Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Pa. man in trouble using drone for deer recovery

This was on the news today. He uses drones for game recovery and could get a hefty fine & 3 months in jail.
https://www.wnep.com/article/news/l...521-001ae710-0f20-488e-88b2-baca39e45f36

Hunters are killing deer with drones ?? That's a bunch of bullzs-hit

God forbid some hunter does something ethical in an effort to not waste game....

And they wonder why there are poachers.

Just where in any of the above was it said that they were killing deer with drones? Reading and processing before you comment, try it out sometime.

I assumed Mike was being sarcastic.

Seems like a sensible way to recover injured deer. They can run a long way with a .30 hole in the lungs.

In fairness, his version is much more interesting haha

Claim under law is one cannot use drones to hunt or track deer. This sounded like a recovery effort. I would fight this one. Moreover, it stated in the article wardens are interpreting law which is not their job.

Tracking dogs aren’t legal either.


This state frequently puts you in the position of being illegal while you do the right thing.


Couple months ago,

I seen be a Possum Cop I would have been fined for,
Shooting from a road
Hunting out of season
Using a gun not legal for the game
Etc, Etc.


Because I put down a car hit doe.

Game laws once you get above the Mason Dixson line are plain stupid. I marvel at the stupidity while reading game laws in Illinois. Its not about sound game management, its about how much inconvenient we can place on sportsman while stealing as much money as we can get.

Actually tracking dogs are legal now in Pa, took a while to get it done but you can use them now. Only on a leash I think.

You guys have to remember this is Pa, this doesn't surprise me a bit.

I agree with that but if you're a game warden in the field, how do you distinguish between a guy using a drone to recover a possibly wounded animal, and a guy just looking for deer to kill?

Guaranteed, if it's legal to use for wounded deer some will stretch it and use it to find deer.

Got guns mounted on the drone??

#pew-pew

The question is when does the hunting end and the recovery begin. I think most states would define that line as when you tag it. As long as the tag's in your pocket, you're hunting. In Idaho, you can't use motor vehicles to hunt but you can to recover. A drone is defined as an aircraft and they can't be used to hunt.

This can easily lead to someone being arrested or fined because they might commit a crime or had the ability to commit a crime. A slippery slope but in my experience, one law enforcement would like to pursue. In a lot of minor incidences law enforcement over-exerts their authority.

Can't use them in AK either. Or helicopters.

There are always those who will test it for perceived loopholes tho, and sometimes they win.

Helicopters are illegal to use in any aspect of hunting, but some years ago a sheep guide used one to fly into a ridge-top and clear it of rocks sufficiently to land a Supercub there.

Got away with it, as who is to say what the strip is for- and it is usable by anyone.

^^^^^^^^^^^

To me it’s negligent to not do everything to recover a deer.



Caveat yes there is a risk of abuse but I don’t think restricting law abiding citizens because of what some MIGHT do is a valid argument.

Would you say that's like restricting everyone's guns because of what a few misfits MIGHT do? It's what liberals do.

Mmm recovery? I can see in season scouting via drone being an issue, but don't game wardens scout for hunters with drones?
Or am I thinking of them putting up game cams on private property?

My bet is that this guy will not be punished in the end, and the reg will get redefined in some sensible way. All in all, incidents like this usually occur in those jurisdictions where the G&F officers see their primary role as LEOs with too much authority to abuse (satisfaction to compensate for weak self-respect). In too may places they know, or exercise, very little knowledge and care about game management and service to those who pay their salaries. What % of people in this society are wannabee cops?