Ryan Nitz | How to Start Public Land Hunting in Florida | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 365

Ryan Nitz is a Florida outdoorsman and avid public land hunter who has been hunting Florida's wildlife management areas since he was 18 years old. He's also an accomplished snook fisherman who appeared on Saltwater Experience with Tom Rowland. In this episode, Ryan breaks down exactly how to get started with public land hunting in Florida—from getting your license and finding WMAs to scouting, wind direction, and safety. He reveals why opening day is something beginners should avoid, how patience separates successful public land hunters from unsuccessful ones, and why Florida's 6 million acres of public hunting land remain one of the state's best-kept secrets. If you've ever wondered how to start hunting or thought Florida was just for fishing, this conversation will change your perspective.

The Opening Day Reality Nobody Talks About

There's a harsh truth about opening day on Florida's public hunting land that Ryan learned the hard way. When a WMA like Corbett opens, hundreds of hunters flood the property at once. Some don't know what they're doing. Some are shooting at everything that moves. Some are shooting at bushes. Ryan warns it can actually be unsafe, especially for beginners who don't yet understand hunting protocols and pressure. His advice? Let the dust settle. Come back the second or third weekend, or hunt midweek when the crowds have thinned and the deer have settled back into patterns after the initial chaos. Ryan explains why patience on timing is just as important as patience in the stand at 6:00.

Why You Don't Need Expensive Gear to Start Hunting

Ryan is blunt about gear: you don't need to spend a fortune. When he started at 18, he had a rifle, a pair of boots, jeans, and a dark t-shirt. That's it. Over 11 years, he's built up his arsenal—tree stands, camo, backpacks, quality boots—but none of that is required to get in the woods. The biggest excuse he hears is "I can't afford all the gear." His response? You don't need it. Take a rifle and a box of shells, find a good spot, sit down, and wait. That's hunting in its simplest form. The outdoor experience, the camping, the disconnection from the world—that's what makes it special. The conversation about what you actually need to start hunting begins at 8:00.

Wind Direction Is Everything

Ryan calls it "everything"—wind direction is the single most important factor when hunting deer. A deer's nose is its primary defense mechanism, and they can smell you from hundreds of yards away. If the wind is blowing from you toward the deer, you're done before you start. The deer will smell you and disappear. That's why Ryan scouts multiple spots and hunts different locations based entirely on wind direction. If the wind is out of the east, he hunts one area. If it's out of the west, he's in a completely different spot. This isn't optional strategy—it's fundamental to success. The detailed explanation of how to play the wind and why it matters more than anything else starts at 10:50.

Florida's Hunting Diversity Beyond Deer

Most people think Florida is only about fishing, but Ryan is working to change that perception. Beyond white-tailed deer, Florida offers wild hog hunting year-round with no limits—FWC actually wants hunters to harvest them because they're destructive. Then there's turkey hunting, specifically for the Osceola turkey, one of only four subspecies of wild turkey in North America and found exclusively in Florida. Turkey season typically opens in March, and Ryan describes calling in a gobbler as one of the most exciting experiences in the outdoors. Add small game like squirrel and rabbit, plus dove and duck hunting in certain areas, and Florida's 6 million acres of public land suddenly look very different. Ryan's breakdown of what you can hunt in Florida and why the Osceola turkey is special begins at 13:50.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I've had Ryan on Saltwater Experience, and that snook fishing episode was one of the most memorable we've ever done. But getting him on the podcast to talk about public land hunting in Florida opened up a completely different side of what this state offers. So many people don't even know you can hunt here, let alone that there are 6 million acres of public land available.

What I love about this conversation is how practical Ryan makes it. He's not trying to sell you thousands of dollars in gear or make it seem like you need to be an expert. He started with a rifle and boots. That's it. And over 11 years, he's turned public land hunting into something he's truly passionate about—not just for the harvest, but for the entire outdoor experience.

If you've ever thought about hunting, or if you're someone who already hunts but wants to understand Florida's public land system better, this episode is packed with actionable information. Ryan walks through everything from getting your license to understanding wind direction to why you should avoid opening day. This is one of those episodes where you'll want to take notes. Listen to the whole thing.