So who's hunting Pythons?

I just saw a program on PBS about the problems that FLA is having with them. Big-time non-native pest that gets to the top of the food chain pretty quick, and the only one to challenge alligators for the top-level position. Sounds like serious redneck fun: six-pack, shotgun, airboat, 12 foot long snakes...............
 
I don't like killing any snake, but have on a couple of occasions when a rattlesnake was presenting a rather sticky situation. I have hunted and taken alligators, and let me tell you, that can get real interesting, real fast. No faint of heart nimrods for that hunt.
However, knowing how big a python gets, and how much and what they can eat, I'd get in on that hunt. Forget a shot pistol, give me a 12 guage that will take the head off. "Dead" snakes can still bite. Imagine trying to control a dying 20+foot anaconda or python. Much less keep it in your boat for the ride to the ramp. YeeHaw.
 
The Wife would be so Pissed she found out I killed a snake!!


She has like 5-7 of them things, I think only one is a python not a Burmese tho.
Her pride and joy is this Argentine Boa Her name is Kaa.
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Saw that show on PBS and could not be leave how big those pythons can git and then they picked it up.
 
Many years ago, I was the Ecology Conservation director at Scout Camp. This was in NE PA. One of my responsibilities was to relocate the rattlesnakes that would take up residence in the campsites. They loved to live under the tent platforms because that is where the mice were and the mice were there because of all the food the kids hand in their tents!

Anyway, we had a huge timber rattler that I had moved 3 times in less than 2 weeks. Finally the camp director told me to dispatch it. So I went to the rifle range and got a .22 rifle, chased all the scouts out of the site and dispatched it. It was late in the afternoon and dinner was soon. So I took the rattler down the lodge and saved him for after dinner.

After Dinner we went to skin the snake. it had been dead for several hours, but it still took 2 guys to hold it while I skinned it. Every one in a while I would hit a nerve and this thing would whip like it was alive. That snake stretched out was over 5 1/2 ft long, and the flattened skin was more than 11.5 inches wide. I pinned it down inside out and salted the heck out of it. I did take the head off camp property, found the biggest rock I could turn over, and buried it under the rock and placed the rock over the hole. Did not want some scout finding the head and pricking a finger with it!

Wish I had kept that skin and 11 segmented rattle though.

I did chunk up the meat and we eat it, it was good, but then again anything fried up in bacon grease is good right!

Dave
 
This brings to mind the two posts over on the Refuge about a hunt in Arkansas that went bad and then someone started a parody about python hunting in Florida that went bad. For the most part the 'Fuge sucks, but then gems get started and provide some serious entertainment.



I used to love to chase snakes as a kid. This would be fun.
 
I have always enjoyed reptiles, and used to enjoy catching many different types throughout the United States. I have had many types as pets and have a python myself right now. But they all have their place and any invasive specie is bad news for local wildlife.
 
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I may try to go get a few next week. A friend of mine was running his airboat where I hunt with my son. He saw one basking in the sun on an island. With his shotgun in the case he just drove the boat on top of it. He loaded his shotgun and drove the airboat off the island. Of course the snake (he estimates 12 feet) was gone. I would at least like to shoot that one...it is in my stompin grounds!
 
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