Southern Florida: Chasing Osceolas with Carson

There’s nothing quite like spring in Southern Florida. The heat, the swamps, and the challenge of an Osceola turkey get in your blood. This year, Carson and I headed down with a goal: chase the Grand Slam with our bows, hunting on the ground with no blind.

We started by scouting the palmetto flats with Mark and Hunter Stevens. After spotting a few longbeards near a watermelon field, we spent the evening making sure our broadheads were perfectly dialed.

On day one, I was up first. Tucked tight into the palmetto fronds, my calling brought a group of gobblers in hot, strutting right to the decoys. I waited for the bird to clear and made a clean archery shot. Getting that first Osceola on the board set the pace for the trip.

Then it was Carson’s turn. On day two, we had Mark Grieco out with us. Carson was ready with his bow, but the longbeards hung up at fifty yards and refused to budge before a massive Florida storm forced us out.

By day three, it was time to adapt. Carson switched to the shotgun to get the job done. After another long game of patience, two longbeards finally stepped into range, and Carson dropped his very first Osceola.

Walking up on that bird with him and looking at those pitch-black wings is a memory I won't forget. This trip wasn't just about ticking a box on a slam—it was about grinding it out in the swamps and sharing the win.

Stay Driven,

Pat & Nicole Reeve