In a sudden display of buzzing and whirring propellers, the drone launches skyward. It ascends into the great big blue above, and hovers at its programmed hover level. With the skilled controller handling by the seasoned drone jockey, the unit begins its search.
With general directions and potential whereabouts of the downed deer, the drone operator directs the flying device toward the designated area. Wondering if they’ll find their monster buck, the anxious hunter paces nearby. But, in less than five minutes, the drone does its work and earns its money. Buck down and found.
While there is no guarantee of recovering a deer, even with a drone, it’s perhaps the most effective tool for recovering dead deer. Here is what you should know about how drones are changing deer recovery.
How Drones Help Recover Deer
Drones are highly regulated tools. Well-trained operators follow standard guidelines. This includes the use of a lighted landing pad, following fly and no-fly zones, respecting landowner rules and laws, and more. Good drone operators do things the right way.
Generally, a drone operator uses a handheld controller with a digital viewing screen. This allows them to see what the drone sees, keep an eye on the readings, and ensure all systems remain “go.” Everything is managed, and all drone commands given, from that remote.
Usually, high-end drones used by licensed deer recovery experts offer multiple tools. These have incredible zoom capabilities so that drones can remain high enough in the sky so as to not alert, stress, or harass deer down below. Furthermore, these have thermal imagery abilities to find deer more easily. These heat signatures make deer (and other warm-blooded animals) stand out on the landscape.
Because the camera zoom and thermal imagery are so powerful, drone operators can determine the exact deer’s antler composition, which helps determine if it’s the deer the hunter shot. Plus, it aids in determining if the deer they’re looking at is dead or still alive. If dead, the hunters move in to retrieve it. If alive, hunters cannot pursue the deer (or hunt in the area) for 24 hours.
Of course, the drone operator could continue periodically checking to see if the deer expired. If so, the hunter can move in to find the deer. If not, they cannot use the drone to locate the deer and “finish it off.” Because it’s still alive (even if near death), that would mean the drone is being used to “hunt” live deer, which is not ethical or lawful.
Drones and Deer: The Great, Good, Bad, and Ugly
Drone technology is not new. However, it is new to the hunting industry. At least, in terms of widespread usage. Now, drone operators are using these tools to recover dead deer. It’s helping deer hunters to find harvested animals they otherwise would not recover.
Hunters who make poor shots, or have difficult difficulties recovering deer, can consult with a drone operator and benefit from their services. These licensed professionals have the documentation, equipment, and necessary skill sets to use these tools to find otherwise unrecoverable deer.
The Great: Drones are excellent tools for finding dead deer that otherwise wouldn’t be recovered. This is a great thing, because it means dear meat isn’t wasted, hunters find their bucks, and they won’t be killing another buck because they didn’t lose the first one to begin with. This means happier hunters, fewer harvested deer, and a higher standard of ethical deer recovery.
The Good: Some use drones to conduct off-season deer surveys. The end goal is similar to conducting trail camera surveys. That said, the effort includes determining the number of deer on the property. Knowing the deer density, and area carrying capacity, improves overall land and deer management. Drones are extremely effective deer survey tools that deliver accurate results.
The Bad: Some might be tempted to use drones to scout their hunting land. Maybe they use these to find where deer are bedding. Perhaps they implement these tools for observing bed-to-feed lines of movement. These scenarios and more can help someone be more effective in their location choices for future hunts. That said, this is extremely unethical and should never be implemented by any hunter. In fact, this is already unlawful in many states.
The Ugly: The worst thing a drone can be used for is going out and finding a dear to kill the same day. It’s true, some might use drones unethically, and even unlawfully, to aid in the harvest of deer. Of course, this should never happen. But some always find ways to misuse tools that are intended for good and proper use. The same thing can be said for guns, bows, cell cameras, blood-trailing dogs, and much more.
Should Drone Deer Recovery Be Allowed?
The debate rages on, should drone deer recovery be allowed? While some oppose the use of drones to recover dead deer, most support it. Dave Skinner, a Whitetail Properties land specialist in Kentucky, think states should allow drones to recover dead deer.
“I absolutely believe drones should be allowed to recover deer,” said Dave Skinner. “We owe it to the resource to exhaust all avenues to recover deer that we can’t locate with traditional tracking. On the flip side, we also owe it to the resources to create laws for protection against unethical use.”
The Future of Deer Recovery with Drones
So, what does the future of deer recovery with drones look like? That’s still up in the air. In fact, in some states, it’s outlawed. In others, it’s perfectly legal. In the former, there are current legal battles being fought (i.e.: Michigan) to overturn the outlawing of using drones to find dead deer.
“I don’t think a hunter that has access to a drone is more ethical than a guy that has expert tracking skills or access to a tracking dog,” Skinner said. “However, I think the temptations to abuse the technology will without a doubt rear its head with unethical hunters.”
Of course, certain common-sense regulations and stipulations should be applied to using drones to recover deer. That prevents most misuse of this new deer recovery tool.
“Flying a drone and observing or getting intel from a drone, and hunting within 24 hours, should absolutely NOT be allowed,” Skinner said. “Pursuing game with the aid of a drone should NOT be allowed. Drone operators offering deer recovery services should be licensed and certified and required to educate hunters on when they’re allowed to pursue game again.”
Stepping back, the current state of drone deer recovery is highly unregulated, greatly misunderstood, and varies significantly from one state to the next.
“My opinion is it’s a free-for-all and needs regulation,” Skinner said. “My fear is drones will be banned because of the potential for abuse rather than state agencies putting forth the effort to allow them for good and legislating out the abuse,” Skinner said. “We license taxidermists, hairdressers, automobile drivers, contractors, etc. We can also license drone operators.”
Finding a Good Drone Operator
There are numerous qualified drone operators in America. That said, fewer ones are qualified to locate dead deer. That said, some are trained not only in drone operation but also whitetail recovery knowledge and techniques.
For example, Drone Deer Recovery offers an interactive map service so hunters can find a drone operator near them.
Without question, use of a thermal drone for deer recovery can be extremely effective. And if it helps recover dead deer that otherwise wouldn’t be found, why not support it?
