Spear for Pythons?

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Sebastian the Ibis

Sebastian the Ibis

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Apparently a 6-8 foot python has moved into my neighborhood. I was thinking a good old 4-5 pronged fish spear with barbs would be just about perfect to keep in the garage in case I actually see it. Does anyone have any experience dealing with pythons?

A machete is not the greatest since snakes like to get into brush and metal fences.

Firearms are out of the question.
 
Just catch it, put it in a pillowcase, tie the top and call animal control, your local zoo or take out an ad for a 'free python' (if legal in your State).

A snake that length is really not much of a threat to anything larger than a rabbit.
 
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An 8ft Python can rip you up.
They are very strong, very fast, very "bitey", and they have a mouth full of teeth.
With a good grip, an 8footer can absolutely snap bones.
I wouldn't lay hands on one unless I knew what I was doing and had the proper equipment.

I'd recommend a Gammo air rifle from Walmart, and a book on belt making.
:)
 
Flint, pythons in South Florida are about the same as wild piggies in Texas. They are ruining the Everglades ecosystem and nobody wants them. This one is likely responsible for a few cats that have disappeared recently.
When I was young dumb and stupid, I'd catch snakes. I have about as much interest in making a pet out of this one, as you do of adopting piglets.

I'm not fooling around with an 8 foot python and a pillow case. A spear is one thing, but I'm not putting hands in a snake that big without another big guy around.
 
Since snakes like to get into brush and metal fences neither is a frog jigging spear. Kaa isn't interested in you, but he might take a liking to your wee dogs and cats. A sturdy stick with a 'Y' on the end, behind Kaa's head then into a bag of some type(kind of suspect a pillow case will get you into trouble with the female managers if there is one) and a phone call to the wild life cops will do it. Please have somebody film the capture. snicker.
Mind you, like other 'varmints', removing one does not guarantee another won't move in. Just like beavers and ground hogs.
 
Do you want to kill it or just capture it?

Id be thinking more of a traditional spear rather than pronged fish spear, but have no experience with either.
 
Snakes are in an area for two reasons, food and shelter. Eliminating a snake without eliminating the food and cover is only a temporary solution. If the neighborhood has a rat problem, the snake may be more beneficial than a threat. Most of the time a healthy snake with a decent food supply will prey on food that is 10% of it's body weight. Pythons are also not very aggressive(unlike what you see on the Sci-Fi channel). The odds of it being a threat to humans is minute. Have you called animal control?
 
^^^ Id respectfully suggest that a Python, being an introduced and harmful invasive species, shouldn't get the same consideration of its niche in the scheme of things as a native species. What it eats may not be helping, but taking food out of the mouths of native species and eating native species of all sorts. I believe some areas want all the invasive types killed, which Id concur on.
 
The state of Florida has declared all-out war against pythons. It is illegal to own one unless you had it prior to the ban and registered it. If it escapes, it is your fault and you may be fined or worse.
It must be killed outright unless it is captured and euthanized.

Sticking it with a gator spear (like a BIG frog gig) may do nothing but give you a big fight. Use the machete and chop it any place you can. Exposing its innards will lead to its death eventually.
 
Malamute said:
^^^ Id respectfully suggest that a Python, being an introduced and harmful invasive species, shouldn't get the same consideration of its niche in the scheme of things as a native species. What it eats may not be helping, but taking food out of the mouths of native species and eating native species of all sorts. I believe some areas want all the invasive types killed, which Id concur on.
Click to expand...

I didn't mean to imply that Pythons were an asset, just that they are there for the food/shelter, not to attack humans. Again, the threat to humans is minuscule as compared to the risk to rats......which by the way, are also in invasive species. The impact to native species from the population explosion of Pythons is well known. I agree that they should be killed on sight. If there is a snake known to be in the area, I'd contact animal control.
 
Bad Ninja said:
An 8ft Python can rip you up.
They are very strong, very fast, very "bitey", and they have a mouth full of teeth.
With a good grip, an 8footer can absolutely snap bones.
I wouldn't lay hands on one unless I knew what I was doing and had the proper equipment.

