Removing Invasive Species in Florida Iguana Hunting

I was born in Coral Gables and moved to North Florida, specifically Live Oak, when I was around 8 years old. Growing up, I spent countless hours on the Suwannee River, Santa Fe River, and Ichetucknee Springs. I have always had a deep love for the outdoors. As a teenager, weekend trips to Steinhatchee or Horseshoe Beach for fishing were a regular occurrence.

- Article and photos by John Mason

As I grew older, life took me out West. For 30 years, I worked as a contractor, building a successful business across Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Colorado. While I thrived professionally, a part of me missed being in the woods, on the water, fishing, and exploring the natural world. When I turned 55, I realized it was time to reconnect with that passion.

A longtime friend from Florida, Matt, invited me on a python hunting trip, and that’s where my new adventure began. Although we did not catch any pythons on those early trips, the experience sparked something in me. Around the same time, we started hearing about the growing problem of iguanas and the damage they were causing in South Florida. To get a firsthand look, we hired a guide for an iguana hunting trip. That experience opened our eyes to the massive environmental harm these creatures were inflicting.