A retired US Army veteran has spent 11 years hunting Burmese pythons

Times of India ^ | 11 Oct 2026 | World Desk

[DUMBGRUNT]

WUSF Public Media reported that the state pays contractors up to $18 an hour... Florida does not permit hunters to use firearms to kill the snakes, so capturing them requires close contact... They could also earn $50 for a python measuring up to four feet, followed by another $25 for each additional foot

With a $10,000 grand prize for the person who humanely killed the highest number.

Aycock recalled capturing one measuring 17 feet... He and his wife had to manoeuvre around the animal before he could secure its head and prevent it from lunging at them.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Hobbies; Military/Veterans; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: snakes

[DUMBGRUNT]

McDonald’s hourly employees in Chicago earn between $15.40 and $20.00 per hour...

Would you like fries with your order?

[riverrunner]

If the state was serious, it would be open season any means anytime anybody.

They are far more concerned about maintaining control then controlling the pythons.

[odawg]

“Florida does not permit hunters to use firearms to kill the snakes...”

It takes modern American leaders to come up with stupidity on that level. Firearms are used to kill game animals all over the nation and world, but an invasive predator that is destroying an entire wildlife habitat is protected.

[sauropod]

You naiked it!

[normbal]

I know, right?

Or the leftists in USA will do Spay Neuter Release of the globe’s most prevalent and dangerous feral invasive species - the common “house” cat - and get laws passed protecting them (Donald Trump signed this into law circa 2018) while Queensland, Australia, puts a bounty on ‘em and what’s brought in is a drop in the bucket.

I too would like to see a nationwide open season on non-native invasive species like pythons, cats, horses, burros and English ivy even, give boy scouts a merit badge for successful hunts.

[normbal]

I know, right?

Or the leftists in USA will do Spay Neuter Release of the globe’s most prevalent and dangerous feral invasive species - the common “house” cat - and get laws passed protecting them (Donald Trump signed this into law circa 2018) while Queensland, Australia, puts a bounty on ‘em and what’s brought in is a drop in the bucket.

I too would like to see a nationwide open season on non-native invasive species like pythons, cats, horses, burros and English ivy even, give boy scouts a merit badge for successful hunts.

[Blennos]

I've got two members of the globe’s most prevalent and dangerous feral invasive species living happily on my back porch. I feed them and they love me. A good trade.

[Omnivore-Dan]

If I lived in Florida and one of those creatures from hell came onto my property, it’s going to meet my friend Ruger. They can stick their dumb ass gun laws where the sun don’t shine.

[FreedomPoster]

I’ll see your English ivy and raise you . . . kudzu.

[odawg]

Spay Neuter Release is an effort to control the cat population so why do you stuggle to parade your TDS over it?

[Bonemaker]

“Florida does not permit hunters to use firearms to kill the snakes,...”

Come on Desantis...fix this chicken shit rule! Homane with snakes? RIGHT HERE! A shotgun to the head is humane!

[DIRTYSECRET]

Rambo did it for money.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Not exactly...
English not your language?

“The Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act (2018): Signed into law by Donald Trump as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, this law made it a federal offense to slaughter, transport, possess, or trade dogs and cats for human consumption. It did not address stray or feral cat population management.” Wiki

[BipolarBob]

Well said.

[Red Badger]

Kudos, the plant that ate Georgia...........

[crusty old prospector]

I’ll see your kudzu and raise you one fire ant.

[FreedomPoster]

I have warred on both in my years.

[PAR35]

McDonald’s hourly employees in Chicago earn between $15.40 and $20.00 per hour.

Would you rather deal with killer snakes, or Chicago ferals on a regular basis?

[crusty old prospector]

Fortunately, I have never seen kudzu in East Texas. Maybe the feral hogs eat it all.

[plain talk]

“Aycock takes the animals home before euthanising them with a captive bolt a method used to kill the snake. For someone who likes snakes, this is the hardest part of the job.”

I am relieved they are so humane over there in Florida. :-)

I suspect this requirement results in a few less hunters willing to go through the danger in capturing one alive.