Thermal Drones

[Erik Hamburger]

What are your thoughts on drones with thermal imaging capabilities for deer stalking?

We had this discussion with some of you at The Stalking Show this year, with some mixed views, but with the majority agreeing that it is a useful piece of equipment!

In my opinion, it is an absolutely superb tool for a deer stalker to have access to. Professional deer stalkers and estates will almost certainly benefit from having a drone for a number of reasons, such as: counting the number of deer on the ground and identifying the sex, finding injured deer, creating three-dimensional maps of your hunting grounds, anti-poaching / increasing security on your land and premises etc. Although, that's not to say that recreational stalkers wouldn't benefit from having access to one.


What's your thoughts? Does it have a place in the deer stalking world?

Simple fact is that you have to be pragmatic. The technology exists, and once it becomes more affordable, you'll find more and more recreational Stalkers using it. Rifle scopes were once seen as 'unsporting', and when Thermal viewers were introduced for civilian use they were seen as 'unsporting'. As the 'sporting' trophy hunters get a bad press and are in decline, and the conservation/venison orientated hunters become the majority, I see no reason why we shouldn't make use of any help we can get to cull more deer - as that is what most of our Landowners want us to do.

 

[Ratel]

Drones for deer counts are a brilliant piece of kit, anything else not...
As stalker who started with open sights I eventually got a scope quite an improvement in low light. Sticks I have never really got on with and used, prefer using trees in wood land or prone in the open. Being of an age with failing eyesight I now use binos to find deer and unfortunately restricted mobility precludes long stalks which my young chap undertakes now.
I am at the stage where I use high seats.or a static mobile type now and find it hard sometimes to climb to a high seat. A short stalk I am happy with and as long as I am above ground I will still climb into my beloved willow to observe what I can. No use for thermals or night vision as I have a good dog to locate and find deer.even if I can't handle the bigger ones anymore. Still able too shoot a few though.