Drone Stalking - A Modern Option?

[Deermanagement]

A colleague wants me to include a launch site on the plans I have for fully covered thetford style high seats. Been on the cards as a project for a couple of years

 

[EddieArran505]

Good heavens, whatever next!!

 

[Fox Red]

Not sure about stalking, but I get some stunning shots with mine.

 

[mchughcb]

Not sure about stalking, but I get some stunning shots with mine.

Law down here is you can't use drones over parks, beaches or sporting grounds. Basically any public land. How's the laws over there?

 

[Fox Red]

Law down here is you can't use drones over parks, beaches or sporting grounds. Basically any public land. How's the laws over there?

Depends on the size of your drone. This one is fine and has the least restrictions. Well worth reading up on though before investing

 

[StephenToast]

Not sure about stalking, but I get some stunning shots with mine.

That is pretty cool.

I had a guy come and video the farm a year or so ago. Came out really nice.

I can't help but think I have been there... Is it Morecambe Bay?

 

[Fox Red]

I can't help but think I have been there... Is it Morecambe Bay?

It sure is!

 

[StephenToast]

It sure is!

Lovely part of the world. I had a holiday up there a few years back.

 

[Dunwaters]

Ok, drones in general are not for me and I wouldn’t choose them to aid my stalking (I don’t feel the need) but.......

For all those that are saying it provides an unfair advantage, where do they feel it appropriate to freeze the clock of technical progression?

Do we outlaw telescopic sights, binoculars, thermal spotters, nitro cellulose powder, metallic cartridge ammunition?

we could soon be back to using flintlock muzzle loading rifles....

or we could go back further to spears arrows etc (no compound bows allowed lol)

Not sure if I’m getting my point across but I’m just asking, who has the right to freeze the March of technological progress if they are benefiting from relatively recent innovation themselves

The clock should freeze at the point where the technology gives the hunter an unfair advantage over the prey, so it’ll vary from person to person.
For me that’s drones and maybe thermal for sport stalking, for culling and control no limits.

 

[palmer_mike]

The clock should freeze at the point where the technology gives the hunter an unfair advantage over the prey, so it’ll vary from person to person.
For me that’s drones and maybe thermal for sport stalking, for culling and control no limits.

Unfair advantage? How does one decide what that is exactly?

 

[rem284]

Unfair advantage? How does one decide what that is exactly?

Aye, I dont see many deer with the gear that we have so it's not fair at all from the deer's perspective.

 

[David T]

Not on my watch you wouldnt.

If you can be bothered to walk the ground and get to know where your deer are and the terrain you will never make a stalker. I had a client ask me once if he could bring his drone on a booked stalk. Sure, no problem I replied, and I will bring my shotgun, to blow it out of the sky.

Drones might have their place, but not for stalking and finding deer.

+1. A sad reflection on modern society

 

[Sonicdmb73]

The clock should freeze at the point where the technology gives the hunter an unfair advantage over the prey, so it’ll vary from person to person.
For me that’s drones and maybe thermal for sport stalking, for culling and control no limits.

Christ we’re a long way past that.
We reached that point when we started using tools ie pointy sticks and ganged up on our pray. In Hunter gatherer times.
A spear is not exactly a fair fight. A bow or sling shot. Crossbow, traps, training dogs and riding horses.
The ship has sailed. The thing now is not the point where it is unfair. But the point at which it is not justified.
Personally I don’t think thermal is fair, nor would I use it for stalking. I think that you get to the point of taking some of the skill. And certainly to me the challenge out of stalking.

 

[Dunwaters]

Unfair advantage? How does one decide what that is exactly?

I haven’t a clue where the boundaries are for you, and my own are flexible depending on what the goal is, if I was against the wall and trying to get numbers down fast anything up to and including 1080 poisons would be in the toolbox if allowed, along with semi auto weapons and helicopters.
But if I was “ hunting “ I’d want it to be
“ fair chase” , whatever that means.
If I took you out stalking I’d try my best to get you a chance ( same as you would) but if the only chance presented was an animal standing on the track, I’d leave it to you to choose.
I can be much snottier about other peoples choices than my own.

 

[Lochens]

I looked at a Phantom 3 to spy deer on the hill prior to the inevitable trek, but to be quite honest, flying it at a height that would not spook the deer, the level of detail just wasn't sufficient to make it a viable tool

 

[ndjfb01]

Cant use a drone in Alaska to lication/hunt game - Drones and Hunting, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

 

[Indlovu]

Update from Germany: fawn-spotting with IR-drones.

I refer to my earlier post #139 and a German article published this weekend. Germany’s Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture has announced subsidies worth EUR 3 million to support nationwide fawn-spotting with IR drones. Studies have shown that this technology is the most efficient and effective method to discover fawns ahead of the first cut (harvest) of meadows, to both give them a chance of survival through relocation and to prevent contamination of silage (botulism).

Over recent years, private initiatives have sprung up all over the country, but are not available in every administrative district yet, primarily due to the prohibitive cost: effective kit costs EUR 7000 or more! Local, district hunting clubs and “fawn-saving” societies can apply for support of a maximum of two drones, with the subsidy capped at 60% of the cost, with a maximum of EUR 4000 per drone. The programme starts immediately and I hope that the word gets around quickly to ensure that many more drones will be flying this May.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Update from Germany: fawn-spotting with IR-drones.

I refer to my earlier post #139 and a German article published this weekend. Germany’s Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture has announced subsidies worth EUR 3 million to support nationwide fawn-spotting with IR drones. Studies have shown that this technology is the most efficient and effective method to discover fawns ahead of the first cut (harvest) of meadows, to both give them a chance of survival through relocation and to prevent contamination of silage (botulism).

Over recent years, private initiatives have sprung up all over the country, but are not available in every administrative district yet, primarily due to the prohibitive cost: effective kit costs EUR 7000 or more! Local, district hunting clubs and “fawn-saving” societies can apply for support of a maximum of two drones, with the subsidy capped at 60% of the cost, with a maximum of EUR 4000 per drone. The programme starts immediately and I hope that the word gets around quickly to ensure that many more drones will be flying this May.

What a fantastic thing!
I wonder if Bojo and Nicolai will reciprocate?