invasive

[JaceSpace1369]

Well that's one he'll of a bag of big azz lizards buddy! Air rifle?

If I shot one of those things with my air rifle I'd have to finish him with a bowie knife.

Are they hard to kill? What is a hunt like? In the trees? Tell me more!

Edit- I just saw your post on another thread. Is that your lizard gun?

If you don't get a perfect shot they are hard to kill, I have taken them with .177 out to 110yds, .22 out to 210yds, .25 out to 180yds and .30 out to 136yds.

These critters can live up to twenty years and can start breeding as early as two years old. By the age of 2 years old, they are about 18-22" long and they can lay anywhere from 10 to 15 eggs.By the time the females reach a length of four feet they can lay up to 75 eggs. By the time they are 5 years old, they can grow to 5 feet in length qnd that goes for the males. The females cannot grow that big. Every year beyond that, their skin gets getting thicker and thicker and their growth rates exponentially slows down.

Iguanas have almost no fat in their body, they're mostly muscle. Most of their meat is in the tail, legs, and cheeks (big males and females).

They are incredibly smart and they are very adaptive to their environment and their surroundings. There was this one time that I played hide-and-seek with an iguana trying to get the perfect eye shot.I had a very wide sunhat that kept me mostly out of view because I was laying prone. And the hat covered pretty much my entire body and most importantly my eyes from his line of sight. They are very keen on eye movement, if you lock eyes with them, they lock eyes with you. If you break eye contact, they split before you even notice.

For a guana's under three feet in length , I would say no less than 12fpe is recommended. But your shot placement needs to be perfect and it has to be right behind the eye. We have what you would call a caliber chart for where you could aim depending on the caliber size.

.177/.22 eye or brain shot.
.25 neck shot
.30 heart/lungs

I prefer 22 caliber and 177 most sleepy cuz. 177 slugs are cheap and I can push them hard. Anywhere from 28 to 35 fpe, and .22 slugs I get the high expansion slugs and they allow me to cause damage like a .25 or .30 would.

A hunt consists of myself or other team members taking you out on a golf course with our own golf cart.Supplying guns, ammo air food beverages. And making sure you have a great time getting as many iguanas as you can safely.

Depending on the time of day the iguanas will be walking around strolling or in the trees hiding from the blistering heat.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

If you don't get a perfect shot they are hard to kill, I have taken them with .177 out to 110yds, .22 out to 210yds, .25 out to 180yds and .30 out to 136yds.

These critters can live up to twenty years and can start breeding as early as two years old. By the age of 2 years old, they are about 18-22" long and they can lay anywhere from 10 to 15 eggs.By the time the females reach a length of four feet they can lay up to 75 eggs. By the time they are 5 years old, they can grow to 5 feet in length qnd that goes for the males. The females cannot grow that big. Every year beyond that, their skin gets getting thicker and thicker and their growth rates exponentially slows down.

Iguanas have almost no fat in their body, they're mostly muscle. Most of their meat is in the tail, legs, and cheeks (big males and females).

They are incredibly smart and they are very adaptive to their environment and their surroundings. There was this one time that I played hide-and-seek with an iguana trying to get the perfect eye shot.I had a very wide sunhat that kept me mostly out of view because I was laying prone. And the hat covered pretty much my entire body and most importantly my eyes from his line of sight. They are very keen on eye movement, if you lock eyes with them, they lock eyes with you. If you break eye contact, they split before you even notice.

For a guana's under three feet in length , I would say no less than 12fpe is recommended. But your shot placement needs to be perfect and it has to be right behind the eye. We have what you would call a caliber chart for where you could aim depending on the caliber size.

.177/.22 eye or brain shot.
.25 neck shot
.30 heart/lungs

I prefer 22 caliber and 177 most sleepy cuz. 177 slugs are cheap and I can push them hard. Anywhere from 28 to 35 fpe, and .22 slugs I get the high expansion slugs and they allow me to cause damage like a .25 or .30 would.

