BSK
Well-Known Member
Right there with you buddy! Worst feeling in hunting.
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Help Support TNDeer:
Drone deer recovery
- Thread starter Poleaxe
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ROB
Well-Known Member
The Kentucky Dept of Fish & Wildlife Commission, of which I am a member, is currently in the process of formulating policy for the use of drones related to fish & wildlife. This issue is more complex than it appears at first glance. We are trying to consider landowners rights, fair chase, poaching, FAA rules, game animal harassment. & multiple other issues as well as the central issue, that being recovery of dead or badly wounded game animals. In some of the scenarios presented, I don't see how animals could have been recovered any other way but with a drone,
One of the examples given happened here in western KY close to me. A local wildlife biologist, who BSK likely knows as he used to work with Dr. Grant Woods, has a service where he recovers shot deer with a bloodhound. A hunter shot a buck at KenLake State Park but lost the track. He called in the bloodhound guy. The bloodhound got on the track right away but, while following the track, slipped the leash so now a very expensive family pet is missing. (Ironically, in looking for the bloodhound, they found the buck.) After unsuccessfully looking for the dog, the bloodhound guy then called in a drone. The drone promptly located the bloodhound where it's leash had gotten tangled in brush almost a mile from the Park. So, a totally positive result.
Another scenario involved a hunter that shot a buck that he couldn't find. A drone was called & located what was originally thought to be the wounded buck but turned out to be a larger buck. The hunter then shot the larger buck.
A final scenario involves an outfitter who had been using a drone to watch a big bull elk, which he was hoping one of his clients would harvest. The bull elk would routinely come out in a certain meadow at about the same time each day. One day, the outfitter was watching the bull with his drone and noticed a hunter who was not his client at the edge of the meadow as the bull was coming out of the timber, so he used the drone to drive the elk out of the meadow so the hunter couldn't get a shot at it.
I know for a fact that the first scenario took place but don't know for sure that the last 2 scenarios actually happened. However, both could potentially happen. Just like fire can warm you or burn you, the use of drones has the potential to be both good and bad for hunting. Drones are here to stay. The challenge to wildlife agencies is to come up with appropriate policy for their use.
One of the examples given happened here in western KY close to me. A local wildlife biologist, who BSK likely knows as he used to work with Dr. Grant Woods, has a service where he recovers shot deer with a bloodhound. A hunter shot a buck at KenLake State Park but lost the track. He called in the bloodhound guy. The bloodhound got on the track right away but, while following the track, slipped the leash so now a very expensive family pet is missing. (Ironically, in looking for the bloodhound, they found the buck.) After unsuccessfully looking for the dog, the bloodhound guy then called in a drone. The drone promptly located the bloodhound where it's leash had gotten tangled in brush almost a mile from the Park. So, a totally positive result.
Another scenario involved a hunter that shot a buck that he couldn't find. A drone was called & located what was originally thought to be the wounded buck but turned out to be a larger buck. The hunter then shot the larger buck.
A final scenario involves an outfitter who had been using a drone to watch a big bull elk, which he was hoping one of his clients would harvest. The bull elk would routinely come out in a certain meadow at about the same time each day. One day, the outfitter was watching the bull with his drone and noticed a hunter who was not his client at the edge of the meadow as the bull was coming out of the timber, so he used the drone to drive the elk out of the meadow so the hunter couldn't get a shot at it.
I know for a fact that the first scenario took place but don't know for sure that the last 2 scenarios actually happened. However, both could potentially happen. Just like fire can warm you or burn you, the use of drones has the potential to be both good and bad for hunting. Drones are here to stay. The challenge to wildlife agencies is to come up with appropriate policy for their use.
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BSK
Well-Known Member
That is a FANTISTIC discussion ROB!
ROB
Well-Known Member
I believe transparency is important for any public servant. Hunters are facing several complex issues these days, with lots of competing interests regarding the decisions being made about these issues. While I'm not a wildlife biologist, or a biologist of any kind for that matter, I can provide some insight about the thought processes behind these decisions. As a former and probable future resident of TN, and dedicated deer hunter, I have a strong interest in seeing that the best possible deer management take place there. And, make no mistake, deer hunters are the deer managers. All state DNRs need to remember that.
