Scouting with a Drone

[EdWalton]

Has anyone here done any scouting for whitetail with a drone?

Everything I see on YouTube is chasing with the drone. I think most of it's because the lens are to short, forcing the drone in way to close for an acceptable picture.

I'll not harass the game, but I want a good photo to judge.

Any suggestions for equipment and tactics?

Thank You

Ed

 

[Topgun 30-06]

If you can get out to use a drone IMHO you should forget that and do your scouting/picture taking on your two feet!

 

[Dosh]

Ed, Fish&Game in some states have introduced legislation banning the use of drones to some degree. If you think about it, in some heavily hunted game units the drones would be darkening the sky if legal. Like Topgun said, hike and perhaps put up some gamecams for good pics to judge.

 

[Waynzee]

If you should choose to use a drone be careful where you fly it some people will take offence to it and blast it out of the sky. gun)

 

[EdWalton]

The new lease is over 2900 hilly acres (the elevation extremes are 300 feet), I just got a key and looking forward to hiking the trails, scouting for tracks.

I have six Game Cameras and I'll get a few pictures. But if you put cameras over the feeders the bucks go nocturnal, worst you get hogs. This club doesn't use feeders, which I agree with, in Southern Georgia we use to shoot more deer then we're seeing now that we can legally bait.

I don't know of any legislation in Georgia concerning scouting with drones, there will be!

I'll not be flying if there's other hunters in the stands, nor will I be harassing the game.

Scouting with a drone is something I'd like to pursue, any help would be appreciated.

Thank You

Ed

 

[Varmintnv]

You would have to check with Fish and Game in the state you are scouting. I know that here in Nevada it's illegal to hunt withing 24hrs of flying in a plane or using a drone.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

If you should choose to use a drone be careful where you fly it some people will take offence to it and blast it out of the sky. gun)

A friend recently tried to spot Bass on the local river using his drone.... until an Eagle swept down from the trees and carried it away. Luckily for him it was a cheap one. The idea was sound, just hadn't considered the birds of prey.

 

[Waynzee]

A friend recently tried to spot Bass on the local river using his drone.... until an Eagle swept down from the trees and carried it away. Luckily for him it was a cheap one. The idea was sound, just hadn't considered the birds of prey.

LMAO I could picture that. Wonder what the Eagle thought when it got back to the nest and tried to eat that drone.

 

[SansSouci]

Last year, I talked to a hunter in the Rockies. He told me that he used an ultralight to preseason scout. He learned that where deer are preseason ain't where they're gonna be come opening day.

It has never been a consideration of mine, so I don't know whether it's legal to scout from aircraft or with a drone. I'd bet it would be come opening day.

 

[gj]

LMAO I could picture that. Wonder what the Eagle thought when it got back to the nest and tried to eat that drone.

He thought,dang not much meat on this one !

 

[gigori779]

scouting with a drone will be very nice so far the drone can sneak up on deers without making noise so they don't get spooked...it will be a better advantage for long range shooters too.

 

[lancetkenyon]

If you do, just fly high so you see the deer and where they are (beds, travel routes, food, water). You should easily be able to tell if they are bucks or does, and even if they are big bucks. As long as you have a decent camera on it. No need to buzz the game. Stay 250+' up.

 

[kweidner]

I have two professional camera drones an Autel x-star premium and a DJI mavic pro. I can see individual dog fennels at 400 foot with either once i download the video. Both are awesome and each has advantages and disadvantages. You will not be able to see the detail you are looking for while flying but record the flight and download to your computer its a different story. Neither broadcast HD to your video feed but both record in 4k. I live in south georgia and we use them for scouting, crop and hog damage flights regularly. I love my drones. Also nice to send them down the 1k range to spot target impacts. Course if you do that I suggest you know your trajectory very well. Autel is a good bit less and easier to spot. Its orange.

 

[eklarsen]

I would say that even if it is legal it is not fair chase. Many will disagree but I wouldn't do it myself.