A hunt consists of myself or other team members taking you out on a golf course with our own golf cart.Supplying guns, ammo air food beverages. And making sure you have a great time getting as many iguanas as you can safely.

Depending on the time of day the iguanas will be walking around strolling or in the trees hiding from the blistering heat.

That's mighty impressive. I had no idea they got 4-5 feet long.

A 210 yard shot is way out there for an air rifle. I generally don't shoot deer or elk at much more than that. Your rifle must be pretty accurate to hit a lizards brain at that range. You aren't making any mistakes to hit out there either. I'm impressed!

Ground shots, tree shots, both? They look pretty sneaky and hard to see. Do you spot them? Walk them up? Stand and let them come around? Bait them with a small pig?

I bet those rascals are tough on bird eggs. What do they eat?

Edit- I'm reading some of your other posts. I'm catching up. Still wet behind the ears around here. Thanks for your conversation and the other posts. I'm learning something.

 

[dv8eod]

I'm still waiting for my mice. Getting pretty hungry guys.

Chinese Baby Mice Wines | The Foodie Blog

www.culinaryschools.org

 

[JaceSpace1369]

That's mighty impressive. I had no idea they got 4-5 feet long.

A 210 yard shot is way out there for an air rifle. I generally don't shoot deer or elk at much more than that. Your rifle must be pretty accurate to hit a lizards brain at that range. You aren't making any mistakes to hit out there either. I'm impressed!

Ground shots, tree shots, both? They look pretty sneaky and hard to see. Do you spot them? Walk them up? Stand and let them come around? Bait them with a small pig?

I bet those rascals are tough on bird eggs. What do they eat?

Edit- I'm reading some of your other posts. I'm catching up. Still wet behind the ears around here. Thanks for your conversation and the other posts. I'm learning something.

I saw you edited the previous post and yes, it's one of many my buddy and I share or a lot of the ones I have put to the test through trading haha.

The one I shot at 210 was actually a neck shot. That caliber chart is what we usually use for people who shoot primarily pellets and shoot guns at normal power levels.

But we take all kind of angled shots, we just make sure too take our surroundings into consideration, groud shots, tree shots, roof shots (iguanas walking on roofs). We also snared them and trap them with racoon and rat traps (small wire cages).

They are actually not carnivorous. They eat fruits and vegetables for about 90%. They eat fish sometimes as well as eggs, which is part of what they push native population of animals such as turtles, and birds. They also push away the native burrowing owls because iguanas burrow in the ground to make their nests and their nests can be up to 80 feet long, interconnecting like an ant colony. In the last 5 years, working to remove iguanas.I've seen 2 cases where egg wanna's.We're eating baby black birds.So they are portunistic feeders but they primarily stick to their diet.

They are a very big problem down here because they don't have any predators that take them out on the regular. Which sounds kind of crazy because it's Florida lol. But they just have occasional predators, like small and aggressive alligators, raccoon, bobcats, some owls and coyotes.

They're also a huge problem because they cause our already partially eroding canals to erode much more and they have cause millions of dollars in damages towards seawalls, small bridges, and foundations. We've had golf courses plant 250k worth of plants only for the iguanas to have decimate those same plants in 2 weeks time. The farmers also have to worry about the iguanas cause a single iguana can eat 1000 lbs of beans a year

 

[Coinwa]

Seems like your hunting of that invasive species is providing tremendous value….. to homeowners, golf course attendants, farmers, landowners, etc.

Besides shooting them with air rifles, is there a more effective way to remove invasive iguanas from these urban areas?

 

[JaceSpace1369]

Seems like your hunting of that invasive species is providing tremendous value….. to homeowners, golf course attendants, farmers, landowners, etc.

Besides shooting them with air rifles, is there a more effective way to remove invasive iguanas from these urban areas?

Catching them by hand in their sleep is the only other way. They are only active during the day, at night they sleep in the trees, they almost glow when you beam them with the flashlight. They also sleep in the bushes so that makes it easier to catch them by the hundreds ar night, althought that's usually just the small ones.

