Florida’s got a reputation for beaches and theme parks—but if you’ve spent any time in the woods or on the water, you know there’s more to it than that.
Get a few miles past where the pavement ends, and the real Sunshine State starts to show itself.
A Florida where the morning starts with the crunch of boots on frosty grass, not plastic turnstiles.
Where the only thing you’re waiting on is a Labrador’s tail starting to twitch right before the ducks lock their wings and come in low.
There’s a long tradition of private hunting lodges in Florida. But it’s a quiet tradition—deliberately so. Most are tucked away on private lands across the Panhandle, Big Bend, and central peninsula. Many are family-run, invite-only, or word-of-mouth operations. And a few, like Econfina Sporting Club, are purpose-built to provide a refined, curated experience that doesn’t sacrifice the authenticity of the hunt.
Let’s walk through what sets the state’s top hunting lodges apart—and why Florida’s backcountry is a destination worth knowing.
Why Florida?
Florida isn’t a “one-style” hunting destination. The same state that gives you flooded timber vibes in the Panhandle can put you in open marsh, pine flats, hardwood pockets, and coastal edges, sometimes all within the same day depending on where you’re staying. That variety is part of why people from both in and out of state search for hunting lodges in North Florida and the Nature Coast in the first place. They’re not just looking for a bed. They’re looking for access, logistics, property quality, and a lodge that feels like it was built for this life.
That said, Florida isn’t just deer and gators, either. From flooded timber duck hunts to airboat redfish runs, there’s an incredible range of ecosystems packed into these latitudes. The Big Bend region in particular offers something you won’t find many other places in the Southeast USA: unpressured land, abundant game, and water that still feels wild.
The best sporting lodges in Florida aren’t just accommodations, they’re gateways to privately managed land, expert hunting and fishing guides, and outdoor experiences tailored for guests who expect more than just a good spot to park a treestand.
And if you’re looking in the Nature Coast / Big Bend orbit, it’s hard to ignore this: The lodge is part of the hunting experience. It affects how early you’re moving, how efficient the mornings are, how gear gets staged, how meals and downtime work, and a lot more.
Florida’s Top Fishing & Hunting Lodge
Econfina Sporting Club – Where True Grit Meets True Grace
Econfina Sporting Club is a world-class hunting lodge in Florida, set on a private expanse of wild, beautiful country near the Gulf.
It’s the kind of place where the redfish feed tight to the banks and the ducks drop into pockets no one else can reach. A place built for people who live for mornings like that—and appreciate good bourbon and good company at the end of the day.
Econfina Sporting Club boasts some of the best fishing and hunting lands in North Florida, carefully managed and professionally guided. Location is practical too, especially if you’re coordinating flights, trucks, timing, and meet-ups with friends. This isn’t “somewhere out there.” These are premier hunting and fishing grounds about 30 minutes from Lamont and Perry, and less than an hour from Tallahassee, making it accessible without sacrificing the feeling of true seclusion.
Duck Hunting
The Big Bend is known for its rich mix of habitat—hardwood swamps, coastal creeks, freshwater marshes, and pine uplands. That’s why this area is so productive for game.
In Florida’s Big Bend area, hunters can target a diverse range of duck species due to the region’s mix of freshwater marshes, coastal estuaries, and shallow bays.
So whether you’re calling in ringnecks from a layout blind or scouting flooded cypress for wood ducks, you’re in country that holds birds year after year.
Common Waterfowl Species of Florida’s Big Bend: What You’ll Encounter at Econfina Sporting Club
Hunting the Big Bend isn’t like hunting the Mississippi Flyway or timber in Arkansas. The species mix here reflects the region’s unique geography—a blend of freshwater sloughs, brackish backwaters, and Gulf-facing marshes. This land is quiet, wild, and productive. Below are the ducks you’re most likely to encounter when hunting at Econfina Sporting Club or near Steinhatchee, with insight into their habits, hotspots, and timing.
Redhead
A true icon of coastal duck hunting in Florida, redheads are fast, hardy divers that raft up by the hundreds in open bays and saltwater flats. Along the Big Bend coastline, they’re often found offshore of Spring Warrior Creek, Rock Island, and the mouth of the Econfina River, particularly in the late season.
When the wind stacks the tide just right, they’ll ride it closer into the mouths of brackish estuaries. Hunters set up in saltmarsh edge blinds have a good chance at decoying them tight.
Mottled Duck
If there’s a signature duck of Florida’s Gulf marshes, this is it. Mottled ducks are year-round residents and fiercely local—they don’t migrate far, if at all. You’ll find them loafing in isolated pockets of freshwater marsh, and tucked into willow thickets.
