Python hunting is legal all year round and there are a few full time hunters.
This is a contest to bring in attention. The problem seems to be that while they've caught 13,000 or so pythons over the years, there are estimated to be somewhere between 30,000 and 300,000. So I'd think it's a lost cause.
I did sign my wife up for the hunt, but... well that's another story.
Florida’s Python Challenge begins: 450 snake hunters compete for $10k prize.