 

[Coinwa]

Gotcha, that makes sense.

Do you, and more importantly your clientele, find that frequent hunting reduces the population of invasive iguanas in their neighborhood, golf course, etc?

 

[JaceSpace1369]

Gotcha, that makes sense.

Do you, and more importantly your clientele, find that frequent hunting reduces the population of invasive iguanas in their neighborhood, golf course, etc?

Drastically yes. I now live in a community in which I worked in two years ago for 3.5 months. Twice a week for 2 hours each visits I would go and remove iguanas. On occasion my buddy would join, specially once I started finding were they were because there were simply too many for me tot ake with me even tough I had a 40 gallon container. In those 3.5 months we took a little over 1500 iguanas, not accounting for the unaccounted for that fell in the canals. The least amount of iguanas I ever took out of there the numbers were in the twenties, the most was 98 by myself. 2 years later and the maintenance manager picked up where we left off and has slowly chipped away at them and I've only seen maybe 2 iguanas since moving in 2 weeks ago.

Down in miami beach we worked the miami beach golf course and you could walk into a group of iguanas, I mean groups of 10-15 just not moving around, getting in the way. In just the first month we took out over 740 iguanas, and have continued doing so since. Our presence definitely makes a difference and 99% of our customers have enjoyed our services and thanked us for helping them with their iguana population.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

I saw you edited the previous post and yes, it's one of many my buddy and I share or a lot of the ones I have put to the test through trading haha.

The one I shot at 210 was actually a neck shot. That caliber chart is what we usually use for people who shoot primarily pellets and shoot guns at normal power levels.

But we take all kind of angled shots, we just make sure too take our surroundings into consideration, groud shots, tree shots, roof shots (iguanas walking on roofs). We also snared them and trap them with racoon and rat traps (small wire cages).

They are actually not carnivorous. They eat fruits and vegetables for about 90%. They eat fish sometimes as well as eggs, which is part of what they push native population of animals such as turtles, and birds. They also push away the native burrowing owls because iguanas burrow in the ground to make their nests and their nests can be up to 80 feet long, interconnecting like an ant colony. In the last 5 years, working to remove iguanas.I've seen 2 cases where egg wanna's.We're eating baby black birds.So they are portunistic feeders but they primarily stick to their diet.

They are a very big problem down here because they don't have any predators that take them out on the regular. Which sounds kind of crazy because it's Florida lol. But they just have occasional predators, like small and aggressive alligators, raccoon, bobcats, some owls and coyotes.

They're also a huge problem because they cause our already partially eroding canals to erode much more and they have cause millions of dollars in damages towards seawalls, small bridges, and foundations. We've had golf courses plant 250k worth of plants only for the iguanas to have decimate those same plants in 2 weeks time. The farmers also have to worry about the iguanas cause a single iguana can eat 1000 lbs of beans a year

You know your quarry, know your equipment and can use it effectively. And your not reluctant to share your experience. My hat is off brother.

I can't figure out the messaging function yet to message you. I notice your handle and your in S. Florida. I worked for the NASA/JSC WSTF facility here in New Mexico for several years. Do you by chance work at the facility in Florida?

I don't want to clutter this forum with personal chat so message me if your inclined.

 

[Coinwa]

Bob…..

I know you don’t like mice, but that’s a mighty heaping of crow you’ve got on your plate there.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

Bob…..

I know you don’t like mice, but that’s a mighty heaping of crow you’ve got on your plate there.

Crow actually doesn't taste half bad.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

Seems like your hunting of that invasive species is providing tremendous value….. to homeowners, golf course attendants, farmers, landowners, etc.

Besides shooting them with air rifles, is there a more effective way to remove invasive iguanas from these urban areas?

Napalm?

 

[Bedrock Bob]

Bob…..

I know you don’t like mice, but that’s a mighty heaping of crow you’ve got on your plate there.

