Python Hunter's Giant Python Catch in Florida

In January, contracted python hunter Carl Jackson caught a massive 16-foot, 10-inch female Burmese python weighing 202 pounds in Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve. This recent catch is just shy of the 215-pound record set in 2022. Jackson, who began hunting pythons in June 2025, also previously caught a 17-foot, 10-inch python, then the longest recorded that year.

While Jackson mostly avoided injury with the 202-pound python, he sustained a bite on his hand from the nearly 18-foot python he caught in 2025. He described the bite as feeling like "a lot of little needles going into your hand and then tearing through the skin." He advises novice hunters not to yank their hand when bitten, as the snake's teeth can break easily and become embedded.

Burmese pythons are a significant invasive problem in Florida's Everglades, contributing to a decline in native small mammals. Recent research shows these pythons can consume prey much larger than previously thought, with one documented instance of a python swallowing a 77-pound white-tailed deer. Conservative estimates place the Burmese python population in the tens of thousands, posing a continuous challenge to effective control and research efforts.

As hunters prepare for the 2026 Florida Python Challenge, they face the inherent risks of encountering these powerful constrictors. While pythons are not venomous, their sharp, fang-like teeth can inflict painful wounds. Proper wound care, including cleaning with alcohol wipes and applying hydrogen peroxide, is recommended following a bite.