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| John N. Felsher is available for photographic or writing assignments. A nationally published author, he contributed more than 1,350 articles to more than 100 magazines and four books. As syndicated newspaper columnist and outdoors editor for several newspapers, he's published countless articles and photographs since 1977. He's also available as a media consultant or information specialist. As such, he can write, edit or proofread news releases, brochures, reports, ad copy, web copy, advertorials, speeches, manuscripts or any other writing projects the client needs to accomplish. As a broadcaster who hosted his own television show and a live radio talk show, he's also available for hire as a public speaker or spokesperson. Contact him at the places listed on the Contact page. See John's Resume |
| Do you want to catch a 10-pound bass? Contact me at 321-765-4104 or j.felsher@hotmail.com for details. |
St. Johns River marshes offer duck
hunters good opportunities at birds
hunters good opportunities at birds
TOP: Hunters hide
in a boat blind while
hunting ducks in a
lake off the St. Johns
River near
Fellsmere, Fla.
CENTER: Hunters
pick up the decoys
after a successful
duck hunt in a lake
off the St. Johns
River near
Fellsmere, Fla.
BOTTOM: Daniel
Felsher shows off a
ring-necked duck
he killed while
hunting from a
canoe in a marsh
along the St. Johns
River near Geneva,
Fla.
in a boat blind while
hunting ducks in a
lake off the St. Johns
River near
Fellsmere, Fla.
CENTER: Hunters
pick up the decoys
after a successful
duck hunt in a lake
off the St. Johns
River near
Fellsmere, Fla.
BOTTOM: Daniel
Felsher shows off a
ring-necked duck
he killed while
hunting from a
canoe in a marsh
along the St. Johns
River near Geneva,
Fla.
The longest river in Florida and one of the slowest streams in the world,
the St. Johns begins as a collection of springs rising in the marshes near
Fellsmere, Fla., and flows 310 miles north into the Atlantic Ocean near
Jacksonville, Fla.
The watershed covers more than 1,888 square miles with more than
400,000 acres of the upper basin spread mostly through Osceola, Brevard,
Okeechobee, Indian River, Orange and Seminole counties of eastern Florida.
The upper St. Johns Basin between Geneva and Fellsmere largely consists of
freshwater marshes, cypress swamps, hardwood bottomlands and shallow
natural lakes interconnected by a maze of natural and manmade waterways.
These wetlands traditionally attract blue- and green-winged teal, pintail,
wigeon, gadwall, ring-necked ducks, canvasbacks and hooded mergansers
with a smattering of bluebills, mallards and other species. The marshes also
hold good numbers of non-migratory mottled ducks.
“The marshes on the St. Johns River offer very good duck hunting for
Florida,” said Byron Hennecy of Osceola Outback Adventures in St. Cloud,
Fla. “All along the St. Johns River south of Geneva, people can find good
duck hunting after just a short boat ride from almost any ramp, but much
depends upon the weather farther north. If we get cold weather north of
Florida, we have good duck hunting down here.”
Since the waterways belong to the public, sportsmen can hunt just about
any non-posted pothole they can find. However, some areas in parks or
preserves remain closed. Local regulations may prohibit hunting or
discharging firearms in areas. In addition, some state and federal lands offer
hunting, but season dates and other regulations may differ from statewide
laws so check the rulebook before hunting.
With so much public land available, do-it-yourself sportsmen can usually
find a good place to throw a few dozen decoys. Many people scout for duck
concentrations in small boats and then erect pop-up blinds around the boats
or hide them in thick vegetation. Others wade and crouch in high grass.
“Many people get out of their boats and walk to their areas in chest
waders,” Hennecy said. “Most waters are less than waist deep. In some
places, sportsmen can find higher ground or levees where they can sit on
stools to get out of the water. Most of the areas we hunt have hard bottoms
with lots of vegetation where people can hide.”
Several natural systems off the river, such as Puzzle Lake near Geneva,
offer good hunting. The Upper St. Johns Marsh Wildlife Management Area
contains about 124,623 acres of wetlands and waterways along the river in
Brevard and Indian River counties. Containing Lakes Winder, Poinsett and
Washington plus associated streams, this section offers some of the best
public waterfowl hunting in Florida. Sportsmen normally bag blue- or green-
winged teal, ring-necked ducks or a few wigeons, pintails and mottled ducks.
The marshes also hold a number of mergansers and coots.
“The area around Moccasin Island near Lake Winder can produce some
fantastic hunts at times,” said Jamie Feddersen, a Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission waterfowl biologist. “Some of the areas near the
Stick Marsh also offer good hunting.”
The T. M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area consists of about 3,870
acres of restored wetlands near Fellsmere. The associated Broadmoor Marsh
Unit offers another 2,400 acres. Intensively managed to provide quality
habitat for waterfowl, these two areas include about 3,000 acres of
impoundments with the remaining acreage consisting of marshes. Teal and
divers typically comprised the bulk of the harvest.
