[kls]

If you like Hawaii and the Outer Banks area, you may want to visit the FL Keys if you have not been here. It is almost like you took the two places and blended them together. As well, no better fishing in the world other than maybe the Bahamas. Cost of living here is more than coastal Carolina, but less than Hawaii.

There is not much hunting on the islands, other than iguanas, but there is a big spearfishing community which is a lot like hunting underwater. That being said, there is hog, duck, python and alligator hunting 2 hours up the road in the everglades.

[mrfusion]

The traffic gets so bad in the keys though. Especially on weekends.

[kls]

Depends on where you live in the Keys, Islamorada is horrible, Marathon can be bad, but the Lower Keys usually flows, it may be at the speed limit or a little under but it does flow. Key West is hit or miss, usually once you get past the triangle, it flows decently and it is only bad half the year.

[fiftyacorn]

do people really go python hunting?

[kls]

Yes it's become a big sport due to the fact that the State of FL issues bounties where you can claim a cash prize, or a coin, or various other things for proof of a Python kill. Plus you get to keep the snake and sell it to a tanner, who will butcher it and provide you with the meat if you want it. They have dedicated agents now for eradication, but the cash bounties used to be available to the general public. They still offer them from time to time.

I am a hunter (I eat what I kill, I don't kill for the sake of getting the kill), and I will tell you, Python hunting ranks up there as one of the craziest, scariest hunting I have ever done. They just don't die, their nervous system takes over when you shoot them and they are pissed, they know who shot them, and they want payback. They come straight for you and you have to get enough shots in a fast moving snakes head before he gets to you, to stop them. I have literally had to shoot one with my sidearm, as he latched onto my leg and was winding up on me. Python hunting is not for the faint of heart.

https://www.sfwmd.gov/our-work/python-program#:~:text=An%20a....

[nopzor]

interesting. what's to stop people from breeding pythons in captivity and gaming the system?

[kls]

They cost more than the rewards.