Python hunting season begins today; all you need is a license and $26 permit

palmbeachpost ^ | March 8, 2010 | Sonja Isger

[JoeProBono]

Time to put those snake-stalking skills to work. State wildlife officials have created a special python hunting season to try to stop the spread of the nonnative snakes throughout the Everglades and the hunting begins today.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says anyone with a hunting license who pays a $26 permit fee can kill the reptiles from today to April 17 on state-managed lands around the Everglades in South Florida.

The season is open for Burmese and Indian pythons, African rock pythons, green anacondas and Nile monitor lizards.

Thousands of the nonnative Burmese pythons are believed to be in the region, upsetting the natural balance of the ecosystem.

For those new to the hunt, the state has held workshops on how to identify, stalk, capture and remove the reptiles.

[Waco]

Do these damn fools mean to say that want a certain number of them to continue living in the swamps? Holy hot plate, Batman,,,have they been introduced to the sewer system of NYC? If not, why not.

[El Gran Salseron]

I live in Southwest Houston. There is a python that lives in the bayou behind my house. I notified the fish & game department. They did nothing.

[GladesGuru]

“Florida is as flat as a pancake. They’re probably worried that some yahoo is going to take a potshot without a proper backdrop, and put the bullet into a trailer 2 miles away. “

Having dealt with the “Possum Police” as the FloriDUH Fish & Game Persons are called, the “yahoos” are the Fish & Game employees.

Consider the following:
1. A very short hunter is five feet tall.
2. The largest python in Florida is less than one foot tall.
3. Therefore, shooting at close range, the shorty will be firing at a minimum of a 30 degree angle and could likely be shooting at more than a 45 degree angle.
It is unlikely any richochet would occur.

However, the “Possum Police” could have OK’ed shotguns.

They didn’t.

That is why they ARE “Possum Police”. Not they they are slow moving, just slow.

[YHAOS]

Until they have an open season and permit firearms, the program will not work (assuming they are sincere in their stated goal).

[JoeProBono]

[Fido969]

Therefore, shooting at close range, the shorty will be firing at a minimum of a 30 degree angle and could likely be shooting at more than a 45 degree angle.

[driftdiver]

the first time they did this you could not use firearms. This time hunters may use rifles, pistols or shotguns, but no centerfire rifles.

[driftdiver]

nope, without the snowbirds we’d probably have to have a income tax. they are welcome!

[mojitojoe]

Hopefully, many of of he Iguanas died due to the cold winter this year. I read they were falling from the trees by the dozens during the worst cold snap. I see lots of Iguanas, not any Pythons, yet. The Pythons worry me more because they can easily kill small children and pets, heck they could kill an adult. Iguanas are just nasty, eat all the foliage and defecate all over everything in their path.

[mojitojoe]

What is that? I can’t tell what it is or what’s going on.

[mojitojoe]

machete

[mojitojoe]

Great, I hope my wife doesn’t see that. She’ll be sending me to the Everglade to hunt Pythons.

[mojitojoe]

Indeed they are. We eagerly anticipate their arrival.

[ssaftler]

(Well, SOMEONE had to say it!)

[brytlea]

Texas manages.... I don’t know why we have to attract the rudest people on earth.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

I crossed paths with several copperheads and moccasins while in TN, but never killed one, except one time I caught a very young copperhead with my lawn mower - and that was not intentional.

[devistate one four]

Why do we have to pay to rid ourselves of distructive snakes?

Put a bunty on ‘em and watch the scales fly!

[GladesGuru]

Nice photo! Where was that picture taken?

I am partial to a Saiga 12 for large snakes. Just set the Poly Choke to its widest setting and use a #1 buckshot, low intensity shell.

[ExSES]

They don't belong here. And doom on the feckless morons who brought them here.

In order to bring the hunting season to urban environs..., I think the "feckless morons" should be included within the "legally harvested"!!

[PA Engineer]

I would have my .45 ACP by my side, but those jokers require buckshot IMO.

I'll second the buckshot!