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Posted: 8/26/2024 3:51:09 PM EDT
So I heard about the wild horses and bison in Paynes Prairie. I plan on driving up there next week for the day to check it out. Can anyone tell me where I could find these bison and horses? I promise to return and post pictures.
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FL, USA
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Posted: 8/27/2024 12:36:25 PM EDT
[#1]
There are multiple trails at the park, the one you want goes out into the prairie where the horses/bison/gators are. You will see it on the trail map, it is one way if memory serves (not a loop) and goes for quite a ways. The times i saw bison it was quite a ways into the trail, the horses and gators are much more common. Bring a hat and lots of fluids, not much shade on the trail.
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Posted: 8/27/2024 5:11:45 PM EDT
[#2]
The State park of Paynes Prairiare, is located south of the praire, close to Micanopy. You can also do a couple of hikes from the north side of the praire, from Gainesville.
Sweetwater Park has some good trails, boardwalks to see gators, and view of the praire. https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/parks/Pages/Details.aspx?park=Sweetwater+Preserve I've seen the horses there, but not the bison. But you always see lots of birds, gators, and other wildlife. Parking is 4-5 bucks or such. |
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FL, USA
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Posted: 8/28/2024 9:20:02 AM EDT
[#3]
Wife and I went there last year. Saw lots of Bison (30 or so), some far, some near (100 ft or so). no horses or gators. Water and bug spray is warranted.
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Posted: 8/28/2024 6:45:33 PM EDT
[#4]
Good luck. Ain't never seen 'em.
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FL, USA
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Posted: 8/28/2024 7:53:19 PM EDT
[#5]
Originally Posted By GaryM: So I heard about the wild horses and bison in Paynes Prairie. I plan on driving up there next week for the day to check it out. Can anyone tell me where I could find these bison and horses? I promise to return and post pictures. I went on Bolen Bluff Trail trail a few months back. The horses were chilling along the trail lots of people photoing them. Had to climb the observation tower to see the bison and use binoculars. |
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Posted: 8/30/2024 6:40:03 PM EDT
[#6]
Bison in Florida? Neat!
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Posted: 9/1/2024 9:44:44 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Tobysi: Bison in Florida? Neat! They are Eastern Bison, not the same as Western Bison. When the Europeans arrived there were huge herds of them. One of the landmarks for early GA settlers and Indians was "The Great Buffalo Lick" somewhere outside Philomath GA. After the buffalo were exterminated, the lick filled in and that still causes problems. Say the SW corner of your land lies 60 Rods North and East of the Great Buffalo Lick. Now you don't know where that is/was....... |
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Posted: 9/2/2024 4:42:15 PM EDT
[#8]
Bolens Bluff trail to the bird watching station or the tower in the state park are your best bets. It is very uncommon to see them. Do be aware that this is a miserable time to be out there. Florida summers are no joke.
I live just a few miles from there. |
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Posted: 9/4/2024 9:18:35 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By MikeJGA: They are Eastern Bison, not the same as Western Bison. When the Europeans arrived there were huge herds of them. One of the landmarks for early GA settlers and Indians was "The Great Buffalo Lick" somewhere outside Philomath GA. After the buffalo were exterminated, the lick filled in and that still causes problems. Say the SW corner of your land lies 60 Rods North and East of the Great Buffalo Lick. Now you don't know where that is/was....... |
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Posted: 9/4/2024 10:07:59 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Miami_JBT: The Bison in Florida are Plains Bison that were reintroduced in FL from Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge back in 1975. DEP/FWC only allows the herd to be about 8-15 critters at the time and they've culled the herd before in the past. I remember back in the late '00s, the herd was somewhere in the upper 60s. Since then, their numbers have been kept far smaller. Thanks, good to know. I was told they were the last remnants of the Eastern Bison. But that was just a local in Micanopy. So probably a local legend, aka BS. |
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Posted: 9/5/2024 1:14:11 PM EDT
[#11]
Saw the horses a few years ago, need to go out and look for the bison. Been meaning to take a few horses myself.
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Posted: 9/6/2024 2:11:18 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Chuck25: Saw the horses a few years ago, need to go out and look for the bison. Been meaning to take a few horses myself. It is rather uncommon to see the bison nowadays. The trail to Alachua Sink on the N side is also a good spot out by the dam for all manner of animals. |
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