Author Topic: Iguana's (Read 2624 times)

markc · « **on:** January 27, 2010, 08:06:17 AM »

Came across an article regarding problems with feral iguana's in Florida and all of the damage they cause. I thought this FAQ answer regarding getting them out of your yard pathetic in a number of ways.

Can I shoot an iguana on my property?
"In the state of Florida, it is not legal to shoot firearms or pellet rifles in cities or suburbs. Most people are not that good a shot with an air gun or a bow and arrow that they can kill a fast-moving iguana with a single shot. If you shoot an iguana with either of these weapons and it fails to die right away, you can be arrested for animal cruelty."

Source

Aronson. (2009). Iguana invasion. Retrieved January 27, 2010 from http://iguanainvasion.com/faq.html

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2010, 12:46:16 PM »

Dang Mark when I saw the subject line I thought it was another of Jamal's posts. He's been talking about shooting those rascals down there in FL with about everything fron slingshots to air rifles to well about everything he can think of to use.

His stories are generally always on the General Shooting and Hunting Forum down in the Hunting section. Maybe there is something to at least some of the stories after all. Or maybe not.

Sourdough · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2010, 02:40:35 PM »

Every year when I get down here to Ft Lauderdale, I see many Iguanas running around the place. My buddies wife is always feeding them. Me, I keep my distance. They range in size from three to six feet.

myronman3 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2010, 03:30:04 AM »

sounds like a shooting opportunity to me. they are not native to florida, are they?

GeneRector · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2010, 04:00:12 AM »

Howdy! Seems like to me that in Florida they should be doing something to eradicate all of the non-native species of reptiles, etc. Could they come up with Iguana food that has birth control in it so that they could be eradicated in a few years? I am much more afraid of the Burmese Pythons than the Iguanas. They should be sending hunters out with shotguns and kill everyone they can find and with some positive way to introduce birth control in these snakes. Even if they started today, it would probably be years and years before eradication would be ever achieved. They have to start somewhere though.
Always, Gene

Sourdough · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2010, 04:52:35 AM »

It's way too late for that. They are loose in one of the most inaccessiable areas, and the most hospitable area for the pythons in North America. The everglades are huge and the perfect place to support them. There is a breeding population out there and all of them can never be caught.

Animals and plants I know of not indiginous to Florida.
Pythons, All types
Africian Toads
Kudzo
Water Hiacenth
Wild Hogs
Iguanas

When I lived in Florida, doing Plumbing the main problem we had was the African Toads. Toads would go down the vent stack and swell up to contact the cool walls of the pipe, causing all the plumbing in the house not to drain. A few ounces of muratic acid cured the problem.

drdougrx · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2010, 05:00:43 AM »

Hmmmm....17HMR....yeahhhhh......

markc · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2010, 06:47:13 AM »

From what I have read the snakes in the everglades are a hugh problem, with some hybred super snake a fear now. The iguana's are causing a lot of property damage from burrowing under foundations, and defecating on everything. There is one species that can be aggressive and bite. So, if you begin to search you will find some of the mose ridiculous websites where folks are arguing how to get rid of them. S. Florida is apparently where they thrive, because of the warm temperatures. There was cold weather in northern Florida this winter, i read, which causes them to die off easily. Tree huggers do not want them shot, but they want you to trap them, take them to a vet and pay $30.00 or $40.00 per lizard to have them peacefully euthanized. There are tens of thousands of these things running around. Hunting them isn't legal apparently in the city limits.

Silvertp · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2010, 12:05:54 PM »

My .220 Swift would be less traumatic and a quicker trip to that "great lizard rest in the sky" than capatures/transport/and a hypo under the skin.

52 gr speer hp @ 3900 fps = bye bye Iggie!

Silvertp

Cheesehead · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2010, 01:07:55 PM »

Are they edible?

Cheese

markc · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2010, 01:57:29 PM »

Yes, apparently they are tasty. Great article linked below.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2009/06/invasion-iguana-mankind-strikes-back

drdougrx · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2010, 03:39:20 PM »

edible?

Who are you....Andrew Zimmern?

Cheesehead · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2010, 04:03:21 PM »

I have eaten gator and liked it so.........................

Cheese

drdougrx · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2010, 02:26:58 AM »

Just ragg'n ya Cheese.....tastes like chicken.....

myronman3 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2010, 03:45:01 AM »

so when are we going?

