June 11th, 2009
Scratch one lizard!
Invasion of the Iguana: Mankind Strikes Back by Terry Gibson on Outdoor Life.
Hunting the overpopulation of invasive iguana in Florida with air guns:
So far, these invaders are mostly sticking to urban areas, especially along canal systems. Feral iguanas crap all over seawalls and docks, destroy tens of thousands of dollars in landscaping, and eat native species. The City of Boca Grande, for example, has spent more than $100,000 per year for four years trying to eradicate the problem. They even had to create an “iguana tax” to pay the trappers…
Obviously, it is unsafe and illegal to shoot iguanas with any kind of gun in urban areas. Trapping and snaring works best. You’re not allowed to transport these reptiles or any other invasive species off your property. “Iguana huggers” want you to call animal rescue so these things can be “euthanized humanely.” While no one promotes animal cruelty, “cruelty” is not well defined in Florida statute. Hopefully, kill-and-grill does not constitute a crime, or I don’t think there’s much hope for us as a species.
Seriously, a $10 “iguana tag” good for a month of air gun hunting would not only help keep these critters in check, it would probably get more young folks into the shooting sports. I mean, who wouldn’t want to shoot a lizard?
Oh, yeah. It would also raise money rather than costing it. Though the majority of these things are apparently in urban areas where shooting is restricted, Murdoc would guess that there are a lot more in the wild than suspected.
Go check out the photo gallery on OL.
Tags: FL
June 11th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Not bad … probably good bow-hunting targets as well.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Ummmm. . .Tastes like chicken??
June 11th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I’m a live and let live kinda cat, and don’t have anything agin’ critters in general. But there are limits.
Put another way, a mouse is all cute and cuddly until you find turds in your cupboard; then it’s WW3.
I think I’d feel the same away about a “feral” lizard (is there any other kind?) eating my expensive landscaping.
June 12th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
yeah lol as a S. Floridian;
plinking these with an air rifle is pretty easy
June 12th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
[...] Iguana Hunting Yes, Murdoc said “Iguana Hunting.” [...]
June 13th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
[...] up another activity you can do with air guns, namely help rid Florida of an invasive species. Perhaps Bitter can dig up some iguana [...]
June 13th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
How difficult are they to kill? A simple Daisy BB rifle? Or do you need to go to the more expensive multi-pump pellet guns?
June 14th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Based on the size of the one in the picture, I’d say you need one of the better air guns, in the 600+ fpm range.
As to recipes, they look a lot like alligator, for which the Cajuns have multiple tasty mixtures.
Rule of thumb for critters like that: Cut ‘em in half, cook the rear, and send the front to the taxidermist, if you like, or just dispose of it.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
[...] Bane noted the iguana hunt post here on Gun Pundit, then veered off into crazyland: I’ve been contemplating the very first [...]
July 4th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
As an iguana owner I would like to shoot you in the head at close range and shoot your dog and cat with guns what kind of pathetic a$$hole are you anyway. Go home to your trailer, trash.
July 5th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
[...] this comment on the post about hunting wild iguanas with air guns: jose Says: July 4th, 2009 at 6:50 pm As an [...]
July 5th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Jose, do you realize the hipocracy in your statement?
‘I, Jose, -Internets protector of large lizards-, will commit a felony upon my fellow man and needlessly kill his pets afterwards all because some people hunt and probably eat Iguana’.
Dude, get over it. I live in Southwest Florida, and about 30 minutes north of me is Sannibelle Island and we’ve got a HUGE problem because of Iguana owners who released their pets when they got too big. They’re upsetting the balance of the ecosystem on the island, eating birds and their eggs. Plus it’s going to cost me the tax payer to remove them.
If I hadn’t lost most of my income, I’d go down there with a suppressed Sig Mosquito in a bag with the Form 4 and a box of Remington Sub-Sonic and just start plonking away at them. Then put all my gear in my trunk and crack open a cold beer on the beach, turn on some Pink Floyd on my CD player and relax.
Mexicans eat Iguanas and I’m sure you don’t hate them anymore then, lets say, a dog lover hates Koreans.
July 29th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I am 46yo. I have a scoped, magnum powered .22 air gun pushing about 26 fpe. a heavy hollow point pellet would blow a nice hole through an iguana very easily. I live in central florida but i would travel to hunt iguanas. Does anyone know if it’s legal? Do ya need a license? Is it legal to hunt them in florida using a hunting airgun??? what areas in florida are a having a problem with iguanas???? Note: federal law says its legal because they are not from here and are pests. Does florida allow it?? If anyone knows the answer to any of these questions, could you please reply.
August 4th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
[...] after I posted about iguana hunting in June, some idiot commented: As an iguana owner I would like to shoot you in the head at close [...]
September 4th, 2009 at 3:49 am
hope u fucking die fuck flofida bitch
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
THis sounds fun as hell!!! can anybody come to florida and shoot these things? MY girlfriend and I are coming their in march from michigan to get merried and i would love to kill some of those ugly basterds!! Some one please let me know if this is legal and if you need a small game license or anything…..
January 22nd, 2010 at 8:35 pm
OMG!!! I cannot believe what I am reading. As a wildlife rehabilitator and a rescuer and keeper of reptiles, including iguanas, I am absolutely infuriated! May the herds of iguanas you are hunting retaliate against you and leave you rotting and dying in a ditch in hell!! You bastards!