For deer control *Not Sporting* - Drone Recomendations

[HallyButt]

One of my permissions is a beautiful place, but a headache as it has more ‘escape routes’ than an Escobar jail .. it has just been awarded a conservation grant and and alot of the new hedges and much of the due to be managed and replanted meaning that all non native deer are to be removed and native species managed.

This has moved from an aggressive sporting management to total eradication of CWD, MJ (and grey squirrels) and so all methods are fair game.

The land is such that the farm yard sits in a bowl and most of the land where deer are is the other side of a hill and so spotting and stalking is incredibly difficult as I am always sky lined…

Yesterday there was a drone survey at the farm which showed exactly what was where and so, if I were deer removing, where to head.

It has become apparent that a drone would make this task alot more effective and so I’m looking at options. I know nothing about these things, the spread in price is amazing so I would be grateful for suggestions.

 

[User00047]

Autel EVO Max 4T Thermal Imaging Drone

The Autel EVO Max 4T thermal imaging drone, brings powerful technologies and advanced autonomy to users, and assesses complex environments to create real-time 3D flight paths for unparalleled obstacle avoidance. Equipped with a 640x512 thermal imaging payload, as well as Zoom and Wide angle...

www.scottcountry.co.uk

 

[wytonpjs]

It has to be a thermal-equipped drone and sadly that brings a high entry price tag. I have gone from a DJI Mini to an Air 2S (bought off an SD member on here) and it’s a stunning drone, capable of good control in high winds with very high resolution photography/video but sadly, not much use in spotting deer unless they are out in the open and moving. Dual thermal/wide angle camera is essential I believe to find and identify animals and many of the commercial drones have a high zoom camera too for sexing/ageing. Sadly, that gets very pricey

 

[Home Loader]

@RJD I would suggest a landowner reality check first.
Unless the ground is going to be fenced in a manor far more effective than a standard deer fence, you will not manage to eradicate any of your deer species.
A robust approach, perhaps with some conversions and joint thinking with neighbours form a small collaborative group in the area, trying to do it as a single site you will become the sink it is an impossible task alone, whatever technology you have.

 

[Miki]

Mavick 3 Thermal ... nearly £5K though...

 

[Namman]

One of my permissions is a beautiful place, but a headache as it has more ‘escape routes’ than an Escobar jail .. it has just been awarded a conservation grant and and alot of the new hedges and much of the due to be managed and replanted meaning that all non native deer are to be removed and native species managed.

This has moved from an aggressive sporting management to total eradication of CWD, MJ (and grey squirrels) and so all methods are fair game.

The land is such that the farm yard sits in a bowl and most of the land where deer are is the other side of a hill and so spotting and stalking is incredibly difficult as I am always sky lined…

Yesterday there was a drone survey at the farm which showed exactly what was where and so, if I were deer removing, where to head.

It has become apparent that a drone would make this task alot more effective and so I’m looking at options. I know nothing about these things, the spread in price is amazing so I would be grateful for suggestions.

One of my permissions is a beautiful place, but a headache as it has more ‘escape routes’ than an Escobar jail .. it has just been awarded a conservation grant and and alot of the new hedges and much of the due to be managed and replanted meaning that all non native deer are to be removed and native species managed.

This has moved from an aggressive sporting management to total eradication of CWD, MJ (and grey squirrels) and so all methods are fair game.

The land is such that the farm yard sits in a bowl and most of the land where deer are is the other side of a hill and so spotting and stalking is incredibly difficult as I am always sky lined…

Yesterday there was a drone survey at the farm which showed exactly what was where and so, if I were deer removing, where to head.

It has become apparent that a drone would make this task alot more effective and so I’m looking at options. I know nothing about these things, the spread in price is amazing so I would be grateful for suggestions.

From what you describe, even with the latest tech to spot deer over the hill, you will still be skylined !
From my experience fallow deer are experts in using the topography to skyline stalkers.

 

[LBchainsawcarvings]

TheLuckyHunter a member on here has just put a thermal drone up for grabs in his completion, be worth a shot, can't seem tag him

 

[wytonpjs]

TheLuckyHunter a member on here has just put a thermal drone up for grabs in his completion, be worth a shot, can't seem tag him

£2.99 a ticket:

Autel Evo ll Dual 640T V3 Thermal Imaging Drone – The Lucky Hunter

www.theluckyhunter.co.uk

 

[HallyButt]

Great, thanks guys!

 

[Chiyuan]

Great, thanks guys!

Did you manage to get a drone? If so, do you mind me asking what module you get?

 

[Freeforester]

DJI Mavic 3T will give you the information you require.
The white dot left of centre….


Zoomed in from appx 400m above/back, clearly showed the sex of the animal and its headgear; image stabilisation to 56x magnification. Dual picture side by side as you fly also readily viewable on the controller screen.

Useful indeed, but instances of misuse by some unscrupulous contractors are not unheard of up here now.

Edit: the buck at the fence was sparring with the buck nearer the centre of the thermal pic , 11 o’ clock to the arrow pointer; another animal can be seen up the top of a (cold) dark ravine, upper left of thermal picture.

 

[Chiyuan]

This looks fantastic! But with 4 digits price tag, it’s way out of my budget.

Actually, I’m wondering if anyone has used a budget module like Mini 4k or something with 3 digits price tag and get a good result?

 

[Ruby Tuesday 2]

If the conservation grant makes removal of all deer necessary surely it should contribute towards your costs of doing it. They are expecting a professional service that you have to pay for.

 

[Freeforester]

I’m not aware of any thermal drone using a 640/512 sensor that costs the buyer pennies or even hundreds. You are hundreds for eg the lights module which can make searching for a downed animal a more straightforward matter:



(Settings, autotranslate, English might help)

 

[Greenmist]

Not thermal, but I recently tried a friend DJI mini 4, found it very easy to fly, image was very clear and sharp, chatting with him I think the way you view the image is critical, I'm told the ones that rely on phones aren't great, the controllers with screens are better and goggles appear to be the way to go

 

[SussexSteve]

DJI Mavic T3 or T4 will be a good entry level. I’m looking at one myself and was recommended these by one of the countries leading experts on drone deer census’s

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

The Matrice 4T is the most popular model currently from the available DJI units, in terms of value/performance , very similar to the 4TD, which is the fully waterproof version costing a couple of grand more...

DJI Matrice 4T Thermal Drone - AA SPP 1Y

DJI Matrice 4T enterprise drone with six-sensor payload, AI detection, thermal imaging, and advanced navigation for professional aerial operations.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

 

[Pelyma]

There is a thread on Twitter at the moment.