Python Hunting Season set for South Florida

[Keri]

Originally Posted by morti

... or the feral cats.

Originally Posted by RayRay

What about all those cute puppies and kitties?
The cute fuzzy ones that go feral and kill native wildlife? The adorable feral puppies that run in packs and attack people?

Oh don't worry - the burms will take care of those!!

[Aaron-Insular]

Originally Posted by John_White

I have serious reservations about allowing the general public to hunt burms. It's my experience that the vast majority of the general public isn't well versed in snake identification. I would suspect that any snake with a pattern would be deemed a "baby burm" and killed. The perception is that herpers caused this problem and it would be great if herpers could help resolve the problem.

This is the only thing that some what bothers me... but then again what could they really mistaken them for? Also there should be increased fines for hunting none season natives...

Also, why does everyone seem solely single out burms, what about monitors rocks and anacondas?

[LdyDrgn]

Read the first post:

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

[Jeremy2792]

Well here it is people;

As promised.

Harvesting Pythons in South Florida
The FWC reminds hunters they may continue to take Burmese pythons and all other reptiles of concern within three South Florida wildlife management areas (WMAs).

An FWC executive order effectively gives all persons with a hunting license and a $26 management area permit the authority to harvest pythons and other reptiles of concern (Indian python, reticulated python, northern and southern African rock python, amethystine or scrub python, green anaconda and Nile monitor lizard) on Everglades and Francis S. Taylor, Holey Land and Rotenberger WMAs from now through April 17 between one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset.

All legal methods for taking alligators and game animals (including shotguns, rimfire rifles and pistols) may be used to take reptiles of concern. Centerfire rifles, however, are not allowed. Nets and snares also may be used, but no matter the method of take, all reptiles of concern must be euthanized on site.

Reptiles of concern may not be taken out of the WMAs alive and must be reported to the FWC within 36 hours by calling, toll-free, 866-392-4286, or by completing the online form.

Hunters may do what they wish with the reptile's skin and meat. However, according to the National Park Service, mercury testing on two dozen captured Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park revealed extraordinarily high levels of mercury in the meat – levels well above what is considered safe to eat.

Officials estimate there are thousands of Burmese pythons in the wild in South Florida. The FWC's goal is to contain the spread of these pythons in the wild and prevent establishment of other reptiles of concern. Data collected by hunters on these state-managed lands will assist in preventing their northern movement.

FWC - Harvesting pythons in South Florida

[Jeremy2792]

You must obtain a hunter's license and pay a $26 fee. It looks like that is all that you must do.

[Aaron-Insular]

Originally Posted by LdyDrgn

Read the first post:

I did, and I know, I am reffering to the posters and media who seem to single out burms not the FWC

[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by Rachel SS

.... I wish the situation weren't so that we had to kill off the burms, that we could capture them and maybe bring them to zoos or something.

Me too....but...
if you've ever called a zoo with an offer of any (ANY!) free giant snake, you'd realize just how many such 'offers' they get, and since zoos survive by attracting the public to visit, showing 100 individuals of the same thing just doesn't work for them. And even if we could afford to ship them back to their native lands (as was suggested), in all likelihood they would end up as shoes & purses....

IMO, birth control folks!!!! (Do we really want to rival dogs & cats being euthenized in 'shelters'???) As John said, the herp community (and inherent economic greed or over-enthusiasm, etc) have contributed. And while it has been admitted (on Sunday nite's PBS program) that feral cats are a huge risk to the native wildlife too, far more people are cat-fanciers....people have been blaming snakes since, well...since Adam & Eve!?!

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[LooseAFur]

after further deliberation I have come to agree with them on this one. This is the ONLY plausable way to control the invasive pythons. Of course if the keepers/breeders/lawmakers would have been more responsible in the beginning this could have maybe been avoided. I think some of the money from the hunting licenses should go to efforts to find sanctuary for some of the invasive pythons, or some constructive effort to save SOME of them at least.

[RevMojo]

I'm glad to see it. I'm a little amused about the restriction on centerfire rifles, but other than that...I'd love to go. I don't think it's going to be as easy to hunt them as a lot of people think, especially with the traditional half before, half after limits on hours.

[LukaTisus]

Good luck on anyone heading down there. It sucks that it came to this, but something's gotta be done and, like it's been mentioned, it'd make more sense for the Herpers, themselves to get in on it. Lest every snake in the area get wiped out for being a 'python'.

Though I gotta say, even if sending them back to their native land was an option, I'd be seriously cautious about even thinking to do that, considering all the non-native pathogens they could've picked up in the 'Glades (that're, y'know, native in the 'Glades but not overseas. :P ). The last thing we'd need happen is a bunch of re-released burms in Burma spreading around a pathogen of some sort that devastates the native wildlife over there.