Crow probably isn't that bad. I've eaten a lot worse.

You know crows were almost hunted extinct back in the days. I'm not sure if they are invasive or not. But they became a problem with farming and folks shot the he'll out of them. Just about put an end to them all.

My grandfather told me that crows and ravens used to be friendly to people until they started killing them. Now they can be mighty wary. The hunters not only reduced the population drastically but genetically hardwired almost every species of black bird to be wary of humans. Hunters made a huge impact.

They introduced Oryx and Ibex to New Mexico many years ago. They aren't considered an invasive species but they aren't native.

Oryx have no natural predators here. The main herds thrive in an area dense with mountain lions. Their only control is hunters. That was the plan when they were released. It has worked well. They are huge, have 4 foot long black horns and can be as mean as hell. Good eating too.

Ibex were put in another area. They are also managed by hunting. Lions eat them. And coyote get the smaller ones sometimes. When the numbers are high a hunter can get unlimited tags. They are in places that are mighty rough to get to. They can be rough hunting.

We also have Audad. Barbary sheep. Totally managed by bot flies. Hunters can get a crack at one if you don't mind rough country. Their numbers aren't really controlled by hunting but hunters could certainly have a big impact.

Eurasian collared dove are invasive. Unlimited hunting here. Pellet gun legal. Twenty in every yard. Dove hunting for mourning and white wing is a tradition here and lots of guys hunt Eurasian year round. Hunters kill many thousands. This is one species that gets huge hunter pressure but not much impact in numbers. They simply can't be controlled in a way that does not harm other wildlife. Hunting them in problem areas is very effective. They learn fast and move on. Lots of commercial properties employ a guy with a pellet gun to keep the HVAC units from being destroyed.

So there is no doubt that hunting can be used as an effective tool for pest control and game management.

But then there never was an argument that it didn't.

 

[Coinwa]

…… a hunters value in population control is negligible. IMHO it's an excuse for a behavior that a person feels the need to justify.

Hunters take a few problem animals and that's great. But they are not and never will be an effective means of controlling an invasive species even if that species makes a good target. Most don't

So there is no doubt that hunting can be used as an effective tool for pest control and game management.

You should run for office…..

 

[Bedrock Bob]

You should run for office…..

You don't get invited to many parties do you?

I'd like to have a normal conversation with you. I'm sure you are a pretty good guy. We could do that. I'd be willing.

Do you want to start again? I'm sure we have a lot more in common than you may think.

I'm Bob! Nice to meet you! What's your name?

I like hunting and pellet guns. Im into the outdoors big time. I have had lots of unique experiences. I mine gold, hunt elk, fish, hunt meteorites, minerals. I'm an artist/craftsman.

Let's find something we can discuss that is worthwhile. Im not sure what itch you are trying to scratch but if there is some way we can get past it then we should.

What rifles do you shoot? How far away do you think you could hit a lizard like ol' coastal drifter posted in post #1?

 

[Coinwa]

I get invited lots of places….

I just didn’t like the shot you took over the bow of “hunters”. Read your above quotes, and tell me how you didn’t absolutely contradict yourself.

It’s ok, we all do it on occasion, and I can agree with you on much of what you said regarding the invasive species in general.

But, as you have seen from our friend Jace, hunting can be very effective, can provide tremendous value, and really is the only way to stem the tide (suffice poison, which we’ve already discussed).

You seem like a good dude too, so I take back what I said. DON’T run for office.

I’m an airgun guy since I bought my first Daisy 880 in about 1984. I shoot a ton of powder burners too, and I’m a diehard predator hunter.

My current favorite airgun is the .30 Uragan I bought here on the classified. I’m running 50 grain H&N slug II’s at 865 fps. I’d LOVE to take it to S. Florida and pound on some of those mini-dinosaurs.

PS….. this is the tastiest “invasive” species I’ve ever killed. I shot a dozen in a couple days on Maui. Helped out a major landowner, had an absolute ball, and flew home with 50lbs of nothing but backstraps and tenderloins.

