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I have no problem with that. Should also include feral cats on that hunting license. Would you be able to sell the skins?? Got to give hunters a reason to spend the money to have the hunt.
Senator Nelson proposes Burmese python hunt

IMO, it's ridiculous, at least based on the Senator's reasoning that a tourist is going to get eaten by a python. Given that that has never happened and probably never will, it's infinitely more likely one of these hunters will get killed in a freak accident or by a lightning strike.

The other issue is the amount and type of supervision that hunters will have. Humans are the most invasive species ever to roam the face of the planet.

>>I have no problem with that. Should also include feral cats on that hunting license. Would you be able to sell the skins?? Got to give hunters a reason to spend the money to have the hunt.
>>Senator Nelson proposes Burmese python hunt

What about all the native snakes that will likely be shot by those unable to ID snakes? I'm sure other wildlife will by shot by disappointed hunters who won't be able to find a cryptic python. I'm not saying all hunters are like that, but get a bunch of hyped-up yahoos out just to look for "killer pythons" and things will get out of hand fast.

Katrina

I suspect this will be limited just like the gator hunt permits. Most likely will include a class and will likely not allow the use of guns. I believe the gator hunts are still limited to bang sticks. I'm sure there will also be alot of Wildlife Officer supervision.

That's what I'm talking about. There's legitimate money to be made by qualified local guides. Nobody is going to get rich of course, but every bit counts when added to a multi-tasking seasonally variable rural economy.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Of course, a python hunt is not a new idea. Don't know if it can be done in the Everglades (Federal Land) or not.
I do know it would be a great way to raise money for the local economy though tourism, as well as for the State with taxes and fees...if done properly.
Should be some sort of mantra "Another Herp Saved Through Commerce".
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

I don't know, John, if the good senator were interested in tourism dollars, would he be rambling on in a media campaign about how the Everglades is teeming with pythons and that visitors could get eaten by a marauding giant snake? That can't be good for business.

>>Of course, a python hunt is not a new idea. Don't know if it can be done in the Everglades (Federal Land) or not.
>>I do know it would be a great way to raise money for the local economy though tourism, as well as for the State with taxes and fees...if done properly.
>>Should be some sort of mantra "Another Herp Saved Through Commerce".
>>jsc
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>>"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
>>John Crickmer

I don't know. I'm hoping to move to the land of the Chupacabre and I'm going to milk it for all it's worth if I do.lol
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Posted by: jscrick at Wed Jul 15 11:48:36 2009 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by jscrick ] Share

I don't know. I'm hoping to move to the land of the Chupacabre and I'm going to milk it for all it's worth if I do.lol
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer
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If by the land of the chupacabra you mean S.Florida where I live. Give it some thought.

Sure its great if you enjoy nature and what is probably close to total and complete local/city political corruption of the likes you cant fathom than by all means hurry on down lol.

Give it some thought.

Nelson didn't jump on the band wagon until burms in the Glades was a big national story. That's when he decided to ride in on his white horse and save the Everglades. We must act now to protect the tourist . Talk like that and everyone listens. Everything in Florida is about tourism. Nelson is smart he knows how to play the game.

Ernie Eison
WESTWOOD ACRES REPTILE FARM INC.

And look at what PETA has to say about this...

"Because as long as individuals are allowed to acquire these exotic animals, they will continue to be abandoned outdoors and attack humans"

Gee, but yet they are against the proposed python hunt?

Animal Rights Group Blasts Senator's Plan for Florida Python Hunts
Tuesday, July 14, 2009

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is calling for tens of thousands of pythons believed to be in the Everglades to be hunted and killed, a proposal blasted by animal rights advocates.

Nelson sent a letter on Tuesday to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, asking for permission to have deputized agents and volunteers kill as many of the snakes as possible during an organized hunt.

The senator's request comes after a 2-year-old central Florida girl was strangled by an unlicensed pet python in her home.

Nelson hosted Salazar on a tour of the Everglades last month, in which he advised the secretary of the python problem. He estimated as much as 100,000 of the snakes may be in the park.

In response to the senator's proposal, officials from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals suggested that Nelson focus on banning the import and private ownership of pythons.

"Because as long as individuals are allowed to acquire these exotic animals, they will continue to be abandoned outdoors and attack humans," PETA said in a statement obtained by FOXNews.com. "These animals have ended up in Florida through no fault of their own, and they should be dealt with in the most humane way possible."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,532622,00.html?test=latestnews

That statement by PETA is just plain wrong, a misstatement of facts, or intentionally misleading at least! In the case of the little girl in Florida attacked by the Python, to which they refer, the Python was NOT [intentionally] released outdoors. The girl was not attacked outdoors.
I know of no person attacked outdoors by any python. You'd think with the way the press loves to front page this issue, I'd a heard something along those lines if even remotely a chance. Outdoor encounters between Man and Python are always initiated my Man, as far as I know.
This is nothing but a case of playing pure fast and loose with the facts. Massaging the truth to fit your agenda.
The commonality between the facts and of their assertions, that being Pythons, does nothing to support the linkage of the two in their statement.
In other words, their assertion makes no sense. Their statement is misleading and false.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

That statement by PETA is just plain wrong, a misstatement of facts, or intentionally misleading at least!
. . .
Their statement is misleading and false.

Yet they consistently somehow arrive "firstest with the mostest" as far as getting information (correct or not) onto the airwaves. I can't say for sure if the media run to PeTA for comment the moment any news item such as this pops up, due to their well-established cuckoo reputation, or if PeTA itself calls major news outlets ASAP with media releases upon learning of the initiatives.

Misleading or not, people will remember the soundbites but no rebuttals/retractions. We herp keepers/enthusiasts need to do more to be that "first" message.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I would realy like to see someone get on TV or the paper's and deminstrate what a large group of this family orentated pet sector we are. There has been so much education derived from reptiles in the class room,Herp Societies,UF,Expo speakers ect.that people were inspired. Show them young students that could pay or help pay for Collage with a rack or two of Pythons in their garage.They learn,ecomomic's Management,sales and advertising,and every subject that ins in "ology" A picture of Mom and Dad with their kids walking around a expo "all" with their new pets in hand. We need a new public image. Not the one the press and Nelson invishion,kreeps dumping Pythons in the Everglades.Someone must know how to pull this off.We must be seen as we realy are,compeating and enjoying a hobby that has become mainstreem to the point of the creation of industries in everything from food products,dry goods and pet excessary's books,and jobs truck/air cargo.Vets.Teachers,Resurchers and so on! Doing what was done centry's ago by the Japanese with Carp! "Step forward and Change our false image." Vic Morgan........pic....i'm next

That's what I'm saying. The issue is ignorance driven. These guys are the Poster Children of why our cause is so necessary and why what we do is indeed beneficial. It's as if the the Town's Folk are coming up the hill with torches in hand to kill the Monster.

Without being too paranoid or too much of a conspiracy theorist, let me say that there are forces at work doing their best to limit our choices in life. They are systematically funneling us into a more and more manageable populace in order to achieve their goal.

What does all this mean? Basically, it means Economic Forces and their Political Allies are doing their best to reduce and marginalize the Middle Class with the goal of adopting a Socio-economic model same as in Mexico, whereby the a very small percent of the population, the Ultra Rich, control the rest of the population though economic and statute means. The many being those that live a subsistence lifestyle, whereby having no personal options other than day to day survival.
An enlightened population is a free population. "They" are dumbing it down so much and "We" are following in line allowing it.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer