Shooting Me Some Iguanas!

[Tenzing_Norgay]

Article today indicates it's permissible to hunt/kill iguanas on 22 public lands:

https://cbs12.com/news/local/homeowners ... operty-fwc

The 22 public lands are listed here:

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonn ... /removing/

Post states "and other nonnative reptiles may be humanely killed without a permit or hunting license at any time throughout the year, except by use of traps or firearms

Sooo...if I'm observed wandering around in one of the areas with a .22 air rifle (NOT a firearm), how long before FWC has me face-down in the mud with their boot on the back of my neck?

Are there "regular" hunters in these areas?

[flcracker]

FWC doesn't use the boot to the back of the neck method if you ain't cooking meth. If you've ever been surprised at sunset by a MIG (Man In Green) appearing out of nowhere from the bushes when you're 3 miles back in the swamp from your truck, you would know that they don't need that sort of intimidation to do their job.

All joking aside, hell - if you know where there's some lizards, I would carry my Ruger Charger and lay up in the shadows. Call your local regional FWC office or ask your question on myfwc.com - I recently asked them if a 300BLK AR-platform pistol with a "stabilizing brace" was allowed in hunting areas that forbid centerfire rifles but allow pistols and shotguns, and I got a clearly positive "YES" as an answer within 24 hours.

Not knowing where the OP is from and not being from that part of Florida myself, I'd hazard a guess that the WMAs listed in the provided link might be places where you need a specialized vehicle and gettin' there is half the fun. Any place named Hungryland couldn't possibly be the least bit hospitable in my book.

[Tenzing_Norgay]

Tongue and cheek with my "boot on the neck" statement. What I'm trying to ask is...will an air rifle raise alarm in an area where rifles may/may not be a regular occurrence.

You cannot shoot iguanas with a "firearm" in the listed WMA's, hence the air rifle inquiry.

[flcracker]

I have known several FWC officers and would expect them to simply ask you what you were carrying them go from there. Lots of people still take their kids on a walk in the woods with a BB gun for the kid and a high-power pellet gun for Dad, looking for legal targets of opportunity.

myfwc.com > "ask a wildlife law enforcement officer" will give you an answer that you can print out and carry with you. The MIG are some of the least reactionary LEOs I've ever met.

[patw]

I have seen a couple by me now and more are coming.

[TACC]

Stack em up like cord wood

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Firemedic2000]

I did not think of that. So when they state NO RIFLES ALLOWED you could possibly use handguns. Such are AR PISTOLS to hunt these snakes and lizards.

But I see they state NO FIREARMS so that would cover pistols also.

[tector]

A subsonic .22 pellet rifle would seem to be ideal in populated areas, although I think discharging them in some municipalities is a problem.

[Slartibartfast]

CCI LR quiets are about the same as an average pellet rifle

[tector]

CCI LR quiets are about the same as an average pellet rifle

Yes, but that does require a firearm.