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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Ethics issue: Hunters using drones to track game

Spokesman-Review photographer Jesse Tinsley steadies his helicopter, carrying a tiny camera, in a park Thursday on Spokane’s South Hill. A video he shot with this craft and put up at spokesman.com caught the attention of a media blogger, who alerted the FAA. The agency has ruled that drones may not be used for commercial purposes. The FAA has pledged to create rules for their use, but that could be months or years away. (Dan Pelle)
Spokesman-Review photographer Jesse Tinsley steadies his helicopter, carrying a tiny camera, in a park Thursday on Spokane’s South Hill. A video he shot with this craft and put up at spokesman.com caught the attention of a media blogger, who alerted the FAA. The agency has ruled that drones may not be used for commercial purposes. The FAA has pledged to create rules for their use, but that could be months or years away. (Dan Pelle)

HUNTING -- I'm sure some hunters will be outraged that wildlife managers are taking a hard look at the trend of hunters using drones to find game.  But really?

Drones are one of the fastest growing tech products on the market. The technology offers a significant advantage for hunters, says a report in CBS Denver.

Drones allow hunters to get up close to their target without having to spend hours and miles tracking them.

“We think it gives the hunter an unfair advantage,” said Backcountry Hunters & Anglers spokesman Tim Brass.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has proposed new bans on drones to game managers across the West.

“As the technology progresses you’re ow able to locate animals without having to walk and work for them. That effort and skill makes hunting what it is,” said Brass.

What do you think?

After all, Illinois passed a law that prevents groups like PETA from using drones to harass hunters.

 



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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