Hunting with Drones

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

I am pretty sure it was enacted in order to ensure fairness in the hunts. Same day airborne hunting would give a huge advantage to those that could afford it.

I certainly hope that is the case, and I agree, it would give hunters a huge advantage to see where their quarry is located from the air. However, is that reason enough to ban unmanned aerial searches? Would not a thermal or infra-red scope give a hunter a huge advantage over someone who did not have the same equipment?

Granted, I cannot see the overwhelming majority of hunters sinking $2K+ in a UAV for hunting purposes. However, Alaskan bear and moose guides (particularly those who charge thousands for out-of-state hunters) may be willing to invest a few grand to ensure a successful hunt. Or maybe used to record the hunt. Kind of like skydivers who film their jumps.

I am still torn on the issue. On one hand, I do not see it as any different than buying a really good rifle-mounted scope. Just another piece of equipment to give you an advantage. On the other hand, it really is not hunting if you already know where your game will be.

[Dakster]

My research supports stiffnecked's comments. At one point, shotguns were mounted on the wings of 'Cessna's' or similar aircraft so that you could 'hunt' from the air. Hunting after just flying, hunting while flying, hunting with a UAV doesn't really bother me, but obviously there was a reason for changing the hunting rules. (good, bad, or indifferent)

I can't speak for AK rules in this, as I haven't researched this yet, but it many parts of the US, hunting with a rifle/firearm is illegal. A lot of 'hunts' have to be with bow and arrow and even some other areas it is further restricted to regular bows. i.e. You can't use a compound or cross bow.

BTW, fishing with dynamite gives you an unfair advantage and for the most part that is illegal too.

[Dakster]

Originally Posted by Glitch

I certainly hope that is the case, and I agree, it would give hunters a huge advantage to see where their quarry is located from the air. However, is that reason enough to ban unmanned aerial searches? Would not a thermal or infra-red scope give a hunter a huge advantage over someone who did not have the same equipment?

Granted, I cannot see the overwhelming majority of hunters sinking $2K+ in a UAV for hunting purposes. However, Alaskan bear and moose guides (particularly those who charge thousands for out-of-state hunters) may be willing to invest a few grand to ensure a successful hunt. Or maybe used to record the hunt. Kind of like skydivers who film their jumps.

I am still torn on the issue. On one hand, I do not see it as any different than buying a really good rifle-mounted scope. Just another piece of equipment to give you an advantage. On the other hand, it really is not hunting if you already know where your game will be.

I can agree with that - it doesn't matter where you are either to feel that way.

Funny thing, is that there is a $300 toy that I can use with my iPad that is a drone with a camera on it. Granted, the range isn't all that great (wifi range) but still...

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Dakster

My research supports stiffnecked's comments. At one point, shotguns were mounted on the wings of 'Cessna's' or similar aircraft so that you could 'hunt' from the air. Hunting after just flying, hunting while flying, hunting with a UAV doesn't really bother me, but obviously there was a reason for changing the hunting rules. (good, bad, or indifferent)

I can't speak for AK rules in this, as I haven't researched this yet, but it many parts of the US, hunting with a rifle/firearm is illegal. A lot of 'hunts' have to be with bow and arrow and even some other areas it is further restricted to regular bows. i.e. You can't use a compound or cross bow.

BTW, fishing with dynamite gives you an unfair advantage and for the most part that is illegal too.

Hunting with a firearm in the US is not illegal, it just has different seasons than bow hunting. You could claim it is illegal to hunt moose in Alaska, but that is only true outside the month of September (unless there is a special hunt or you are subsistence hunting).

Fishing with dynamite is: 1) not fishing; and 2) incredibly stupid since it destroys the fish's environment. Contrary to popular belief, hunters and fisherman are biggest conservationists in the nation, and have been for more than a century. We want to preserve our ability to hunt and fish, and we cannot do that by destroying the critter's habitat or depleting a population to the point were it cannot recover.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Dakster

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I can agree with that - it doesn't matter where you are either to feel that way.

Funny thing, is that there is a $300 toy that I can use with my iPad that is a drone with a camera on it. Granted, the range isn't all that great (wifi range) but still...

I saw that, the Parrot AR Drone 2.0. It's battery-life is ~12 minutes, with only about a 500 meter (1,640 foot) range. It also can only be flown on perfectly calm, sunny days. Even the slightest wind will throw it off course, and rain will short out the electric motors. It is not water resistant. A fun toy, perhaps, but not that useful for hunting.

[RayinAK]

Forget about drones! What I would love to own is the little aircraft Tom Cruise uses in the movie, "Oblivion." But I would be the only person in the world who would own one, and not a person nor government in the world would know about it, primarily because I would have to have a clocking devise to keep it out of view. The clocking devise will be turned on permanently, except for a second when I fire my rifle.

I would just fly it down to the "biggest bull hangout," and then pick and shoot the one I want with my rifle while still in the air. I would then land it next to the moose, skin and quarter it, load it on the aircraft, and fly home.

Sorry, Dakster

[Dakster]

Originally Posted by Glitch

Hunting with a firearm in the US is not illegal, it just has different seasons than bow hunting. You could claim it is illegal to hunt moose in Alaska, but that is only true outside the month of September (unless there is a special hunt or you are subsistence hunting).

Fishing with dynamite is: 1) not fishing; and 2) incredibly stupid since it destroys the fish's environment. Contrary to popular belief, hunters and fisherman are biggest conservationists in the nation, and have been for more than a century. We want to preserve our ability to hunt and fish, and we cannot do that by destroying the critter's habitat or depleting a population to the point were it cannot recover.

First paragraph you are splitting hairs. In Florida you can fly and hunt in the same day...

Second paragraph, I agree with your analysis for both the dynamite and the hunter/fisher comment.