I'd recommend a Gammo air rifle from Walmart, and a book on belt making.
:)
Click to expand...
But are they as delicious as rattlesnake? ;)
 
The BEST thing, in my experience for killing a snake is a shotgun with bird shot at close range just behind the head (so you don't mess up the skin). If that isn't an option, a VERY sharp and preferably heavy blade (machete, ax, hoe, samurai sword, etc.) delivered with full commitment to the same area. I guess some people kill them on hunts by contact shooting them in the head with a cattle captive bolt gun. This would require you to bend over and have your upper body, hand, etc. at the snake's level, and off-balance. I would opt for the scattergun or blade.
 
I wouldn't want to get that close to an 8 foot predatory snake. Unless it's attacking me, I'd let animal control handle it. If it comes in the house, whatever I have on me or can grab will be used to puncture its head repeatedly. I can replace the tile.
 
I guess y'all do it differently, I've used shovels, belt buckles, sunflowers, thrown bowies, bbguns, axes, ropes, basically anything with a lil weight and a lil reach to nab a snake, just break the "neck" and call it a day. And having eaten more than just rattlers, yes they are ALL yummy.
 
Last edited:
Patocazador said:
The state of Florida has declared all-out war against pythons. It is illegal to own one unless you had it prior to the ban and registered it. If it escapes, it is your fault and you may be fined or worse.
It must be killed outright unless it is captured and euthanized.

Sticking it with a gator spear (like a BIG frog gig) may do nothing but give you a big fight. Use the machete and chop it any place you can. Exposing its innards will lead to its death eventually.
Click to expand...

Florida hasn't even come close to declaring war on pythons. Check out the hunting restrictions. They're a joke and do next to nothing for the problem.
 
Water-Man said:
Florida hasn't even come close to declaring war on pythons. Check out the hunting restrictions. They're a joke and do next to nothing for the problem.
Click to expand...

No permit, open season.
What restrictions?

Pythons can be humanely euthanized on private lands at any time with landowner permission - no permit required- and the FWC encourages people to remove pythons from private lands whenever possible.

Pythons may be taken at any time throughout the year from 22 Wildlife Management Areas, Public Small Game Hunting Areas and Wildlife and Environmental Areas where pythons are known to exist. There is no bag limit and pythons may be taken by any means other than traps or firearms (unless provided for by specific area regulations). Do not enter areas posted as “Closed to Public Access.”
Click to expand...
http://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/nonnative-species/python-permit-program/
 
If I were to make something crude and effective, I would probably make a V shaped spear that was sharp in the middle of the two points. Think of a pair of scissors that are open. Make it about 6" wide and very sharp and I'm sure with a little foot peg you could nip the head off of just about anything you can fit between the two points?
 
armoredman said:
But nobody answered the question - what do they taste like? Will we see packages of "Free Range" python in the meat departments? :p:D:what:
Click to expand...
If so, I'll be buying, chicken is cliche, but as long as python falls in line with other snake species I've cooked and/or eaten, on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being fish and 10 being dark meat chicken, all snakes thus far score between 9.5-11. Bonier like a chicken neck obviously, but more chicken than turkey. I'll fry up python for anyone delivering.
 
the V shaped spear is a good idea. recently I had a 3ft rat snake in our lower kitchen cabinet. I wanted to whack it with a billie club but could not get a free swing. I opted for my model 63 S&W with 22 LR rat shot. very effective at close range of about 3 ft. I did have some collateral damage of #12 shot to several tupper ware dishes !!

I think a shotgun with birdshot is the most effective snake dispatcher. However I have used both 38 and 44cal snake loads in my revolvers that have worked quite well . I handloaded with CCI/Speer shot capsules and #9 lead shot. these loads are available as factory ammo. These heavier caliber snake loads have a little more range that the 22LR snake loads.

Incidentally these snake loads were approved by RC Model!!

Bull
 
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