Iguana hunting in Florida.

Can you hunt iguanas in Florida?

Yes. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) classifies the green iguana as an invasive, non-native reptile that damages seawalls, landscaping, and native wildlife. The FWC actively encourages homeowners and the public to humanely kill green iguanas year-round on their own property and on 32 FWC-managed public lands in South Florida.

Do you need a license to hunt iguanas in Florida?

On private property, with the landowner's permission, no hunting license and no permit are required to remove green iguanas. On most FWC-managed public lands, a hunting license is also not required, although a free Wildlife Management Area permit may be needed depending on the property. Always confirm the rules for the specific land before you hunt.

Iguanas must be killed humanely and on the spot — Florida law prohibits transporting live iguanas. Firearms use is restricted in many residential and public areas, so air rifles, pellet guns, and bows are the standard tools.

Where to find iguanas in South Florida

Iguanas concentrate where sun, water, and tropical landscaping meet. The most productive areas are canals, seawalls, mangrove edges, golf courses, and parks across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and the Florida Keys. Hunting from a small boat lets you cover miles of seawall and reach trees that aren't accessible from land.

Best time of day and year

Hunt at first light. Iguanas are cold-blooded — at sunrise they are slow, exposed, and basking on branches and seawalls before they warm up and disappear into the canopy. Cool snaps in winter are also prime: temperatures in the 40s stun iguanas and drop them out of trees.

Gear checklist

• PCP air rifle (.22 or .25 cal) or a quality pellet gun
• Bow with small-game points, or a slingbow for close range
• Polarized sunglasses to spot iguanas against tree canopy
• Long sleeves, gloves, and closed shoes — iguanas claw and bite
• Cooler with ice for legal, humane handling after dispatch
• A boat with shallow draft if you're working seawalls and canals

How-to: a clean, ethical hunt

1. Scout at sunrise from a slow-moving boat or on foot along canals.
2. Identify your backstop before every shot — never shoot toward homes, roads, or boats.
3. Aim for the head for a one-shot, humane dispatch.
4. Recover the animal immediately; Florida law requires humane killing on the spot.
5. Ice it down. Iguana is edible — known as "chicken of the trees" — and a clean kill keeps the meat usable.