I have plenty of aerial photos and actually enjoy scouting so not sure I'd have much real use for one. But such is the way of the world, technology taking over everything. Are we really even hunting anymore? Jk I know we are but I've had many discussions about how we as hunters seem to be taking a lot of the mystery out of the hunt. I'm all for scouting and gathering intel but sometimes it feels like we might be going overboard a bit. What if you could equip one with a thermal imaging system, that way you could really mark those bedding areas, pre programmed auto pilot flight patterns so you don't even have to fly the thing, texting/e-mail capability like trail cams? Waiting for someone (not in a study) to come up with some kind of way to affix a gps bug to a buck they got on camera to really track his exact movement/patterns. Sounds crazy but....somewhere...somebody is working on the delivery system. Anywho, just rambling I'm sure drones are fun.
Drone I have at work only goes up to a mile and battery life is 18 minutes max. It's amazing what they can see but I sure hope they never get used at any time of wildlife anything unless it's solely research purposes.
If I had a drone I wouldn't hesitate using it early spring late winter when the seasons over and all the leaves are gone. Great way to find trails and bedding areas, it can take years for aerial maps to be updated.
According to the FFA, as long as the "drone" is being used for hobby or recreational purposes and is smaller than 55lbs, it is completely legal to fly and doesn't require any special registration. They have guidelines you are recommended to follow. •Fly below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles •Keep the aircraft within visual line of sight at all times •Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations •Don't fly within 5 miles of an airport unless you contact the airport and control tower before flying •Don't fly near people or stadiums •Don't fly an aircraft that weighs more than 55 lbs •Don't be careless or reckless with your unmanned aircraft – you could be fined for endangering people or other aircraft
I own a DJI Phantom Vision 2+ mostly for recreational purposes and making cool family videos and such. I did a flyover of my land this spring in WI and it was pretty cool to see all the deer trails and bedding areas. I contacted the WI DNR just to make sure on the regs of using one. The DNR officer said no problem as long as I don't use it during the season as it is considered hunting with the aid of an aircraft and illegal. The only thing I think it would be useful for during the season that should be legal in my opinion is for finding a hit deer. I could do an aerial grid search with my quadcoptor a lot more quickly and efficiently than on foot, but I understand it would be hard to differentiate between hunting and trying to find a wounded/dead deer. I'm not into shameless self-promotion or anything like that, but here is a link to a video I shot this spring. I flew about 15 yards over ducks sitting on our pond and it hardly bothered them. https://vimeo.com/122596393
I'm pretty sure in Minnesota you cant hunt after flying in a plane for 12 or 24 hrs. I vaguely remember this rule from when I got my pilot license.
