I was looking more towards the direction of Umatilla, Lake Yale, Lake Dorr ,Altoona cant remember other towns. Does that make you feel good? So if the forest is dangerous, or any, look to law enforcement as the possible criminal component. Reason, 66, said setbacks including his wife's stroke and admission to a nursing home were factors in him. I guess we are the only place in the entire world that has crime..Are you a moron? Fortunately for me, I haven't had any other unusual run ins, close calls, or encounters. Again not uncommon in any place one would live. I grew up in the Ocala National Forest and I can tell you that yes it's great to camp, fish etc. alone (and I am a female). I am much more concerned about them, in the forest, than any wild creature. It is a local information technology system used to collect client-level data and information on the provision of housing services to homeless individuals and their families, as well as persons at risk of becoming homeless. These are the people that do not need guns. It needs to have plenty of gas and if you are going to be driving on trails, it needs to be a 4 wheel drive. This is taken from the current book I am reading, "On Killing" by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Even carrying a gun doesnt make one safe all the time. These are party spots, more than camp spots for the locals. I won't name the location, simply because we're 1) not finished there and 2) we really don't want anyone out there "rigging" the area to give us false results! Where do the anti-Forest dudes come from where there is no crime, and how much crime have they checked out in their own back yard. This is true if you stick to the rest areas on public frigging highways! But harmless. I never carried a weapon, and do not come from a state where guns were accepted, promoted taught, or carried. The city is so enormous, and with millions of people, the chances are very small that anything will ever happen. We donate to the charities in Ocala National. I will armed with a knife & a gun from here on out! And if you want to live in a crime free place, you might as well die now because the only place your going to find that is in heaven. On colder nights, people are referred to the Salvation Army. Talk of The Villages Florida - Rentals, Entertainment & More, Location: Schaumburg, IL - Chicago suburb - TV Wannabee. You don't like it here well go visit a very, very, very small island that only has one tree that nothing can hide behind. If I knew when I bought this place about all that goes on here would I choose to live here again? Sister Concepta Najjemba of Blessed Trinity, who manages the soup kitchen, said recently about 150 people or more have been eating a daily meal at the outreach. I checked back with the clerk the next day to make sure he was safe. I have also seen evidence of tents in some local towns on public land and even not far off of Hiway 441 close to Tavares behind some businesses. I no longer go far from home, alone, as I realize I could not defend myself from an armed crazy. It seems to be a place where people migrate to in the Eastern US.both good & bad, because of the weather. And where you might find your car battery missing or a bullet hole in your car, if left unprotected beside the road. All rights reserved. hes absolutely right, forests and parks are places bad things happen because the chance of them getting caught is slim because there isn't a lot of traffic. There was no cell phone reception.After we set up our tent and were cooking dinner, a white 4X4 king cab pickup came driving up slowly, stopped and turned around just past our tent. Also, why would anyone shoot guns off at night in a natural area? This is the home of A Florida man. These people who are dumping bodies out in the Forrest have no heart. My friend had his 20G and I had my 12G with plenty of slugs. Im sure your place is beautiful but danger is all around. You can bet they're all well prepared. Bad things do happen here but I will never blame the forest. he never even saw the man. ", Dawn Keller was also interviewed. There are even a couple good restaurants out there. I no longer live in FL to enjoy the forest and I do miss it. It is more than obvious that wired stuff occurred there when you look at what lies next to it. She has been homeless for about five years because of "poor choices.". Better to stay on the main roads! Never once did I fear anything in these woods. I'm looking at a little home in salt springs. The "Iceman" also known as Otzi, a frozen 5300 year old man found in the Italian Alps in 1991 was murdered by people. (which btw are allowed in your vehicle without a conceal carry permit or on your person with conceal permit) and I found it fascinating! I go to the woods for peace, silence, quietness, beauty, and escape from humans. Years ago it was a fun family area to camp near and around the large lake and now people are terrified to even go near it. To deny that murders do happen in wilderness areas, and national forestsas some folks do here in the commentsis just plain ridiculously naive. But you could do that with any place. While I am sure there are those who have better info than I do, I would offer the following. Top 10 Developed Campgrounds for Ocala National Forest Camping 1. I found it ironic that one of the commenters says to look at the problems law enforcement has had to deal with there when the blogger that mentioned two girls that disappeared there (didn't read on who else she said did specifically) were of something like 9 other girls that went missing there and were murdered by, guess what, a serial killing police officer, a "leo" they like to call themselves these days. Stop denying it. (Yet, you're going to use two murders from 1966 as a reason to avoid the springs? I looked at some property in the middle of the forest and it would be heavenly..it is at the end of a dead end road and i've been concerned for my safety there I guess I would have to get a gun..something I don't necessarily believe in. I grew up in Newark , New Jersey. In my 40 years of Living out here and growing up out here, I have had few issues definitely had to run off meth heads from dealing outside my property fence for