Drone scouting
New Mexico
Contributors to this thread:
I hate to educate more but its only a matter of time before drone scouting takes hold. You can get a 800.00 drone that will you hook a phone camera to or go pro. They can fly 3-6 miles out and quite as a bird. NMGF needs to outlaw it before it becomes a very unfair tool. Technology is getting amazing but it underminds the sport.
I agree. At the same time that it would be a blast to scout with a drone, it definitely undermines the sport, as you said.
It's already illegal to scout from aircraft, correct? I wonder of that regulation covers drones. I would think it would.
If not, maybe there could be some limit on when drones could fly, such as no drones over state or federal land beginning two weeks before and continuing through the end any big game hunt (which I guess would basically be from mid August through most of the winter).
No, you can scout with aircraft, just can't hunt the same day.
What's the difference in using high power optics from a lofty perch and a drone?
The 2016-2017 proc says it is unlawful to: "Shoot at, pursue, harass, harry, drive or rally any protected species by use of or from a motor-driven vehicle, powerboat, sailboat, aircraft or drone." Nothing else about drones or UAVs.
There was something passed by the Commission in 2014 (according to the interweb) which added drone to the above list, but also may have resulted in: "drones can’t be used for looking for game, locating it, seeing where they are,” Montoya said."
Found it: 19.31.10 NMAC Section 7 (definition of drone) and Section 13.F.2 "It shall be unlawful to hunt for or to take, or assist in the hunting for or taking of, any protected species with the use of information regarding location of any protected species gained from the use of any drone at any time." in the Sep 2014 New Mexico Register.
HDE: You know full well that the lines we draw are always a little subjective/fuzzy. The difference is simply that your UAV is too much and my $5k 64x120 mm divorsky scope with the AntlerSeek app(tm) is not. :) OK, how about UAV is a motor vehicle, prohibited from wilderness?
The difference between optics and drones is dramatic to put it mild. You can cruise into canyons beyond optic reach. you can look "down" into thick growth etc.
Yeah, I suppose you're right.
In its infinite wisdom Game Commission outlawed scouting with drones. Not sure how they will enforce it, because it's not illegal to fly a drone to video the beautiful fall colors, or scenery etc.
Outfitters are already (legally, albeit some may do it illegally) scouting the heck out of animals via fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
Why should they have the ability to scout aerially but not others? Granted, I could hire a pilot just like the outfitters do, but what's the difference with that and a drone?
I recommended simply lumping drones into the aircraft category, with rules accordingly (can't scout during season, can't harass, etc.), but instead they were outlawed to scout big game.
It's all about control...
Most sports have rules to create a fair playing field. Steriods have recently (finally) been held to light and have eliminated players from their sport and rightly so. Some will find loopholes. It puts them at a unfair advantage. Fair sport is ethical for both the hunted and the hunter and must be managed to adapt as technologies progress..
Do like Arizona did. They banned all scouting by aircraft while any hunt is going on. That pretty much eliminated scouting by air for a big share of the year except for a short window in the summer.
I would ban it before that. When is the first speed goat hunt? Maybe 2 weeks before minimum. Most would want to use it a few days before a hunt anyway. Just sayin.
So hunting can dictate to a guy wanting to fly his aircraft over Nat'l Forrest to sight see when a rifle bull hunt is going on in AZ...??
"So hunting can dictate to a guy wanting to fly his aircraft over Nat'l Forrest to sight see when a rifle bull hunt is going on in AZ...?? "
The Game dept has no authority over your plane, only your scouting.
So, how do they know you were or were not "scouting"?
Would this turn into one of those Prima Facie things like carrying a rifle during a hunt and not having a license and say you were poaching?
It should be the exact same as the aircraft rule. You can't hunt the same day you fly, period.
I'm curious how the even track drones. At the balloon fiesta there must have been over 100 of them flying around. They were supposedly supposed to stay three miles from the field, but some were closer. How would they ever know who's drone was the one getting to close? Same with scouting. I think they will end up needing to ban them during hunting seasons.
I had 3 drones flying in Wyoming last year opening day in the drainage I was hunting. Pissed me off beyond words. I spoke with the ranger about it the following day and he told me that the rules were the same as if you were flying - need to wait 24 hours before hunting. Something tells me they were not waiting 24 hours. I do believe they are an excellent tool prior to season starting, but they have no place once the season starts.