The Florida Python Challenge

The Florida Python Challenge starts today Jan. 12, 2013. Blake, Devin, Ruban and George all headed up to the UF Research Center for the kickoff earlier today. After meeting with many news crews and media they are ready to get this challenge started. Ruban Ramirez is the Hunter Hopeful to win this thing, he's got it all, experience, time and talent. But we know that every hunter needs a little luck. Even though there are tons of pythons living in the Florida Everglades, their color and pattern make it nearly impossible to spot them. Not to mention the thick, deep grass that covers the Everglades. Want more information on the Python Challenge check out the website Here. The boys are heading out on a hunt with some media tonight.

We will be updating this blog as much as possible durning the challenge, but lets be honest if we aren't hunting we are going to school, work, or spending time with our families. So every catch will probably not be accounted for.

Wish us luck and let the Challenge begin!

Jan. 4th Catch

There was already a truck parked where I planned to start my hunt, which usually meant another hunter there. Turned out to be a hiker. He was a short, old man with a scraggly beard who had the shakes real bad, no teeth, and a huge fear of snakes. He wished me luck and I began my hunt at about 12:30pm. I only walked about 15 yards before the familiar pattern and sheen of python skin caught my eye in the grass just off the trail. Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades are healthy and well fed. This one was nice & fat. I could also make out scars he had acquired from eating things that fight back, like gators, bobcats and coons. It was an awesome sight! I imagine the feeling you get from spotting a wild Burmese Python must be a bit like finding a unicorn. I took some pictures before snatching it from the weeds. The snake immediately shot musk and got me on the arm and chest. Musk smells like a dead, wet dog but it means success! Meanwhile, the old hiker happened to see it all and came as fast as he could, while keeping his distance. His shakes were twice as bad as when I first met him! I had the python by the tail with its body facing left while I handed my camera to the old hiker on my right. Just then, the snake decided to change directions. The old man backed up as fast as he could but without his cane it didn't work so well and he fell flat on his back! Cigarettes flew from his chest pocket but he shot back up like lightning! I wore the snake out and grabbed him behind the head. He wrapped around my arm and sqeezed it hard enough to put a pretty good hickey between where two of the coils had been! The old hiker was scared to death but digging this! My boy helped me get measurements (it was an 8'7" male), and bag the snake. He later told me it was the most exciting thing to ever happen to him.

Jacksonville News

Well the boys made it in a newspaper up in Jacksonville. Check it out Here.

Giant Python in the Florida Everglades!!

As promised here is some footage of the 16'8" python Ruben and George caught on Nov. 26th. 

16'8" PYTHON!!!!

While out hunting yesterday Nov. 26th Ruben and George came across a giant 16'18" python.  You don't come across these bad boys everyday. The news of their BIG catch spread like wild fire landing a spot on TV, radio and web across the country. Check out this news clip HERE. Ruben caught the whole thing on his GoPro. More video coming soon.

Thankful for Pythons

Temperatures are dropping and the results were good for the Python Hunters. 

Wednesday morning right before Blake took off to Central Florida for the long Thanksgiving weekend, he took his scooter out for a quick python hunt. Good news, he did not come home empty handed.

Then on Thanksgiving Day, Ruben went out and came home with this one. Who needs turkey when you have a wild burmese python?

Lake Okeechobee

Ruben and Devin took a trip up to Lake Okeechobee, no pythons but plenty of native red rat snakes.