Recently, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has received inquiries from hunters about using of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) to assist with the recovery of deer or bear that have been shot, but cannot thereafter be located.
However, tracking and recovery of a deer or bear are part of the hunt, and DEC says New York laws do not allow drones to be used in this way.
Drones are defined and regulated as aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and aircraft may not be used to aid deer or bear hunters. This applies to both hobby/recreational drone pilots and drone pilots flying under FAA commercial regulations.
Confusion comes because the same section of law that prohibits use of aircraft also prohibits use of dogs to aid in hunting deer or bear.
However, a separate section of law authorizes DEC to regulate and license the use of leashed tracking dogs specifically to aid in the recovery of injured deer and bear.
The law does not make a similar provision for aircraft, including drones, and DEC says they cannot regulate or license the use of drones without authorizing statute.
Hunters seeking assistance to locate dead or wounded deer or bear may contact volunteer, licensed, leashed-tracking dog handlers at:
- Deer Search, Inc. serving hunters in central and eastern New York
- Deer Search FLC, Inc. serving hunters in the Finger Lakes Region
- Deer Search of WNY, Inc. serving hunters in Western New York
Photo of drone provided by DEC.
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Don saysN.Y.-D.E.C. Needs to address this new technology, as a positive aspect, to the sport of hunting, and make revisions to the laws, to reflect that. Too many deer and other animals are mortally wounded , and lost, by hunters every year. Being a hunter, myself for more than 45 years, I know that the worst feeling any ethical hunter can have, is shooting an animal, and not being able to recover it. I hope N.Y-D.E.C can resolve this issue A.S.A.P so hopefully we can have some licensed drone pilots, for “dead”, deer recovery, in N.Y.S for the 2024 season.
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