many years. Serial killers have raped and murdered and hidden bodies there. If ever it did. I don't believe the author is a moronjust writing about instances. Its a shame people are allowed to abuse it the way they do. take care and be safe near the forest! When my husband and I were hitchhiking from Key West to the Pacific Northwest, he and the driver of the car who had given us a ride chatted about the forest. Tons of wildlife though. They would slow down where the Florida Trail crossed the road, and then roar off. Its not the forest. We currently have eight individuals/families enrolled in Rapid Re-Housing right now who are searching for housing, one being unsheltered," Heather O'Conner, case manager with Saving Mercy, stated in an email. I've been taking the forest for granted as my safe haven to escape from society and get away for some "me time" photographing wildlife and hiking. .your statement is a total missgood luck with that! I'm glad I read this article and the following comments. Bad guys don't like to walk far. And be sure not to leave food in your area at night. Just be very aware of your surroundings. With more than 600 natural lakes and ponds, its sand pine scrub ecosystem, camping and plenty of rooms for off-road vehicles, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Now we have almost 8 billion. I worked for a woman who owned a winter property there for many, many years. My grandpa had had a stroke a couple years previously and mom moved him in to live with them. National forests and grasslands are increasingly being used for residential purposes by people who are homeless or those voluntarily living "off the grid." Public lands can serve as a temporary residence for families, unemployed workers, or those lacking affordable housing. It is a very beautiful place. This is my sanctuary. Bennett wrote in an email the PIT interviews should provide the community with more than numbers. Yes it is like the wild west, and you have to think that way. So few to make humanity look bad:). I will likely visit at some point but I could never move there. Many years ago you could make a "Hunting Buggy" that did not need to meet the same standards as vehicles on the roads. I hear guns going off in the forests near my home too, and I am thinking what animal is being illegally poached, or what human is being killed? He said the facility can accommodate up to about 50 people when needed due to weather conditions, in addition to their regular outreach. ", Reason tries to help others he encounters who are unsheltered with at least an "encouraging word.. Alexander Springs Campground 3. The several that I passed were not deep in the forest and I am imagining that they served as shelter at night but that the owners emerged during daylight hours for school, work etc. Also, every officer eventually handles a case where someone was overpowered, and the gun is wreathed away from them. A Great Place To Get Away!! "Kids around here are told they'll probably never make it beyond eighth grade," Pastor David said. No matter where you are, you should always be concerned with personal safety. Urban Woodswalker. SILVER SPRINGS, Fla. (WCJB) - Marion County Sheriff's deputies are searching for answers in a shooting that took a man's life. "The idea that violence happens, even if no one sees it, is pure speculation. So where should the police investigate these murders? A random truck came down the road and saw us. Durhamsaid on a recent cold night the facility took in 34 people. The Marion County staff primarily oversees funding and applications, while the City of Ocala staff is the lead agency for handling outreach efforts, Coordinated Entry and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)," the website states. Sometimes we could hear their voices. Its a scary thing to see a kid no more than 12 or 13 walking down the dirt paths packing semi automatic rifles and hiding in the tree's carrying guns that you usually only see in the movies. Have never felt unsafe and the only thing I carry is a knife. I have lived in the forest for many years and have NEVER seen anything that is thought to be a danger out here. Camping at a designated campsite is plenty safe. Hop on the Ocala Adventure Trail to drive a 47-mile loop through the sand pine scrub. Reason, 66, said setbacks including his wife's stroke and admission to a nursing home were factors in him becoming homeless about five years ago. This is false. Alan Jones and Matt Leibfried with Marion County were part of the count team. Visit? I guess I've been lucky as the only strange people I've met were visitors from the cities. Charles Sumner Wesley II, 72, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1967 . He was probably harmless, I'll never know, but I was quick to move before he saw me duck into the forest where I then hurried back to my car. Once their, you were safe from the law.There have always been places you need to have your guard up, and this is one of them. This said, the Ocala National Forest is full of beauty and wonderment and our Natural Springs are breathtaking. You cannot ignore these thingsunless you are policing the smallest rural town, and dont watch national news. Most law enforcement officers have worked cases at some point where someone over reacted while having a gun in their possession, and let emotions rather than rationality allow for unfortunate consequences. Attempts to stop COVID-19 have left many without some of the support services they have come to depend on. I think you need to visit the larger cities of this country to get a more rounded viewpoint of just how many gun carrying folks are diverse.in mental and emotional mindsets. how did you find this guy's blog to complain about it anyway? Within these 430,000 acres of residential land are living families and children in abject rural poverty. We were 200 yards from the road and 50 yards from the trail, out of sight. Her case is heavy on my heart since I became aqare of it. More and more people are moving off grid and throwing away devices and conventional means of living because of the corruption of this country and its ownership by the corporations who control it. 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