That could be the case too. But, where is the federal USF&W position in this? They are not concerned whatsoever with economical impacts. Maybe there are better political connections in FL.

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NRA Endowment Member
SCI Member

Well during breeding season you could say that got into a lovers spat and killed each other.

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A truely successful life is mostly based on how well you handle PLAN B.

a snake seems like it would be pretty easily disposed of.

There seems to be anecdotal evidence that gators will eat em...and vice versa.

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Ask me about QDMA.

I read that article a few days ago, and when i read between the lines, it seemed to me that they really want all the pythons dead, but are afraid to set off a backlash from animal rights groups against inhumane treatment of the snakes. Anyway, that was the idea that I got after reading it.

Up here these inbred Wolfs are breeding with the coyotes.Hope those snakes don't get the same idea with the gators.

Ever notice whatever the gov gets involved in usually goes to crap?

When I posted, it WASN'T legal--and still actually isn't:

From what I've read here and elsewhere, they're still finalizing the details.

Glad to hear they are making progress.

All I've read is that baby gators may eat baby pythons, but when push comes to shove--the big pythons eat the gators. Not the other way around.

While the gator population is just fine in Florida, they're nowhere near the sizes they used to be because of what they're eating.

Read the entire article on the proposed contest. There is a picture of what appears to be a large python that got a little too ambitious with the size of 'gator he was eating.

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Ask me about QDMA.

Holy crap:

You have to have a degree in law to understand these regulations, and although I want to be out there killing snakes, it ain't happening very soon.

First, it's just a test mini-season, for one month starting January 13th.

This "big hunt contest" costs $25 to enter, yet you don't need ANY other kind of Florida hunting license. Who's to complain about THAT? But as always, where government is concerned, something always has to be fishy (regardless of political party).

Next, you have to take an online test--I forget the acronym for it--before they'll take your 25 bucks. I reviewed the PDF study test, and it's just about properly identifying the species, but **** if I see where to actually take the test. I'll do that TONIGHT, and I wonder if there's a fee for that too?

Next again, different conservation areas, even adjacent/abutting areas, have different regulations. This makes sense TOO, I guess, if you're talking about protecting native species, but for these pythons? What really opened my eyes tonight was talking to a friend who's an avid environmentalist down here, knows EVERYTHING about water tables and all the other boring Everglades stuff, and he knew nothing about this hunt. But what he said is in the areas that I want to hunt, and that HE wants to hunt, you can bring your firearm in at 6, 7 in the morning--but you can't camp overnight and have the weapon with you. There's a way to get a "special letter" to do that.

This is all new to me...the varying regs seem arbitrary and stupid to me...but now I'm fascinated to learn more.

And the most important reason I won't be killing pythons January 13th?

I don't feel SKILLED enough yet to go out there with my new firearm. I'm a new shooter, and I want to spend at least a few months at the range before pointing my pistol at ANYTHING away from the range!

I know--that's the point.

The pythons are much more aggressive, and all things being equal, are winning the contest. A python can take a small game and do just fine for weeks--not a gator.

The crazy thing is, we haven't had any major cold spells down here in awhile, a few years, but these snakes have gotten so big and burrow in such a way that even an extended freeze wouldn't kill them.

No one has mentioned THIS part of the science, but our last freeze killed tons of iguanas--and I wonder if those suckers ate baby snakes.

Depends on the species of iguana. Some are herbivores... some are carnivores.

Sounds pretty convoluted.

I'd take a .22 rimfire handgun, myself. When in doubt empty the magazine Sounds like the perfect application for a Ruger auto....

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MikeG

Well, all I got now anyway--or will have tomorrow--is a 22LR/WMR rimfire SA revolver, a Heritage Rough Rider.

And I watched the remake of "True Grit" this morning to get me in the mood.

For these snakes, and my skills, wouldn't WMR shotshell make the most sense?

.22 shotshells are not all that powerful, not that I'd volunteer to get shot with one. For a 3 or 4 foot long snake, at ranges close enough you could hit them with a shovel - sure. The #10 or #12 shot in them just isn't going to penetrate very far. It would certainly be a close range proposition.

I suppose it depends on how big of snakes you want to hunt..... ?

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MikeG

What would happen if the python happened to accidently fall into your machete????

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Chris in NH.

"some days, I wish my dogs could talk"

Mike, I came to that same conclusion a few hours ago, even with 22 mags. You gotta be 10 feet and less for 22 shotshell to do anything.

And Chris, the whole point is to kill them with my new toy that goes boom.

In natural environments, yes--but in Florida, it only takes one generation for some species to develop totally new and other feeding habits.

Turns out Darwin was right!