Things To Do
Hunting, Fishing and More!
A Secluded Paradise
Crooked River Woods is 12,ooo acres of exclusively secluded land. A 2 1/2 mile drive from the nearest road, you can be assured of your privacy. Come to relax, hunt, fish, or whatever you want to do at our outdoor paradise.
Crooked River Woods is a 12,000 acre lush property with 2 1/2 miles of riverfront land along the fresh spring fed Withlacoochie River. Are you looking for privacy and seclusion? Look no further. We are miles from the nearest paved road, however still allowing access for cars and RV’s of course. Our proximity to the Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve, which is federally protected land, puts us in a position to have some of the most bountiful hunting grounds in the state of Florida. Wether you are coming for deer, small game, feral hogs, or the prized Oceola Turkey, you are guaranteed to have a great time. Tons of these animals spill over the border of the preserve right onto our land.
Surrounded by thousands and thousands of acres of natural and undeveloped natural land, along with a beautiful fresh spring water-fed river from coming from the nearby Withlacoochie River, we are the perfect location to get the best adventure possible while still staying connected to the outside world. We are located right next to Ocala and only about a half hour from Orlando. This allows us to have the best of both worlds, being centrally located but also extremely secluded. Crooked River Woods makes sure each of our visitors gets the most out of their trip.
Activities For The True Outdoorsman
Crooked River Woods is the outdoorsman dream vacation. From bountiful prized hunting game, amazing fishing, jet skiing, boating, swimming, shooting, and more. We offer your pleasures in a secluded off-the-grid location.
Prize Game Hunting & Fishing
Osceola Turkey: This is perhaps the biggest attraction we have here at Crooked River Woods. In fact, we have many regular guests who book a trip or an event here every year just for the sole purpose of participating in some of the best, prize turkey hunting available in the entire country. Others have a family tradition of getting their yearly Thanksgiving turkey here. For some people it is simply a once-or-twice-in-a-lifetime experience. Regardless of why you want to hunt these Osceola prized turkeys; there are also considerations of how you want to hunt them and when it is allowed. The official dates and equipment are as follows:
- Archery Season: Sept. 19 – Oct. 18
- Crossbow Season: Sept. 19 – Oct. 23
- Muzzle Loading Gun Season: Oct. 24 – Nov. 6
- Fall Turkey Season: Nov. 7 - Jan. 3 *
For more information, please visit https://myfwc.com/hunting/turkey/
Deer: Deer hunting is also a highly popular activity here at Crooked River and certainly draws its own number of guests looking to join in on the excitement of the hunt. When it comes to hunting deer specifically, there are a number of different ways to do so, archery hunting among the most popular form. On top of that, deer hunting also has its own youth-dedicated weekend to instill the love of the sport in youngsters. Here are the state guidelines for when and how to legally hunt deer in the region:
- Archery Season: Sept. 19 – Oct. 18
- Crossbow Season: Sept. 19 – Oct. 23
- Muzzle Loading Gun Season: Oct. 24 – Nov. 6
- Youth Deer Hunt Weekend: Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 *
- General Gun Season: Nov. 7 – Jan. 24
To find out more, simply go to https://myfwc.com/hunting/deer/
Feral Hogs: Hogs can be a fun and rugged hunting experience. These short and stout creatures can be quite ornery and mean. Hunting them takes skill and attention to detail. Many avid outdoor gaming enthusiasts enjoy the challenge in bringing down this type of animal. Just as with rabbits, feral hogs offer a year-round hunting season, although with certain bag limits.
Small Game: Numerous other small game such as rabbits, quail, gray squirrels, bobcat, otter, skunks, raccoons, and others are also available to hunt for those who are interested. Their seasons and limits start at various points and end at differing times as well.
Fishing: The Withlacoochee river has been deemed "Outstanding Florida Water" by the Florida Department Of Environmental Protection for its pristine water and character. This waterway is a freshwater fisherman's' dream. The river is full of large mouth bass (exceeding 12lbs ), chain pickeral, red-eared sunfish, catfish, speckled perch, gar, bowfin, bream, and more! The utter beauty of this waterway coupled with plentiful species of fish, make it a paradise for both amateur and professional anglers.
Swimming, Boating & Jet Skiing
Crooked River Woods enjoys a 2 1/2 mile stretch of the beautiful Withlacoochie River. Being a natural spring-fed river, the crystal-clear waters offer everything a water lover or water sport activist could hope for.
Jet Skiing: This stretch of river offers unparalleled jet skiing conditions. The water is always calm, cool, and surrounded by some of the most scenic forest you could ever hope for. The winding river is the ultimate jet skiing experience.
Boating: The river is also suitable for boating. If you wish to explore more of our wonderful waterway, a boat is a great option. Take the entire family or group of friends out to see this amazing section of the state of Florida.
Swimming: Ever swim in a fresh water spring? If not, you don’t know what you're missing. The water is extremely clean and clear, while always staying on cool even on the hottest of Florida days.
Off-The-Grid Activities & Shooting
For those who aren’t as interested in hunting as they are just doing a little shooting or target practice, we haven’t forgotten about you either. Here are a few fun options:
Clay Pigeons: Enjoy a little ceramic bird hunting by yourself or with others in your group. Practice your reaction time and accuracy skills while not having to worry about cleaning game afterwards.
Paper Targets: Get in a little target practice alone or make it a contest between you and a friend or family member. Sometimes it’s just fun to squeeze off a few rounds and see how well you do.
Whatever You Want Within Reason: Depending on what you prefer, there may also be many other target possibilities available here at Crooked River, within our guidelines, of course. Choices like bottles, cans, cutouts, or other options may be available at certain times.