Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Iguana killers: Hunts around South Florida backyards become a tourist attraction
Union Bulletin ^ | 28 Feb 2022 | David Fleshler

Posted on 03/05/2022 5:04:11 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT

Standing in a boat in suburban Fort Lauderdale, Chris Whitaker aimed a .25-caliber air rifle at a large green iguana on a canal bank and squeezed the trigger.

Whitaker and his girlfriend, Krissy Garcia, had paid $500 to Hunting Iguanas LLC for four hours of iguana hunting in Broward County, where the nonnative reptiles have found a congenial home along canals lined with a lush variety of trees.

Hated in many neighborhoods for consuming flowers, fruit trees and vegetable gardens, green iguanas have become a business opportunity for several companies that lead guided hunts along South Florida canals. While many residents cheered on the iguana hunters on a recent excursion, the air rifles required several shots for a kill, subjecting many iguanas to lingering deaths.

Whitaker, 29, an experienced hunter, had flown to Fort Lauderdale from Tyler, Texas, with his girlfriend just to try his hand at shooting iguanas. “I saw it on Facebook, and I thought, ‘Man, I gotta do this,’” he said.

They shot 26 iguanas off trees and off the canal banks, moving slowly through the network of canals that have kept the neighborhood dry in what used to be the Everglades. Krissy Garcia brought down a couple of large ones, their skin a combination of orange, brown and green.

Along the canals, residents cheered on the hunters for taking down reptiles who consumed their gardens and fruit trees. The iguanas’ industrious digging also damages power lines, sidewalks and seawalls.

“Thank you for doing this, man!” James Mathew shouted from his backyard on the canal bank. “I was happy when I see you guys doing this.”

He said the iguanas have devoured all his attempts to grow things.

(Excerpt) Read more at union-bulletin.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Gardening; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: banglist; fl; florida; hunting; iguana
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-85 next last
To: DUMBGRUNT

[[They are all very old and mostly drive around with their turn signal on]]

LOL AND turn when you least expect it


41 posted on 03/05/2022 6:50:32 AM PST by Bob434
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Rummyfan

“Geez, they’re harmless enough....”

They’re not harmless. They are an invasive species and are doing real damage.

L


42 posted on 03/05/2022 6:51:56 AM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT
Yeah, keep a land shark in your dining room.
Why not? What's the worst that could happen?

/s

43 posted on 03/05/2022 6:55:18 AM PST by GaltAdonis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: subterfuge

Mot enough people to,hunt them. Not a lot of hunters these days compared to times past. Used to be lots of kids hunted. Not so much anymore. Plus folks just don’t have time if they work.

It’s probably safer having pro,hunters do it as they know where and when to,take the shot, and are almost always cognizant of where other people are and when it is safe to take the shots. Inexperienced hunters will shoot without thinking, and a ,ot of times pellets will pass right through and ricochet, so,you have to be aware of where you are shooting at all times. Inexpeirn3nced hunters get too excited to make the shot without considering these things sometimes. Thougn thatnis changing as more states now require hunter safety courses before one gets a license to,hunt, but with pellet rifles there is no requirement as it is not considered and regulated like a firearm is.


44 posted on 03/05/2022 6:55:34 AM PST by Bob434
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

Iguana go hunting too please.


45 posted on 03/05/2022 6:57:33 AM PST by griffin (When you have to shoot, SHOOT; don't talk. -Tuco)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ptsal

The .25 cal is the gun to get. The .177 is too light and prone to wind causing misses, and at that speed the pellets tend to pass right through. 1400 is too fast. Better down around 850-950 and pellets in .25 cal and hollowpoint or a hunter expansion pellet. A .22 cal,is,ok, but doesn’t have the knockdown of the .25, especially if you get a less than absoltuely perfect shot- the .25 still,has the energy to bet th3 job done where the .22 might just wound the Amimal. There are so many variables that you c ant always bet a rock solid shot (animal moves at last second, or right after the shot, tree branch moves in wind, branch or twig deflects pellet slightly, wind moves lighter pellets off target slightly (gotta know windage for windy days). The .25 is a beast for small game and pest control- though the .22 does have a slug called ultra shock or something liek that. I’m gonna try them- thye say they are pretty accurate and hit hard-


46 posted on 03/05/2022 7:03:20 AM PST by Bob434
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Scarlett156

Perhaps you could make iguana slickers outta iguana hide for them, unless thats too Ed Gein-ish??


