So, has anyone ever been 4 wheeling in the Ocala National Forest?

We hear tell that there's wild Monkeys running loose in the forest due to a hurricane destroying the Silver Springs zoo years ago. Also heard that they're real mean and you're allowed to shoot 'em if you see 'em.

Just wondering if anyone else heard of this as we should be cruising through the forest in a couple weeks.

 

Hi-
Never been four wheeling in Ocala but I believe the monkey story. After hurricane Andrew a bunch of monkeys were loose from Monkey Jungle in south Dade. It actually got pretty crazy, people shooting them off other people's roofs and yards and stuff.

I'd love to hear stories from your Ocala Forest adventure, the offroad scene in Dade is about closed unfortunately. Of course I still go, but you gotta accept a few facts: you're gonna be tresspassing on and off just about every trail, and the likelyhood of getting ticketed, towed and or arrested is ever present.

Have a good time
Charlie

 

Hi Charlie -

I know what you mean about running out of places to ride, that's why we're going to Ocala. Here in West Palm, if you get the wrong officer, they'll even conficate your stuff. We had a Honda Foreman years ago and used to go just south of Daytona to ride. When the fires went through and wiped out all the trees, there went our place to ride.

I'll definately let everyone know how our Ocala ride goes. Can't wait.

 

Hey Carlene is'nt there a park down your way that has mud boggin,sand drags and trails?

Btw have you been to the crunes in Brooksville?

 

Hey Wiz -

The only ones I know of are out in Okeechobee (hr + away), or up in Felsmere (almost 2hrs away).

Besides, we bought some property in Ocala that almost borders the forest so we're just gonna do nice long weekends now & then. The forest is close enough we can ride the 4-wheelers there.

 

I remember now it's over here on the left coast it's The Florida Sports Park down around Naples.

 

NOW THAT'S A FUNNY STORY LOL, I can just see it now....... Planet of the Apes..... What happens if you shoot a guy that looks like a Monkey?

Up around Bithlow there's the Speed bowl, you can run your truck there on I believe Saturday nights.... Perhaps other's too.

Off to right my introduction thread

 

Hey Guys -

Unfortunately, we're back from our Ocala weekend. Way too short. We got up there Thurs. night and came home today.

The Ocala National Forest is a cool place to ride. We spent a good part of Friday cutting down some dead oaks and trimming up around the fire pit then went to the forest for a night ride. Our friend that owns the property next to ours took us out, but he's only been out there during the day and usually with people that know their way around or have a GPS. We ended up getting lost and that was fun. We rode around for quite awhile that night. Donny was the only one that was worried. The rest of us were having a blast. We figured if we're too lost, we could alway hit up one of the campfire parties going on and follow them out when they left. Talk about getting turned around, we went into the forest east of our property and ended up coming out way west of the property.

We went for a 3 hr day ride Saturday. Not near as long as we wanted to be out, but we had a bunch of friends coming over that evening for a fire and a cookout. I think we ended up with about 15 people.

Had to start packing up for the 4 hour ride home around noon today - way too short a weekend but what a great time....

Oh yeah, almost forgot - we didn't see any monkeys. Guess you have to go deeper in than we did. Where we rode, there were trails all over the place. Also, didn't bring my camera for the ride because it was raining. Next time.

Carlene

 

Gald you had a nice weekend Carlene! It's been a few years since i have been up that way it's a nice area.BTW How much acreage do you have up there?

 

Hey Wiz -

We have a couple acres of deeply wooded land. Real nice area also. Of course, so far we've liked every part of the Ocala area.

 

There are other nice places to ride. Luckily i am surronded by woods and have hours of trails to ride. Ocala is huge and i haven't seen any monkies yet. That place best suits the family outing type. There is also a massive offroad park called chrooms in Brooksville. (North of Tampa) This is one place you have to try out before retiring from 4wheeling. Try to get it so you can camp more than just the weekend. The weekends are absolutly packed with day visitors.

Steven

 

Hey Quadzjr do they still have suicide hill in the chrooms?

 

Last time i was there it was. That was a a little over a year ago. I am going again this summer. It is going to be a blast.

 

ive been off roading in the ocala natl forest for about 10 years and ive also heard the story about the monkeys but have never seen one or know anyone thats seen one.

 

Hey Bearfoot - Welcome to FTE and the Florida Chapter.

From the sounds of it, I don't ever want to see one of those monkeys. Maybe next time the Game Warden stops by our property I'll remember to ask if it's a myth or not. I'll keep you posted.

A few months ago we were up there and they dropped by because they found one of the collared bears dead. They were on the hunt for what happened to her. I guess they've had her collared for about 5-6 years now and she even had a cub. They told us that she wasn't shot or mamed in anyway and they suspected poison or something.

We never did find out if they discovered anything.

Later.