This thread kinda makes me sick to my stomach to think it's come to this.
Folks have been finding ways to break game laws and poach for a long, long time.
They use to and certain folks bashed them so bad they left, BSK left also because of certain folks.
Biggun4214
Well-Known Member
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If this were a personal account we were talking about I'd understand. Being here in an official capacity is different. That's what I'm referring to.
Biggun4214
Well-Known Member
TWRA being on here was mostly on their personal time. Infoman may have did some time on here on the clock back in the day. It's no different than stopping your local officer in the grocery store and asking a question.
If I was paid for one day/week for answering questions off the clock I'm owed about 8 years back pay.
If they decide to let people do it and don't put all the protections in place along with steep fines for all the different ways it will be abused then it will be another thug shat show like we have currently with thermal road hunting at night. These types being able to get away with it is a terrible look for hunters and will ruin it if there is an angle that is missed. It will be tested.
I know for a fact one of the worst poachers in our county has a thermal drone and in my opinion until we can get a handle on the thugs that are already wrecking people's family farms with impunity then i say keep that box closed. We got rid of all our hunting guests and don't won't much to do with hunting anymore. Careful what you wish for.
I know for a fact one of the worst poachers in our county has a thermal drone and in my opinion until we can get a handle on the thugs that are already wrecking people's family farms with impunity then i say keep that box closed. We got rid of all our hunting guests and don't won't much to do with hunting anymore. Careful what you wish for.
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I just want to be clear. I'm not saying that wildlife agents have any kind of responsibility to be on here and answer questions, especially on their own time.
I'm talking about the Agency as a whole having an intentional, assigned PR presence here.
This is not at all uncommon in the age of social media. LOTS of companies have active representation on twitter/reddit/etc. It's a good PR move and it's helpful.
Headhunter
Well-Known Member
I disagree. Yes, people make bad shots for whatever reason, with all types weapons and that should be avoided, not repeated, etc. Learn from mistakes and mistakes will happen.
A deer can be "dead", no doubt about it going to die and the shot (bow, gun, crossbow, muzzleloader, rifle, shotgun, whatever is legal) and that deer, buck or doe or yearling, can cover a lot of ground or "disappear" before dying. A method to recover deer, especially one that seems to be fairly successful and a drone can be, should be used and that person should not be "racked with personal guilt, or all else that you mentioned". Animals are tough and I have seen some crazy things. Craziest was a doe I shot with rifle in 7MMSTW, for sure overkill and a killing machine. I shot a doe from the ground freehanded, and she ran close to 200 yards across a cow pasture. No signs of a hit, none, did not look hit or wounded in any way at all. I was 100 percent sure I completely missed. I rarely shoot freehanded at a deer and was upset with myself for not resting some how, but I was sure I had made a good shot. My brother came to me and I told him I was sure I missed. I ALWAYS look after shooting, no matter the weapon or how sure I am I missed. We walked to where she was standing and there was blood everywhere. Tracked her all the way across the field, and she made it 20 yards or so into the woods after jumping a fence. An entire lung was hanging out of the exit hole, a "10 ring" shot. She ran over 200 yards. No doubt a perfectly shot deer can go a long ways or make it into an area that it is difficult to find.
I know of 2 in my life I woujd have paid a drone whatever he wanted to try and find these deer.
fairchaser
Well-Known Member
I agree that every effort should be used by any means to recover a deer.. They certainly deserve our best efforts.
Headhunter
Well-Known Member
They don't communicate at all.
yep.
I have also poorly shot deer drop in their tracks, even with a bow. There are no absolutes as to how a deer, or any animal will or can react to being shot.
I do my best to make sure my gear is in the best condition it can be before I hunt, but if you kill enough animals, even if you every single shot you make is a "kill" shot, crap can happen. I have seen way to many trail cam pics of "perfectly" shot deer, the entrance and/or exit hole look perfect but they are walking around eating like nothing ever happened. Even though it is far from the norm, "perfect" shots can into an animal being impossible to find and "badly" placed shots can turn into quick kills.