47 posted on 03/05/2022 7:03:48 AM PST by griffin (When you have to shoot, SHOOT; don't talk. -Tuco)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: griffin

Given their personalities, they would probably really dig that.


48 posted on 03/05/2022 7:05:07 AM PST by Scarlett156 (Vaping is for homosexuals. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Hot Tabasco

I got the Seneca Eagle Claw .25 (its a lever action- looks cool, and has massive energy for a .25)

Your daystar is quite a gun. They are top notch.


49 posted on 03/05/2022 7:06:44 AM PST by Bob434
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

We watch that stuff on YouTube. Its highly entertaining.


50 posted on 03/05/2022 7:08:46 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Georgia Girl 2

There’s a girl,hunter on YouTube who is quite a shot. She has a bunch of videos of hunting igis. Can’t remember the name now.

Not,everyone,is down with hunting them in florida- the hunters often run into violent people who attack,them even when the hunters have permission from the motel,or hotel owners to clear the lots out of iguanas. And folks off in the distance Will see a “rifle” not realizing that they are pellet guns, and call the cops the king a crime is being co mitted, when the hunters have every right to be where they are hunting the pest lizards


51 posted on 03/05/2022 7:13:20 AM PST by Bob434
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: telescope115

—”You have had them in DuPage?”

I was joking...

But we still have elm trees and because of the elm sap, I traded my C-8 to a friend.
I doubt the coating can take many cleanings...

He poured cash into some very nice eyepieces and I can still visit.


52 posted on 03/05/2022 7:15:58 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Scarlett156

—” Some don’t like scratchy wool”

But I love wool, my favorite fabric.

Very nice sweaters can be had cheaply at the resale shops.

I felt them in the washer and make quilts.

The best sweaters of my size, go into my closet.

Found a NEW WITH TAGS Neiman Marcus cashmere!!!
Our son scooped it up and wears it.


53 posted on 03/05/2022 7:23:11 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Bob434

Yes, we watch her show.


54 posted on 03/05/2022 7:30:54 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Bob434
That looks like fun.....You should easily be able to take out rabbits and other small game with it.

I've always said that if there was ever a SHTF scenario, one weapon I would have in my possession would be a pellet rifle. They're quiet and you can easily stock up with 5,000 pellets for a hundred bucks.

And PCP's are deadly accurate too. With a suppressor on mine, I use it to shoot the starlings and sparrows under my bird feeder.

55 posted on 03/05/2022 7:51:24 AM PST by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Bob434
here’s a girl,hunter on YouTube who is quite a shot

I think you are referring to Jessica of Iguana Solutions. I think I've seen all her videos......

56 posted on 03/05/2022 7:53:28 AM PST by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Bob434; Yo-Yo

Pan fried rattlesnake is Great with a Bottle of
Jack Daniel’s!!!
.
I’d hit It.


57 posted on 03/05/2022 7:55:50 AM PST by Big Red Badger (Make His Paths Straight!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Big Red Badger

BBQ’S IGIS,
Interestingly Summertime
Fun with a Corona n’ Lime.


58 posted on 03/05/2022 8:03:03 AM PST by Big Red Badger (Make His Paths Straight!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

Do you have some instructions about making quilts out of old sweaters? That sounds interesting. (Not for the iguanas, of course - for me.)


59 posted on 03/05/2022 8:10:46 AM PST by Scarlett156 (Vaping is for homosexuals. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

It took 50+ posts for this to show up? We’re slipping, people.

60 posted on 03/05/2022 8:12:16 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-85 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson