the black wings with minimal barring, and the infamous "limbhangers" that the Osceola is known for.

 Typical Climate 

      Florida is notorious for drastic changes in weather in a short period of time.  Rain clouds can appear out of a blue sky, and temperatures can change from hot to cold in a span of a couple of hours.  Temperatures vary in the winter from the upper 70’s to the lower 30’s.  As spring approaches, temperatures can be in the upper 70’s and 80’s.  The only thing that does seem consistent is the humidity.   

   Gary Beatty with another Osceola trophy!          Lance Penney after a successful Osceola hunt!

Equipment

     The best way to combat the unpredictable weather is to bring clothes suitable for both warm and cold weather.  It is colder in the mornings and hot by noon, so a long sleeve shirt and a light jacket should work fine.  Even though it might be warm, a long sleeve shirt is recommended due to the amount of mosquitoes in the woods during spring time. Hunting garb should consist of comfortable shoes or boots.  Although we have never had a hunter bitten by a snake, they are in the woods.  The most common in the terrain we hunt is the cottonmouth and diamond back rattler.  Snake boots are relatively cheap, and can be used in other types of hunting conditions besides in Florida .  They come waterproofed, which is also a smart investment, as sometimes short trips through ankle deep water is necessary.  Waterproofed clothing items are also recommended, as rain can appear out of nowhere, so at least a waterproof slicker is a good investment.  Be careful, however, of the noise level rain gear can sometimes produce.

     Any type of camouflage is acceptable, especially those with a combination of green and brown colors, as many of the flora retain their spring colors in the winter.  We found that Tomaflage, a pattern from the Custom Camo company works exceptionally well with the bright green colors of spring.  It can be purchased online at www.tomaflage.com.    Scent-free items, from clothing to sprays, are not crucial since turkeys have very keen eyesight and rely very little on their sense of smell.  In Florida , hunter orange is not required during turkey season. 

     LED lights, which that emit a blue light, are less noticeable then white light flashlights, and are nice to when walking through deadfall and swampy areas.  

     Many hunters prefer to use their own decoys, chairs, blinds, and calls.                                                               Brady Giles in Tomaflage with Bob Schimd of PA. 

Please feel free to bring whatever you want on your hunt.  If you prefer to call your own birds or hunt solo, let us know; or, you can have a guide call for you.

     Insect repellent is an almost required item to have on hand.  Every kind of biting, stinging, and plain annoying insect makes its home in Florida .  The typical OFF or similar brand sprays are sufficient.  A product called Thermacell works very well for any type of hunting.  A small butane lighter burns a chemical soaked pad which releases a bug repellent mist into the air.  It works exceptionally well in blinds, and is almost 100% scent free.  We are planning on providing a pro shop in the near future which would have most of the above mentioned items as well as shirts and hats available for purchase.

 Licenses and Fees