[Aaron-Insular]

So I called up the FWC and an out of state 10 day pass is 46 bucks... if there is a group getting together I would like to know asap so I know what days to pick... I have a cpl of friends from up here that might go...

[Jeremy2792]

Refer to "Just Talk" I posted a thread in there if you're interested in attended.

[telefrag]

I'm just curious as to how a rimfire firearm is going to be able to dispatch a large python or monitor without going rambo.
the picture that conjures up is pretty gruesome.

[Jeremy2792]

Originally Posted by telefrag

I'm just curious as to how a rimfire firearm is going to be able to dispatch a large python or monitor without going rambo.
the picture that conjures up is pretty gruesome.

Buckshot for me.

[mlc4ever]

I Have Burms And I Think It Is Sad But Probably The Only Solution To Their Growing Problem In Fl.

[telefrag]

Originally Posted by Jeremy2792

Buckshot for me.

that at least would be quick and more humane, they won't allow centerfire rifles, but rimfire is okay?

I thought they wanted to try and be as humane as possible.

[Jeremy2792]

Originally Posted by telefrag

that at least would be quick and more humane, they won't allow centerfire rifles, but rimfire is okay?
I thought they wanted to try and be as humane as possible.

I am not too sure as to why they would have a selection like that.

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[toker]

Originally Posted by Jeremy2792

I am not too sure as to why they would have a selection like that.

Any given high-power rifle has the potential of going miles and miles and still have the ability to kill someone. Given the fact that I am sure there are residential properties within a 20 mile radius of where they will allow hunting. It really doesn't surprise me they would put restrictions on the types of firearms allowed.

Now, before you smack me, I know a .22 has a range of over a mile. But, compare that to a .227 or .270. It is the safer rifle, if only for the fact not many if anyone would choose to use it.

Now, on the flip, since they allow shotguns. You can outfit a shotgun with a scope and get some good slugs and you got a very powerful gun that can reach in excess of 200 yards. For that matter you can even get a rifled barrel or choke to make it even more effective.

Something else to take into consideration. What kind of visibility are you looking at down there. From someone who has never been there, I see the area in my head as a type of swamp. Perhaps a shotgun would be the most effective given the situation.

Just a few things to think about.

Cheers.

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[Jeremy2792]

Originally Posted by toker

Any given high-power rifle has the potential of going miles and miles and still have the ability to kill someone. Given the fact that I am sure there are residential properties within a 20 mile radius of where they will allow hunting. It really doesn't surprise me they would put restrictions on the types of firearms allowed.

Now, before you smack me, I know a .22 has a range of over a mile. But, compare that to a .227 or .270. It is the safer rifle, if only for the fact not many if anyone would choose to use it.

Now, on the flip, since they allow shotguns. You can outfit a shotgun with a scope and get some good slugs and you got a very powerful gun that can reach in excess of 200 yards. For that matter you can even get a rifled barrel or choke to make it even more effective.

Something else to take into consideration. What kind of visibility are you looking at down there. From someone who has never been there, I see the area in my head as a type of swamp. Perhaps a shotgun would be the most effective given the situation.

Just a few things to think about.

Cheers.

Very true. Being that there will be many hunters in the Everglades at any given time, I can understand how they do not prefer center fire long range rifles for the fact that someone could get hit by a stray bullet. To hit something that would only really be effective if hit in the head, I could not imagine wanting to take a chance like that with a single bullet rifle. I prefer Buck Shot 12ga, I actually might even bring my Remington 20ga.

I am trying to contact officials in regards to the hunt and what we will be looking at out there. Apparently there are many miles accessible by foot, but more land is accessible by air boat, for that I do not have an air boat.

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[TalismanK9]

I would like to think that any person using a rimfire would be counting on their marksmanship skills to place an accurate one shot kill "BUT" thats in a perfect world.. all things being what they are this day and age most will use a rimfire just because they're the cheapest to obtain and supply rounds for in general. A rimfire 22mag is the smallest LEGAL round the state of Maine allows for whitetail deer hunting, keep in mind that Maine whitetail regularly exceed 200+ lbs dressed weight, which means that there are plenty of them that approach 300lbs on the hoof. On the other hand I personally would think irregardless of accuracy think that a snake would be real hard to stop with one shot unless you took its head clean off. Just some food for thought on the whole messed up situation.

I forgot who posted about birth control but that would be an excellent idea, think how many of us-me included-all want/would like to breed our "babies"/snake to see if they throw the genetics/traits...soon the snakes will, if not already, exceed the demand and we'll be like somebody posted in the same boat with snakes as we are with cats/dogs. Well enough rambling and ranting SORRY.

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