Cheesehead · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2010, 05:14:08 AM »

Quote from: myronman3 on January 29, 2010, 03:45:01 AM

so when are we going?

How about around Daytona Bike Week.

Cheese

drdougrx · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2010, 06:30:04 AM »

To tell the truth...wouldn't it be fun to go down to FL for a varmint style hunt for iguana....I mean really all kidding aside...I think it'd be a kick!

Cheesehead · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2010, 07:24:13 AM »

Quote from: drdougrx on January 29, 2010, 02:26:58 AM

Just ragg'n ya Cheese.....tastes like chicken.....

Yes.

Cheese

myronman3 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2010, 07:46:08 AM »

yeah, i think it would be a hoot. so when we going?

myronman3 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2010, 08:07:55 AM »

http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article1021412.ece
a story about a local iguana hunter in florida with footage of him hunting them. i emailed him for info. lol.

markc · « **Reply #20 on:** January 30, 2010, 02:54:33 PM »

Now, I need to find the story of the nutria problems and see if that was also in Florida. One town was unsing the police SWAT team to shoot nutria at night just to thin them out. So, it could be an exotic weekend, nutria/iguana, a rat and lizard free for all.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #21 on:** January 30, 2010, 03:04:55 PM »

Here is your RECIPE Cheese!

Iguana Stew

Here's one of Cera's iguana recipes:

Remove head, organs and tail.

Dip in hot water and scrape off scales or skin. Practice safe food handling. Iguana, like chicken, can carry salmonella.

3 to 4 pounds of iguana

1 teaspoon salt

3 peeled and sliced potatoes

1 large sliced onion

1 cup lima beans

1 cup canned tomatoes

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup frozen corn

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon ketchup or Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup of butter

Place iguana in Dutch oven with enough boiling water to cover. Add salt and simmer for 45 minutes.

Add potatoes, onion, lima beans, tomatoes and sugar. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until beans and potatoes are tender.

Add corn, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper and add ketchup or Worcestershire sauce if desired.

Add butter and stir well.

Serves 8.

Source: Save Florida, Eat an Iguana

TO LEARN MORE

Good eatin'

For information about the cookbook Save Florida, Eat an Iguana, go to iguanacookbook.com or e-mail George Cera at theiguanahunter@yahoo.com.

drdougrx · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2010, 03:32:28 AM »

Lemme know how it works out for ya!!!!!!

markc · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:29:06 AM »

On the way to the Florida Iguana hunt a rip to new Orleans for a nutria hunt would make sense. Note the date on the article.

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/neworleans/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1263191414225780.xml&coll=1

Oldshooter · « **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2010, 05:14:58 AM »

OK i'M IN, When you come through Beaumont Mark, pick me up and we'll go to NO, then on to Florida for Iguana management! drdougrx, you drive down and meet us in NO. The steaks at Charlie's Steak house are on me. Cheese you come down with drdoudrx, and NO I aint buying you an Iguana burger! Charlie dont have any Iguana meat!

myronman3 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 01, 2010, 05:45:15 AM »

ive got 2 weeks off in the middle of march, and no plans yet. any of you live near the nutria or iguana infested areas? i could really use some trigger time.

drdougrx · « **Reply #26 on:** February 01, 2010, 06:51:56 AM »

OK...I'm in...do I need to work up a new load...what's the recommended bullet for iguana??? Accubond, partition, A-Frame?

?

Oldshooter · « **Reply #27 on:** February 01, 2010, 07:00:22 AM »

OK, myronman, you get with drdoug or fly to houston and meet mark there before he swings by to get me.

drdoug, i dunno, maybe a tsx or accubond, we dont wanna be tracking no wounded iguanas in the swamps. the nutria well any ole sp. hp will do,you just dont wanna get into hand to hand with a nutria, dont ask me how I know!

markc · « **Reply #28 on:** February 02, 2010, 04:07:00 AM »

What we need is someone who lives in NO, or nearby, so we could have them begin to bait their backyard to attract nutria. Then after a couple days of rat killin, head to S. Florida to hunt iguanas. Someone needs to start baiting the lizards so we can have some non-stop shooting, I mean management, action in S. Florida.

Is there a Louisiana hunting forum? S. Florida forum?

drdougrx · « **Reply #29 on:** February 02, 2010, 05:33:19 AM »

May be I'll get enough to make my wife a full length nutria coat with iguana leather trim and a paira iguana leather pants and strappy sandals!!!!!