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Are drones for hunting like sonar for fishing

Considering a drone for hunting. Does this meet the standard of fair game hunting. If so what models are suited for hunting reconnaissance
 
I don't know/Think all/some of the states have caught up to "some" of the NEW technologies. On the other hand do YOU think this practice is an ETHICAL way to hunt Just MHO but I don't.......As for the Fish/Sonar bit... The sonar allows you to "see" the fish..It doesn't make them BITE the lure. The drones will allow you to "see" the game and to put yourself in a position to "shoot" the game.... The animal has NO choice. To me that's a BIG difference. And BEFORE it gets brought up permited control of predators from the air is another matter.
 
You cant use it for hunting but last fall they had the real small ones flying in my neck of the woods and the police were practicing with them and actually flew them into houses with the windows open with no screens on them and one guy closed the windows and grabbed it thinking it was a kid goofing around and he destroyed it. Several minutes later the police arrived wanting to get it back and they did in several pieces. They were actually looking in windows like peeping drones. They can and we cant?
 
rvn1968 said:
Drones are for skeet practice.

+1 to that! Just make sure it isn't your drone first.

And to think I was going to get a drone for checking my targets at long range...

-Mac
 
My state is in the process of outlawing drones used for hunting. I'm not sure, in a fair appraisal, if they're all the problem we think they are and I'm not sure what's unfair about using them. They play no part in the taking of the game, at least until we start putting guns on them. A drone is an airborne device with a camera that will show you where the game is. Not much different than climbing up a tree and using binoculars. I think the comparison to sonar in fishing is fair: the drone shows what's on the other side of the hill but that doesn't put venison on the table. They are probably just as fair to the animals as camo, scent and food plots, none of which existed when I started hunting. Or snowmobiles. Or 4x4s ...
 
Wonder if they scare the game?

That would be an expensive recon method. Fly the thing, buy the camera, figure out how to send the camera signal back, have some kind of monitor back where you hunt. Lots of "stuff". Lug all that plus hunting gear just to have a look at what's over that ridge or across the trees. Sounds silly to me but I don't object unless I'm hunting over that hill and the darn thing comes over me.
 
My plan for any drones I come across flying over any of my properties is to shoot them down on sight. That includes delivery drones unless they are clearly marked "Sinclair" or the like. Eventually, these companies will use them to collect and keep private data about you and your property that they can then sell to others. Back in the day, nobody ever imagined all the private data kept on file about your internet browsing habits, or your movements/location via your cell phone. But in today's world privacy is an option and nothing you do is private any longer >:(. Sorry for the rant.
 
ReedG said:
A drone is an airborne device with a camera that will show you where the game is. Not much different than climbing up a tree and using binoculars.

You are kidding.... right? You can't see through the trees and brush or over the hill under the traditional scenario. This is a huge advantage to the hunter in the field and is so unlike anything that has ever been out there with the exception of hunting from a helicopter.
 
In ND not allowed.

It is an advantage most do not want you to have. Kind of like night vision or thermal. Maybe it is the "I can't afford it so you can't use it."

To me it is just a tool in the box.

The real question is how good are the optical equipment? Would you have to disturb the game to see them?
 
JRS said:
Nothing more than the latest modern technology ;) Ain't it great 8)

Sonars show you fish and depth but you still need to present the right bait , with the right action, with fish that are hungry and territorial. A camera on a drone shows you where the animals are for sure, but then you can step up and make a shot at 200+ yards. They can just be laying there for all intensive purposes. Its already easy to get within 100 yards of a deer which is the reason I took up bow hunting 20 years ago. Some people like hunting as a challenge. Some people just like to kill without challenge. If animals are too elusive for someone, they need to use time working harder learning their woodsmanship vs. their time figuring out a device that is probably illegal via most state's laws already. This is the type of thing that gives hunters a bad rap from the anti's and those that are pro-hunting-non-hunters (who we need badly). Our sport is shrinking if everyone has not noticed.

As an opposing view, there may be an argument for disabled persons to use the technology so they can go to animals that are in places they can access. Although, there's plenty of baiting occurring and trail cameras can tell the story effectively for that as well.
 
If 95% of fish are in 5% of a body a water, sonar can be used to rapidly eliminate a bunch of "dead water". In this way, the analog between fishing sonar and using a drone to spot game is certainly apt. I can certainly see how it could be a huge advantage; rapidly exploring a huge amount of terrain for game.

The difference is that in fishing, as others have mentioned, you still have to get the fish to bite. In hunting, game does not need to be a willing participant.

Ethics are a thing that have to be owned by the individual, but for me, the use of drones crosses the line into unfair chase. I expect game management agencies will disallow their use, and I would support this.

It's supposed to be hunting, not harvesting.

As for drone use by law enforcement, that's whole different kettle of fish. Whether and when drones violate the fourth amendment is something I expect to be an issue for the courts to decide. I can imagine them being used extensively by game wardens for example.

-nosualc
 
the drone does not alter the natural movement of the animal;however,the game feeder lures the deer to an ideal shooting spot. The drone could also help find a wounded animal.
 

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