They’re wary, rarely vocal, and come in low and quiet. That makes them a rewarding challenge for hunters who scout smart and shoot clean.
Blue-Winged Teal
Early teal season in the Big Bend can feel like opening day of dove season. These fast, fluttery ducks rip through marsh cuts and flooded edges in groups of three to ten, usually right after first light. They’re active in shallow sloughs near the Econfina headwaters and along flooded flats behind the levees north of Perry. When they’re moving, they’re everywhere. Great for mixed-bag mornings and fast-paced shooting.
Gadwall
Often overlooked until they’re already hanging in the strap, gadwalls are quiet, graceful dabblers that frequent coastal ponds and deeper flooded areas inland. You’ll catch them in mixed flocks with teal and wigeon around Cow Creek, Ward Island, and in oxbows along the lower Fenholloway. Gray-bodied with black rumps, they decoy well but don’t always commit without motion in your spread.
Ring-Necked Duck
Locally called “ringers,” these birds are freshwater divers that favor cypress ponds and sinkhole lakes, particularly in cooler months. They fly fast and low, often in tight groups, and can surprise you with how quickly they swing into a set. You may find them on old phosphate pits, deep tannin-stained pools near Cabbage Grove, and pockets in beaver impoundments north of Lamont.
Wigeon
Econfina’s brackish edges and flooded sawgrass flats near the Aucilla WMA are prime for wigeon. These dabblers are grazers—they feed on submerged grasses and prefer wide-open marshes where they can land from high above.
Their whistling calls are unmistakable, and when the cold fronts push them down, you’ll find them flying midday when other species have gone still.
Mallard
Less common in Florida than in other states, mallards still show up occasionally around managed impoundments and freshwater holes near Econfina. Most are local stocks or wild birds pushed down after hard weather farther north.
Scaup (Lesser and Greater)
Known locally as bluebills, scaup are late-season divers that raft up in open bays and coastal runouts. You’ll find them out near Hickory Mound Impoundment, Spring Warrior Bay, and occasionally pushing into the St. Marks Refuge estuary zones on a north wind.
They come in hot, often in waves, and are perfect for layout hunts and boat blinds when conditions are right.
Canvasback
More elusive in this region, canvasbacks are true deep-water divers that favor open, salty water over freshwater potholes. Every few years, weather and water clarity align to bring them into larger bay systems south of Econfina, but they remain a prize bird. When they show, they stand out—bold white bodies, red heads, and that unmistakable speed.
Green-Winged Teal
Smaller and faster than their blue-winged cousins, green-wings arrive later in the season and tend to feed in mudflats, flooded millet, and soft-bottomed marsh cuts. They can pack into shallow oxbows north of Perry or buzz through interior marsh grass near the Aucilla Delta. Their agility makes for dynamic shooting—especially when they twist through timber gaps or creek mouths.
Northern Pintail
Sleek, elegant, and wary, pintails are the gentleman’s duck. They frequent coastal lagoons and open marshes near Cow Creek and the Econfina mouth, often circling high before dropping in slow.
They don’t tolerate sloppy decoy spreads or skybusting—if you want pintail in range, you’ll have to earn it. When they do commit, it’s the kind of moment you don’t forget.
Guided Fishing Trips
Of course, Florida’s best sporting lodges don’t stop at the treeline. If you’re the type to swap a duck blind for an airboat—or take a break from tree stands to chase redfish in skinny water—you’ll appreciate what’s on offer.
- Fishing charters at Econfina Sporting Club offer opportunities to catch redfish, trout, black drum, and more. With expert North Florida fishing guides, you’ll fish shallow waters, sight cast to trophy-sized fish in Florida’s most productive fishing spots. Full-day & half-day options available.
- Bass fishing in these waters offers an exceptional experience, with the opportunity to catch trophy bass in some of Florida’s premier freshwater locations. Guided by experienced professionals, you’ll be taken to the best spots for a productive and enjoyable day on the water.
- Glide into hidden backwaters and skinny creeks where few boats can go. Our airboats offer a unique way to fish shallow water for redfish and more. Great for thrill-seekers, nature lovers, and photographers alike.
It’s one thing to fish a place that’s known. It’s another to fish water that’s quiet. Unmapped. Local. The kind of places where the tide’s still in charge, and the bite shows up before the boat noise does. That’s what you get out here.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of places in Florida to hang a hammock, or book a weekend hunt. But if you’re looking for the kind of lodge that earns your return trip before you’ve even left, it takes more than land and luck.
It takes stewardship. Attention to detail. The kind of outfitter who understands that real sporting heritage is earned every season, one hunter at a time.
That’s what you’ll find at Econfina Sporting Club. Click here to reserve your stay.
