A helicopter will spook game much more than any drone and from much father away and can also legally operate at
low drone altitudes mentioned. A belligerent who fires at and/or hits such that is legally operating under FFA, should
get ready for an unannounced meeting with state and federal agents.
but Im sure the AA tough talk only applies to swatting small flies not big ones...so its really kind of comical
91.119 Minimum safe altitudes; general
Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:
(a) Anywhere – An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.
(b) Over congested areas – Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open-air assembly of persons, an altitude of
1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.
(c) Over other than congested areas – An altitude of 500 feet above the surface except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In that case,
the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
(d) Helicopters – Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed In paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is
conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with routes or
altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator.
Helicopter operations may be conducted below the minimum altitudes set for fixed-wing aircraft. The reason: they have unique operating
characteristics, the most important of which is their ability to execute pinpoint emergency landings during power-out emergencies. Furthermore
, the helicopter's increased use by law enforcement and emergency medical service agencies requires added flexibility.
Are you a complete idiot, or did you fail to complete the course? Shooting at a helicopter is shooting at people, OF COURSE the cops would be involved. . It must be operated under the professional licence, and would still require permits to operate as a business, similar to the drone operator
. Used in the same manner as proposed for the drone, it would be just as illegal, and more dangerous. You are comparing Apples to oranges and claiming it's watermelon.
Theree is no viable comparison. If the pilot of a helicopter circled me on stand at the same range as the drone I spoke of, we would both end up dead as the blades shattered on the tree. If it were used to run game and assist in poaching as described by the OP, there would be much higher penalties involved.
If it was used in such an unprofessional, and dangerous method, and in such close proximity to a hunter on stand, a charge for shooting it down, may well be covered as Self Defence, for clearly the pilot's actions would be a very real threat to the life of the hunter.
(If you can go this stupid, you are really reaching)
