Thermal binos for hunting, what’s your opinion…

[xr650rRider]

I meant people using them to poach game at night. Very illegal .

Drones are illegal in Texas even for game recovery. I'm sure other states have same regulation.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/general-regulations/means-and-methods

use aircraft (including drones, except by activity-specific permit) to hunt, locate (including wounded animals), manage, harass, drive, trap or photograph any wild animal. Use of drones to locate wounded animals is not permitted.

Don't see anything against Thermals, but then they are usually night time devices and you can't hunt at night for game animals. Thermals show bodies but not antlers unless they are very close, so I guess you can find warm bodies.

 

[6BRA]

Mike I get what your saying, you can't stop folks from trying to circumvent the laws and regulations for thier personal satisfaction.
December of 24 OSP raided a poacher who had been using thermals up out of the Portland area.
Looking at the table of seized antlers and firearms was laughable yet angered me.
Nothing was trophy class, it was just killing to be killing and not hunting.

Agree things have changed. I used to hunt for days and never see a buck. I have fished tournaments before where I blanked...that's why it's called fishing not catching. Hunting instead of killing. Seems to defeat the sport of 1 on 1 outwitting each other. Bowhunting still requires that. An animals smell is hard to compete against while luring in close proximity.

 

[6BRA]

Drones are illegal in Texas even for game recovery. I'm sure other states have same regulation.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/general-regulations/means-and-methods

use aircraft (including drones, except by activity-specific permit) to hunt, locate (including wounded animals), manage, harass, drive, trap or photograph any wild animal. Use of drones to locate wounded animals is not permitted.

Don't see anything against Thermals, but then they are usually night time devices and you can't hunt at night for game animals. Thermals show bodies but not antlers unless they are very close, so I guess you can find warm bodies.

Are these hunting specific regulations? My point was....that a non hunter on personal time, cant be violated of their rights. In other words if it is legal to fly a drone in TX. They can be flown. If the person flying a drone choses to have a phone call with someone while in flight, is this prohibited if the person flying the drone has no intentions of hunting?

 

[xr650rRider]

Are these hunting specific regulations? My point was....that a non hunter on personal time, cant be violated of their rights. In other words if it is legal to fly a drone in TX. They can be flown. If the person flying a drone choses to have a phone call with someone while in flight, is this prohibited if the person flying the drone has no intentions of hunting?

If it involves wildlife, then you fall under the rules of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept., so you might argue that your a non-hunter with rights but in fact you are hunting.

 

[6BRA]

If it involves wildlife, then you fall under the rules of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept., so you might argue that your a non-hunter with rights but in fact you are hunting.

So if I am flying a drone and livestreaming. But not photographing or videoing, I would have a right to navigate my drone. This is a tough sell....but as we know. It will only cost you an attorney to get out of it.

 

[5spd]

Cant use here in WY except for predators.

 

[Mark W]

Cant use here in WY except for predators.

As it should be, IMO.

 

[Majday]

In WA drones if you use a drone you aren't legal to hunt for 24 hrs after. Same with flying on anything other than commercial I believe.

In talking about relaying info to buddies, get caught and it's legal trouble. A few years back a guy was flying his crop duster locating the elk and relaying where they were to the ground buddies. I'm not sure what trouble they got into but it was something.

I'd imagine thermals for locsting big game will catch up and become illegal in states unless varmint hunting. Just my thoughts.