- Snake hunting is not for the faint of heart, by any means...
In the late summer heat of the Florida Everglades, an eclectic group of hunters gather at the foot of a dry dirt road that chases deep into the swampy, humid unknowns.
They aren’t hunting birds, deer, or even gators. Their mission is a predator at the top of the food chain. A slithering beast that’s known to grow as long as 18 feet and hunt animals as big as antelopes.
The Burmese python is the apex predator they’re after. And because it’s such a major nuisance to the Florida ecosystem, state officials encourage capturing and killing these snakes. For 10 days in August, they even host an annual Python Challenge.
As Florida-based python hunter Donna Kalil says, “To try to keep the Everglades healthy, you have to have the animals that belong in it. And in order to do that, you have to remove the invasive predator that is the Burmese python.”
But you don’t have to participate in this grueling challenge to hunt pythons. Python hunting is legal year-round in Florida. Not only that, but people are incentivized for the work. The state pays approved hunters an hourly rate of $10 to $15 for up to 10 hours of daily work actively hunting pythons on designated lands.
Plus, there are incentive payments of $50 to $150 for killing pythons (based on size). And for those who identify active nests, there’s another $200 payment.
Why Hunt Pythons?
As you may know, Burmese pythons are not native to the state of Florida, but have made themselves at home over the past several decades.
It all started back in the 1970s and 1980s when southern Florida became a hub for cocaine trafficking and reptile smuggling. (And, as you might suspect, there was plenty of overlap between the two.) As these reptiles came to the U.S., breeding farms opened up and hobbyists began collecting them. The python quickly became a favorite.
Unfortunately, many owners released them into the wild after the babies grew to three to four feet (which is past a manageable size for the average snake hobbyist).
The only problem is that Female pythons are able to lay between 50 to 100 eggs per year. So it didn’t take long for these snakes, which are more powerful than any potential predators in the area, to overtake the Everglades.
To help combat the issue of pythons in the Everglades and restore native wildlife, the state launched its initiative to hunt and kill Burmese pythons in 2017. That’s how hunters like Kalil got involved.
Python Hunting Tips and Tricks
While you have to apply for the PATRIC Program or participate in the Florida Python Challenge in order to receive compensation for hunting pythons, anyone can do it recreationally. There’s no permit or hunting license required. And there’s no bag limit, either.
If you’re interested in python hunting, here are some things to know:
- When to hunt pythons. Believe it or not, you may find that hunting during cold winter days is most productive. That’s because they’re more likely to come out of hiding and bask in the sun. However, if you hunt during the summer, you’ll find them most active at night.
- Taking pythons. Ay firearm other than an air gun is prohibited from being used during the Python Challenge. However, guns may be used to kill pythons year-round. Your gun of choice is just that – a choice. Hunting with an AR-15 is legal, as are shotguns and virtually everything in between.
- Safely moving around pythons. Pythons are not venomous, but they will bite. They have several rows of extremely sharp teeth that will latch on (and stay on). When you find a python, move very carefully around it. An angry python will “dance” and strike. The best option is to drag the python by its tail into an open area. After about 10 minutes of fighting, they’ll grow tired. At this point, you can grab them behind the head.
Adding it All Up
Python hunting isn’t for everyone. You need to be physically fit and have a strong stomach. The Everglades are filled with things that can kill you, including spiders, venomous snakes (like Cottonmouths), and alligators. Never go python hunting on your own, and always bring an experienced guide if it’s your first time.