Good evening everybody. When I posted this new thread I knew it would produce some varied and interesting responses (over a thousand views and sixty eight responses in 24 hours) but I have been surprised at how lacking in good-humoured banter some have been. PaulCat summed it beautifully from the first thread...Oh this is going to end well
Many have been interesting, very reasonable and really amusing while from others....
For the safety of your drone and your own personal health, never, ever fly a drone over my estate.
I think you need a new hobby.
You could murder deer from the comfort of your armchair.
Not a stalker, never will be.
Not a stalker - a joker.
A beast that has no chance of escape.
Buy your venison pre-packed and save going for a walk.
Only treatment for drones is a shotgun.
etc. etc.
C`mon guys, forums like this should be about frank exchanges and good-humoured banter not vitriol and threats.
So, to update....
I bought a drone last summer for commercial reasons and while learning to fly it I thought it might be interesting to take it out over the land I shoot. Sure enough I was able to see the deer in their natural environment in a way I hadn`t been able to before. I could see them behaving quite naturally in places that my presence would have prevented and I saw them taking routes I was previously unaware of - again because my presence nearby would have alerted them. To be honest it was fascinating - to watch them for extended periods in great detail just being their natural selves. That also gave me some insights into how I might next approach my stalking now knowing a bit more about their habits and movements despite having stalked this land for nearly 15 years (just like your guide does when you take to the hills). I also got some pleasing footage of these amazing animals to show my family. All totally positive.
For the record, I am in group a). I stalk on foot (and occasionally high seat) and thoroughly enjoy the sometimes ball-aching climb up the hills I have access to in Scotland and the easier walks I have on my local land permission. I have never personally used the drone to single out an animal. though I see nothing wrong if that is what someone wants to do. I don`t think your ability and status as a stalker is based on how hard you make it and if you are at the end of a long unproductive day and you need to choose your final stalk between two routes and you could know which one has the greater chance of success by having a look then why not? You will still have to stalk that route and the deer may or may not still be there but you would know you had headed in the right direction at least. As others have said in the posts technology moves on. I don`t own a thermal and so am at a disadvantage to those that can look deep in to the woods and quickly find their quarry but I understand their advantage and find nothing negative in it. Good luck to you. I also use NV for foxing which is now the norm - it was regarded as non ethical when it first appeared.
I started hunting over fifty years ago and will hopefully continue to do so `til I am incapable or dead. I love the hunting skills of stealth, camouflage, bush craft, shooting skill, sheer determination to carry on when knackered, nature at it`s best and worse, watching the sunrise after a long climb, and have the greatest of respect for my quarry whatever it be.
The drone is a useful tool. It has given me greater insight in to what I do and in to the life of deer, it will help me this year in trying to estimate deer numbers on my patch and hopefully I might end up with a piece of great video footage of a stalk to watch one day when I am too old to still do it.
So there you have it guys.
It has been good fun to read all your posts (mainly) and I wish you all happy hunting but keep a sense of humour!
The plough not the horse.
