I am interested in shooting some Florida Iguanas with my .22 Rapid. Any pointers welcomed.
Ditch
My reply is based on the assumption that you're visiting...
Drive 2-3 hours south.
Florida is covered in drainage canals, most of these have a parallel 2-track similar to a power-line road. Fishing in these canals is very common.
I see no reason why you couldn't also shoot iguanas, so long as you were a safe distance from the road(1000ft?), and aware of what's behind the arc of your pellet.
If someone showed up to say otherwise, I'd tell them to pound sand. (put some accent on it) "Out her doin a gol-durn public service mane!"
Unless it was FWC, then I'd politely suggest that their their time might be better used in additional training.
Like... go look it up and show me that law. Then tell me where I CAN shoot. Thank you!
There is at least 1 key on the way down which is covered up in iguanas, you could probably wear yourself out.
@gratewhitehuntrr. Hey Thanks for the info. I will do so next time I go to Florida.
Any canal, lake or culvert there will be a 70% chance you will see feral iguanas. They tend to be south of the line of the big lake due going more north the winter kills them. We had them decline in 2015 but they are back in that they seem to withstand the most current winter here in Broward / Palm Beach.
They tend to be south of the line of the big lake due going more north the winter kills them.
The Cuban Anole captured at a Palm Beach nursery did not fare well when brought back to Orlando. Poor little invasive bastard.
I've just decided that I should try to recruit a friend, for an iguana trip. Perhaps the guy with a banana grove in Pahokee....
@gratewhitehuntr you can drive around in palm beach county and see them in most every canal area. They are open game but be careful in that many residents feed them and like them. My property in Boca Raton had a bundle facing the Hillsoboro river behind development but looks like HOA paid someone to capture or take them out. In 07 we used to hunt them, this was the most active year for them then it tapered off from 2010 onward. Recently they have come back in droves. I bought a Talon SS from sunshine ag who used to have a really nice shop in Miami back in 07 to dispatch them. Me and my AG buddy figured the formula for larger ones is a head shot with a pcp or ag with around 20 fpe baseline ideally 25 to 30. .22 is more suited of a caliber, .177 can over penetrate them. I used to run 16 gr eun jin .177's in my talon for the extra punch on larger males. Close range used my Mac 1 .22 LD with predators on the smaller ones.
you can drive around in palm beach county and see them in most every canal area.
What ranges are most common, and how is recovery rate with solid hits to the head? DRT? Hard to hit the brain? 50/50?
How do they behave in winter? How is that different from summer?
Any info you could relate, on iguana behavior, would be appreciated.
My only experience hunting lizards, has been shooting anoles to feed broody hens.
I picked up a Goldwing last week, going to collect some cheap meat. An iguana hunt, and spearing in the Keys, are both on the list.
Figure 25 to 30 yards based on a suburban setting longer to 45 50 down canals. Minimum 20 fpe gun preferable caliber .22 or .177 heavies. My Sumatra 2500 C . 25 would devaste them. They tend to spook when a jr. Sized one alarms herd of 2 to 30 at one place In winter they hide under coral rock caves of behind palmetto fronds. Many die and fall out of trees with dark geen color Large one get 5 feet long.
