God’s Country Outfitters

When the first European settlers pushed inland from St. Augustine and came into what would become San Mateo, they found a country that caused them to stop and consider it’s bounty. This was virgin Florida with towering live-oak hammocks, dark cypress swamps, winding river bottoms, and the St. Johns River cutting through a landscape. It was wild, fertile, and alive with game. There was no better way to describe it than what the early settlers called it: God’s Country.

For owners Charles and R.T. Herrington, God’s Country Outfitters (GCO) is more than a name pulled from local history. It is family history. Their great-great-great-grandfather, Mateo Solana, founded San Mateo and built his life in San Mateo. The same ground he walked, hunted, worked, and called home is the land the Herrington’s steward today. Their stewardship has allowed this piece of Florida to retain it’s character.

Today, GCO manages access to more than 75,000 acres of well-managed, private hunting ground. The operation gives sportsmen an authentic Florida experience with no cut corners. It is a full-service outfit. The lodging, meals and logistics are handled expertly and the details are managed smoothly. The hunter simply hunts.

God’s Country Outfitters offers  Osceola turkey, wild hogs, and trophy alligator at the center of the operation. Osceola turkey is a particular strength, with managed habitat and generations of local knowledge producing the kind of opportunities serious Grand Slam hunters travel for. Hogs provide year-round action, while alligator hunts offer a completely different challenge in the swamps and rivers.

GCO also has the flexibility to tailor the experience to the hunter. Combination hunts can also be built around multiple species, making the most of a hunter’s time in the field.

‍