Drones and Predator Hunting

Crimson Raptor

Crimson Raptor

New member
The increasing use of drones has made me consider how easy it would be for a hunter to utilize a relatively inexpensive quadcopter equipped with a live video feed or still cameras for scouting and hunting purposes.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who was thinking about this because because Colorado has recently banned the use of drones for the purpose of hunting.

Due to their growing popularity and the fact that I know that someone somewhere has already used a drone to assist in locating and hunting game (think a game cam in the air), I thought I'd pose a question to the membership of PM:

If there is no restriction on the use of drones in your state and you possessed one that could provide real time video overwatch of your predator hunting stand to allow you to see incoming or curious predators from a longer distance, would you ever consider using one?

If not, why not?

And if you would consider using one, under what what specific scenarios would you find it appropriate?

I'll answer first since I posed the question - I would not consider using one for predator hunting, but would have no personal ethical qualms about using one to efficiently locate wild pigs as they are a destructive and invasive animal.

Additionally, I would never use one on public land tracts down here to avoid disturbing that use of public land by anyone else.

Bring on the debate...
 
Heck if your going to use one for Hog hunting, lets mount a AR on the thing and shoot em that way..

(I think I'm on to something here).. :)
 
FPS RUSSIA QUADROTOR
For Hogs, I just ordered two...! JK
I think they would be great especially as you have seen in Texas how efficient heli hunting is at getting rid of pigs. I also think it would be cool to video tape your hunts with them ... and it would be a good way to quickly scout a huge amount of land...
 
No, I wouldn't use a drone to assist in hunting.

Here's my con's. Maybe OK to use a drone for handicap hunters, but the rest of us? Traditional hunting is a rich experience. Matching your abilities to a critter that could outwit you gives a "quality" and makes hunting respectable by respecting targeted prey. If a county only supports enough wildlife for a 100 active hunters, then why make it a cakewalk? Let's have 100s of active hunters in the county rather than a dozen cleaning out the wildlife. Can't imagine many trouphies if our game were taken handily.
1) loss of respect and support of non-hunters,
2) lessen the quality and traditions of hunting,
3) fewer varmits/game for a shrinking pool of hunters.

Here's my pro's:
1) ensure handicap hunter's success rates,
2) counter attack drone to knock out PETA drones.

This?
Parrot Drone
 
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What be more of a concern to me, is to know what ammo can permanently disable one of these contraptions. We already have "Zombie" loads... are "UFO" loads next? Sign me up!
 
I could see scouting with one maybe, looking at terrain, look for water, that type stuff. Don't think I would use one to locate and shoot any type animal, I'm a "fair chase" type hunter. But I'm sure they will be banned from big game hunting in most states before the next season begins anyway. Scouting was the first thing that came to mind when my buddy showed me his he got for a christmas present from his wife. Now thats a good women.
 
Of the people who are against the drones use how many use a fish finder? Do you fish where they show up on the graph or do you shut it off and fish somewhere else? Just being the devil's advocate.
 
For predator control agencies I think it would be ok, but they already use planes. As for hunters it is called fair chase. I don't like the game camera's that send the photo to your cell phone let alone a drone to show real time video.
 
Originally Posted By: AZGthats crazy. Skynet shouldn't be too far behind either.

Now thats funny!!

I wouldnt use one, it woukd take away from the challenge. A lot of people now a days suffer from a lack of woodsmanship, a drone would only add to it.
 
It would be a great tool for some to monitor there property if they were having trouble with poachers.
As for hunting no way, shouldn't be allowed, and I doubt it will.
 
I would absolutely use one! I personally hunt coyotes because they are an invasive and destructive species in Georgia. I will take every legal advantage I can get.

Even if coyotes were not invasive and destructive I see no 'fair chase' problem here. How different is this technology to e-callers, binoculars, high power lights, thermal and night vision or scopes and rifles designed for super long shots? All are designed to expand the boundaries of the hunt. I see no significant difference between watching coyotes in real time via video from a drone vs. seeing them as a result of high powered lights or binoculars. All are technological enhancements to the naked eye approach to hunting. Even using Google Maps for pre-hunt scouting of terrain and good stand locations is a technology that expands the boundaries of the hunt in that it saves time and energy we would otherwise have to expend on site.

Heck, guns are an enhancement when you get right down to it. We could use bows, or slings. I prefer a gun though, and if drones are ever a legal option for me, I'll employ a small army of them if possible. (I'll have them watching my current stand and the next three spots on the list!)

I don't concern myself with the need for support from non-hunters. I hunt ethically and legally, and if they have a problem with that they probably won't be very happy living where I live anyway. We are not experiencing a shrinking population of coyotes in our area. Cows are an economic investment. Coyotes kill calves, thus coyotes need to go. My enjoyment of the quality and tradition of hunting is directly proportional to how successful the hunt is. Thus, this would be a win-win for me all the way around. I can enjoy hunting and coming home empty handed, but I'm not going to lie, I have a MUCH better time when we are successful.

 
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