Although technically not part of the St. Johns system, West Lake
Tohopekaliga and the rest of the 100,000-acre Kissimmee chain of lakes can
hold good waterfowl concentrations. In addition, Merritt Island National Wildlife
Refuge near Titusville consists of 140,000 acres of salt marshes, estuaries
and freshwater impoundments along the Atlantic Ocean. Established as a
buffer zone for the nearby John F. Kennedy Space Center, it traditionally
holds good concentrations of teal, mottled ducks and divers.
Even when the ducks don’t fly, sportsmen should see an uncountable
number of birds and many animals in a scenic wetland setting. Warm Florida
weather often brings out alligators, even in late season. The big reptiles
commonly lurk around blinds, but usually don’t bother people. However, they
love slurping any dead or wounded birds that hit the water. Because of the
gators, many Florida sportsmen leave their prized retrievers home. A big
gator can take down an adult Labrador with little trouble.
For booking trips with Hennecy, call 407-908-3216 or 407-892-6266. On
line, see www.osceolaoutback.com.
the St. Johns begins as a collection of springs rising in the marshes near
Fellsmere, Fla., and flows 310 miles north into the Atlantic Ocean near
Jacksonville, Fla.
The watershed covers more than 1,888 square miles with more than
400,000 acres of the upper basin spread mostly through Osceola, Brevard,
Okeechobee, Indian River, Orange and Seminole counties of eastern Florida.
The upper St. Johns Basin between Geneva and Fellsmere largely consists of
freshwater marshes, cypress swamps, hardwood bottomlands and shallow
natural lakes interconnected by a maze of natural and manmade waterways.
These wetlands traditionally attract blue- and green-winged teal, pintail,
wigeon, gadwall, ring-necked ducks, canvasbacks and hooded mergansers
with a smattering of bluebills, mallards and other species. The marshes also
hold good numbers of non-migratory mottled ducks.
“The marshes on the St. Johns River offer very good duck hunting for
Florida,” said Byron Hennecy of Osceola Outback Adventures in St. Cloud,
Fla. “All along the St. Johns River south of Geneva, people can find good
duck hunting after just a short boat ride from almost any ramp, but much
depends upon the weather farther north. If we get cold weather north of
Florida, we have good duck hunting down here.”
Since the waterways belong to the public, sportsmen can hunt just about
any non-posted pothole they can find. However, some areas in parks or
preserves remain closed. Local regulations may prohibit hunting or
discharging firearms in areas. In addition, some state and federal lands offer
hunting, but season dates and other regulations may differ from statewide
laws so check the rulebook before hunting.
With so much public land available, do-it-yourself sportsmen can usually
find a good place to throw a few dozen decoys. Many people scout for duck
concentrations in small boats and then erect pop-up blinds around the boats
or hide them in thick vegetation. Others wade and crouch in high grass.
“Many people get out of their boats and walk to their areas in chest
waders,” Hennecy said. “Most waters are less than waist deep. In some
places, sportsmen can find higher ground or levees where they can sit on
stools to get out of the water. Most of the areas we hunt have hard bottoms
with lots of vegetation where people can hide.”
Several natural systems off the river, such as Puzzle Lake near Geneva,
offer good hunting. The Upper St. Johns Marsh Wildlife Management Area
contains about 124,623 acres of wetlands and waterways along the river in
Brevard and Indian River counties. Containing Lakes Winder, Poinsett and
Washington plus associated streams, this section offers some of the best
public waterfowl hunting in Florida. Sportsmen normally bag blue- or green-
winged teal, ring-necked ducks or a few wigeons, pintails and mottled ducks.
The marshes also hold a number of mergansers and coots.
“The area around Moccasin Island near Lake Winder can produce some
fantastic hunts at times,” said Jamie Feddersen, a Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission waterfowl biologist. “Some of the areas near the
Stick Marsh also offer good hunting.”
The T. M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area consists of about 3,870
acres of restored wetlands near Fellsmere. The associated Broadmoor Marsh
Unit offers another 2,400 acres. Intensively managed to provide quality
habitat for waterfowl, these two areas include about 3,000 acres of
impoundments with the remaining acreage consisting of marshes. Teal and
divers typically comprised the bulk of the harvest.
Although technically not part of the St. Johns system, West Lake
Tohopekaliga and the rest of the 100,000-acre Kissimmee chain of lakes can
hold good waterfowl concentrations. In addition, Merritt Island National Wildlife
Refuge near Titusville consists of 140,000 acres of salt marshes, estuaries
and freshwater impoundments along the Atlantic Ocean. Established as a
buffer zone for the nearby John F. Kennedy Space Center, it traditionally
holds good concentrations of teal, mottled ducks and divers.
Even when the ducks don’t fly, sportsmen should see an uncountable
number of birds and many animals in a scenic wetland setting. Warm Florida
weather often brings out alligators, even in late season. The big reptiles
commonly lurk around blinds, but usually don’t bother people. However, they
love slurping any dead or wounded birds that hit the water. Because of the
gators, many Florida sportsmen leave their prized retrievers home. A big
gator can take down an adult Labrador with little trouble.
For booking trips with Hennecy, call 407-908-3216 or 407-892-6266. On
line, see www.osceolaoutback.com.