Snake hunters, yeah, not your garden snake, or even a few water moccasins nope big ol Pythons.



Wanted: South Florida python hunters for hire

James Bales, a wildlife officer for the Miccosukee Tribe, holds a 15-foot female Burmese python found along a levee on the reservation off Alligator Alley Monday.

The female was breeding with four males in a ‘mating ball’ when officers found them. They killed the female and two males. The other two males escaped. Courtesy of Miccosukee Tribe of Florida

South Florida water managers may amp up the state’s failing war against the Burmese python with a new weapon: a paid python posse.

On Thursday, the South Florida Water Management District will consider a proposal to hire hunters, paying them by the hour, plus a bonus for every snake killed, as part of a two-month, $175,000 pilot project. Hunters would patrol only district land in Miami-Dade County, which includes the vast water conservation area where remote tree islands offer hiding places perfectly suited for the well-camouflaged snakes.

The district declined to provide more details until after the presentation is made to the governing board.

Controlling the pythons has vexed biologists and wildlife officers who have been outgunned by the slithery invaders, which can lay clutches of up to 50 eggs at a time. The snakes started turning up in the marshes, either dumped by unhappy owners or escapees from breeding facilities, in the 1980s, and by about 2000 were firmly established. In September, state wildlife officers confirmed that pythons had also spread to the Keys after they found hatchlings for the first time.

$175,000
The amount of money available for a two-month pilot program to pay hunters to slay pythons on state land in Miami-Dade County.
Over the years, biologists have tested a variety of strategies to contain the snakes, including releasing females outfitted with radio trackers to act as ‘Judas’ snakes, snake-sniffing dogs and an iPhone app that lets people immediately report a snake sighting. This past year, the state hired a pair of Irula tribesmen, whose ancestors helped hunt pythons to extinction in India, to track down snakes. And, while it failed to significantly reduce the number of snakes and was largely meant to enlighten the public, the state’s Python Challenge drew the most attention, with headlines around the world.

Seems like simply offering a bounty would get people o hunt them, if they wouldn't do it for free.

Have the Pythons started acclimatizing to the colder weather, and started moving north yet?

Edit:

Apparently yes.

http://cbs12.com/news/local/in...ing-to-migrate-north

Typical gov thinking,hourly employees.
put a decent bounty and watch those suckers disappear.

Make it illegel to kill them and let it "leak" that the Python heart will make a man strong and virile, and a women young and atractive.

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
Have the Pythons started acclimatizing to the colder weather, and started moving north yet?

Edit:

Apparently yes.

http://cbs12.com/news/local/in...ing-to-migrate-north

The last freeze we had here in Tampa was in January 2010. Cold weather hasn't been much of an impediment.

"two males escaped"?

Yes, put a bounty on them and let the locals have at it.

quote:

Originally posted by Poacher:
Seems like simply offering a bounty would get people o hunt them, if they wouldn't do it for free.

They already do have a yearly Python bounty program.

http://www.foxnews.com/science...nnual-challenge.html

Is there not a market for the skins? Could be some good money there, too.

How about the meat? I have no idea about pythons, but rattler tastes good.

quote:

Originally posted by PPGMD:

quote:

Originally posted by Poacher:
Seems like simply offering a bounty would get people o hunt them, if they wouldn't do it for free.

They already do have a yearly Python bounty program.

http://www.foxnews.com/science...nnual-challenge.html

Did you you read the amount,$25.00
Not worth the time ,hell its like the state is so poor and that is a chency price.

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:

quote:

Originally posted by PPGMD:

quote:

Originally posted by Poacher:
Seems like simply offering a bounty would get people o hunt them, if they wouldn't do it for free.

They already do have a yearly Python bounty program.

http://www.foxnews.com/science...nnual-challenge.html

Did you you read the amount,$25.00
Not worth the time ,hell its like the state is so poor and that is a chency price.

Actually the hunters had to PAY $25 to participate... it wasn't a bounty, it was a competition you had to pay to enter.

This year's hunt got 106 snakes. That was from 600 hunters over a month.

The hunter get to keep the snakes once the state finishes with them. Seems hunters can sell them for $150. Days ne "lucky" hunter caught 13, including the largest. He was also bitten in the face and arm.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/10...red-in-florida-hunt/

So, what caliber?

quote:

Originally posted by craigcpa:
So, what caliber?

^^^^^ 50 BMG!!!^^^^^

I figure a 3 or 3.5 inch 12 gauge magnum loaded with OO shot would deal with them.

If the state were to put a big bounty on them, I am sure some of those Florida rednecks would be raising them in the garage. Then turning them in for the bounty at 12 inches long.

I haven't lived in FL since 96 when you still couldn't hunt gators, and don't know what it takes to get a tag for one now, but if it is lottery or a small chance of getting a tag, use that as incentive.
Kill XX phythons, get a gator tag.

quote:

Originally posted by taco68:

quote:

Originally posted by craigcpa:
So, what caliber?

^^^^^ 50 BMG!!!^^^^^

4 gauge shotty:


Link to original video: https://youtu.be/8uJouw9uh84

We did not have a freeze this year on the Treasure Coast. It should be a good snake year. My cats go on the porch but inside the screened in enclosure. I guess I better keep some 00 buck loaded for one of them big basteges!