Armory Sponsor
Posted: 7/1/2026 1:49:44 PM EDT
| Over the last 20 years I have watched the Iguana population slowly move north and now they have become a real problem at my home. It is legal if Florida to shoot Iguanas year round with a 22 Air Gun. I watched some Youtube showing how effective Thermal Optics are at targeting Iguanas which are very well camouflaged. So I was thinking of pickup up the best value thermal for short range shooting under 50 yards. Primarily they are in trees, lake bank brush, or on my F$king Roof. I was looking at the DNT Hydra 256 on Amazon, but thought I would ask for suggestions before pulling the trigger. |
|
Originally Posted By Mmamonster: Dnt is a good make, I have a dnt night vision but not the thermal. Would you need a license to shoot these or are they classed as vermin? Atb Mart Thanks. No license needed. They are vermin, invasive species. I just has to be humane so they require a .22 Air Rifle. My liberal neighbors probably won't like it, but I don't care anymore. I had one living in my attic when I moved in and got him out by patching the small hole the roofers left behind. Fortunately he was outside when they patched it. Now they are on my roof, and screen enclosure and I think I found a burrow under my foundation where they have setup residence. This is war. I called a guy and he wants $620 to make 3-30 min visits. |
|
Originally Posted By dirtyboy: Surprised a cold blooded animal would show on a thermal? That is what I thought, and then I saw this video when doing some research.  Can You Hunt Reptiles With Thermal?? |
|
Originally Posted By dirtyboy: Surprised a cold blooded animal would show on a thermal? |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
|
Originally Posted By GaryM: OP. where in Fl are you at? I know some guys.... Sarasota here Thank you. I am in West Palm Beach. I called one guy a few days ago and he quoted me $620 for 3 - 30 min visits. I also discovered what I believe is a burrow going under my foundation. Stepped in it when cutting the hedges along the side of the house. I figure the shooting will be the easy part, but I am not sure how to deal with the possibility of a nest with eggs. |
ARFCOM’s CHO
Joined:
Aug 2022
Posts:
5102
EE: 100% (1)
FL, USA
| Im fortunately too far North to deal with the iguanas, but I visited some family near Ft Laud recently and there were iguanas everywhere. If I had them around, I would definitely be picking up a good iguana extermination loadout. |
"I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend."
|
Originally Posted By NvrBrdWes: Im fortunately too far North to deal with the iguanas, but I visited some family near Ft Laud recently and there were iguanas everywhere. If I had them around, I would definitely be picking up a good iguana extermination loadout. That is definitely the long term plan. Plus, it give me an excuse to buy some new toys that I can use in my residential back yard. Right now I just want to fix the immediate problem. Upgrades will come once I get through the vacation expenses. I will most likely be purchasing one of these in the future, especially if this becomes an ongoing issue as I expect it will.  
Which will require one of these. 
|
|
Originally Posted By onealphay2k: Thanks. No license needed. They are vermin, invasive species. I just has to be humane so they require a .22 Air Rifle. My liberal neighbors probably won't like it, but I don't care anymore. I had one living in my attic when I moved in and got him out by patching the small hole the roofers left behind. Fortunately he was outside when they patched it. Now they are on my roof, and screen enclosure and I think I found a burrow under my foundation where they have setup residence. This is war. I called a guy and he wants $620 to make 3-30 min visits. That's crazy money, get a pcp and pick them off. I do my vermin shooting in UK for free, it's nuts how they can charge you in America for it. Atb Mart |
Sáncte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio
Joined:
Sep 2004
Posts:
15086
EE: 100% (10)
IN, USA
|
Originally Posted By KILLERB6: My first thought but I guess they heat up (more than their surroundings) sitting I the sun. Originally Posted By KILLERB6: Originally Posted By dirtyboy: Surprised a cold blooded animal would show on a thermal? This is correct. Cold-blooded does not mean that they are literally cold. It only means that they are ectothermic, meaning they rely on the environment for their body heat. Other creatures, like us, generate our own body heat, are called endothermic. Fifth grade biology. 
|
"Do not overthink it, gentlemen. It's only a gunfight, not an IRS tax audit." - Louis Awerbuck
|
Originally Posted By onealphay2k: That is what I thought, and then I saw this video when doing some research.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjJEyu-5ukgThanks! |
|
Is there street lighting around your AO? Are there other houses close by that you could break a window? Air rifles can be weak to hunting level for middle size game. I think head mounted setup NV or thermal with a rifle or pistol mounted IR laser is hard to beat It allows you to move and see quickly and still get a good shot |
|
Interesting about the thermal, thinking about going to the Ft Myers area in October and probably look for some iguanas, might have to take a thermal or two. Bought an Air Venturi Avenger to use for hunting iguana and it is very accurate with crosman premier 14.3 gr. With the regulator set to 2200 psi and filled to 4300 psi I can get 80 shots starting at 1020 fps and dropping to 800 fps at the 80th shot. Very little change in point of impact at 21 yards at those velocities. Need to shoot a longer distance still to see how the pellet drops. Also just got a Air Venturi Ascent to try out too. Bought the GX-E-CX2 and moisture filter to go with these pcp rifles too. |
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." - Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence, 3rd President of the U.S.
Armory Sponsor