Can’t wait to go back with a .35 cal Airgun!

 

[HogKiller]

You know your quarry, know your equipment and can use it effectively. And your not reluctant to share your experience. My hat is off brother.

I can't figure out the messaging function yet to message you. I notice your handle and your in S. Florida. I worked for the NASA/JSC WSTF facility here in New Mexico for several years. Do you by chance work at the facility in Florida?

I don't want to clutter this forum with personal chat so message me if your inclined.

Click his icon, then start conversation, it's that easy. Any replies will show up on up on top with your avatar and the envelope.

 

[HogKiller]

I get invited lots of places….

I just didn’t like the shot you took over the bow of “hunters”. Read your above quotes, and tell me how you didn’t absolutely contradict yourself.

It’s ok, we all do it on occasion, and I can agree with you on much of what you said regarding the invasive species in general.

But, as you have seen from our friend Jace, hunting can be very effective, can provide tremendous value, and really is the only way to stem the tide (suffice poison, which we’ve already discussed).

You seem like a good dude too, so I take back what I said. DON’T run for office.

I’m an airgun guy since I bought my first Daisy 880 in about 1984. I shoot a ton of powder burners too, and I’m a diehard predator hunter.

My current favorite airgun is the .30 Uragan I bought here on the classified. I’m running 50 grain H&N slug II’s at 865 fps. I’d LOVE to take it to S. Florida and pound on some of those mini-dinosaurs.

PS….. this is the tastiest “invasive” species I’ve ever killed. I shot a dozen in a couple days on Maui. Helped out a major landowner, had an absolute ball, and flew home with 50lbs of nothing but backstraps and tenderloins.

Can’t wait to go back with a .35 cal Airgun!

View attachment 481895

Can you imagine the devastation that Iguana's would cause in Hawai'i?

 

[Bedrock Bob]

Well then we can agree.

For the record it wasn't a shot over anyone's bow. It was just my personal opinion and how I arrive at it.

It was taken out of context. Possibly misunderstood as well. I tried my best to clarify it. I obviously hit a spot that is near and dear to you. It was inadvertent. I do apologize.

I am impressed with your tenacity. You fight for what you believe in and that's a virtue. So good on you brother.

I have no idea about the class of air rifle you are shooting. I'm just using an air rifle for training. I don't hunt with it. Those PCPs are so advanced now they are equal to or better than a centerfire for a lot of things. I'd love to hunt with one but right now im busy with other ventures. If I had big iguanas walking around you can bet I'd suddenly be into PCPs.

I have a few coyote and prairie dog stories but that is a different rifle and a different forum. I hunt with a bow, muzzleloader and speargun underwater. Bowfishing is a passion. I have taken carp as big as small children. Teenagers even. Shot a 60 lb. Dorado in open water with a speargun in Mexico.

But...

I haven't killed anything with the springer except collared dove. I'll probably get around to plinking a few ground squirrels in the fall. Maybe shoot some bullfrogs off the boat. I have these vivid dreams of shooting the pigeons that roost between the panels on the highway signs. It could be an omen of things to come.

Hawaii

Those are sweet little animals. Is it a little deer or an antelope? It looks just delicious.

Bring your big azz airgun out here and hit a javelina with it. Despite the rumors they are fantastically delicious. We have an exploding population. I can generally get on a group within an hour. I've killed more than I can count. They would make a sweet hunt for a PCP rifle.

 

[Coinwa]

Throw them in with the goats, pigs, and Axis deer…. and you’d have an entirely new ecosystem.

As it is now, there are more Axis deer on Maui than there are permanent residents. Their population increases by 25-35% every year. They don’t get any “winter kill”. There are ZERO predators. The Does come into cycle all times of the year, and I believe almost every doe I shot was carrying a fawn.

That being said…. If you were to cull just Does with an air rifle (75-120 lbs), what gun/caliber would you shoot?

I’m leaning toward Panthera .35.