Toby Benoit

Last week, I told y’all about my scouting trips out to the Chassahowitzka WMA on our most western edge of the county. Today, I want to tell you about my trips out to visit the WMA along our Eastern edge. The Richloam Wildlife Management Area. Now, we here in Hernando County don’t have exclusive rights to this fifty-eight thousand acre plus property as we share it with Sumter, Pasco and Lake Counties, but it surely is worth a ride out there for a hunt.

As a born and bred Florida Cracker, I was raised on the gospel of deer hunting swamps. Grandpa solemnly preached the benefits of hunting the wet, nasty swamps. When the water levels are high, the smart deer take advantage of it and seek out the tiny islands for sanctuary.

Readying the truck and my crew for night number four of this year’s Florida Python challenge. So far, it’s been a great time: two Burmese pythons in two days and an unexpected bonus catch of a green anaconda. That was awesome….the joker tried to bite my thumb off!

Sean Cummins, with daughter Bristol and his first ever Burmese Python caught during the Florida Python Challenge, while hunting with Toby. [Photo by Toby Benoit]

Bristol Cummins and her very first hog, after a trapping adventure with her daddy Sean and Ol' Uncle Toby in Istachatta. [Photo by Toby Benoit]Bristol Cummins and her very first hog, after a trapping adventure with her daddy Sean and Ol' Uncle Toby in Istachatta. [Photo by Toby Benoit]

Jimbo Dixon ready to climb aboard his bull. [Photo provided]

With Hurricane Milton now having come and gone, I’m praying for everyone negatively affected by the storm. I came out okay, better than many, and spent the first few days after the storm helping clear roads and homes of downed trees. What a mess it was. But, by Sunday afternoon, I was back in the woods.

David Criswell and a mature eight point buck taken with his muzzleloader. [Photo by Toby Benoit]

The Second Seminole War here in Florida was very important to the development of Florida, and the settlement of the Nature Coast. This was the costliest war for the United States of any of its campaigns against the indigenous tribes in the nation's history. The Second Seminole War cost more than $30 million and the lives of nearly 1,500 soldiers.

A true trophy of a buck taken in his ranch in Istachatta, which Toby skinned and caped with the aid of a dull knife! [Photo by Toby Benoit]