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Ernest Hemingway's Iguana Hunt

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April 08, 2010
Ernest Hemingway's Iguana Hunt - 10

Although Hemingway’s exploits in Africa have inspired many, his iguana hunt on the Cuban coastline with friends John Huston and Peter Viertel is mostly unknown.

Trying to put a morning of poor fishing behind him, Hemingway pulled his boat into his favorite cove for lunch.

Afterwards, Papa entertained his guests by shooting drifting beer bottles with a .22 rifle at distances as far as 100 yards.  When a huge iguana sunning on a far beach was spotted, Papa wasted no time in taking a shot.  With his third shot successful, Papa had Huston and Viertel swim ashore to retrieve the lizard.  Growing exhausted and tipsy from drinking the two were about to turn back toward the boat when they saw Papa swimming, rifle held above his head, behind them.

On the beach, Papa declared his trophy the biggest iguana he had ever seen and planned to have it made into a handbag for his wife.

Comments (10)

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from Bo wrote 2 years 4 weeks ago

pineywoods, just handle them with gloves and cook them

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from pineywoods wrote 2 years 4 weeks ago

I would really love to shoot iguanas in Florida where they have gotten so troublesome. They say you shouldn't try to eat them because of virulent bacteria on their skin---that it's so bad it will sicken or kill dogs that attack them.

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from VAHunter100 wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

Does anyone know where I can get a large copy of this photo? Would make a good framed wall piece, along with a great conversation starter.

Thanks!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Horn of the Hunter wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

Told my wife this story. She wants to know if he really made his wife a handbag

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Bo wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

I would do it and try to eat one also.

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from patrick88 wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

kill an iguana make a handbag cool.

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from Orange Grove wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

That's just crazy. Love it though. When you going gayne?

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from HawkEye wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

That is just awesome :)

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from seadog wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

That's a good story--sounds just like Papa Hemingway to do that. I've been itchin' to get into the iguana hunting game for a while now--so far, the lizards are just laughing at me--they must know I have to work. I better not listen to Merl Haggard or I might get inspired to "walk off my steady job today!"

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from Horn of the Hunter wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

Never knew papa went after lizards. Fun stuff gayne

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from Horn of the Hunter wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

Never knew papa went after lizards. Fun stuff gayne

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from seadog wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

That's a good story--sounds just like Papa Hemingway to do that. I've been itchin' to get into the iguana hunting game for a while now--so far, the lizards are just laughing at me--they must know I have to work. I better not listen to Merl Haggard or I might get inspired to "walk off my steady job today!"

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from HawkEye wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

That is just awesome :)

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Orange Grove wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

That's just crazy. Love it though. When you going gayne?

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Bo wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

I would do it and try to eat one also.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from patrick88 wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

kill an iguana make a handbag cool.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Horn of the Hunter wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

Told my wife this story. She wants to know if he really made his wife a handbag

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from VAHunter100 wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

Does anyone know where I can get a large copy of this photo? Would make a good framed wall piece, along with a great conversation starter.

Thanks!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from pineywoods wrote 2 years 4 weeks ago

I would really love to shoot iguanas in Florida where they have gotten so troublesome. They say you shouldn't try to eat them because of virulent bacteria on their skin---that it's so bad it will sicken or kill dogs that attack them.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Bo wrote 2 years 4 weeks ago

pineywoods, just handle them with gloves and cook them

0 Good Comment? | | Report

Post a Comment (200 characters or less)