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LIVE from the stand 2018-19

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
Nice buck!

Bummer on what happened to him..

I see that you used your drone to assist in the recovery of your deer that you shot.

Can you legally use a drone to recover a deer that you shot?

I'm not certain so that's why I'm asking.

I can only assume that it is based on your post, but the law makes it rather confusing.

So I was wondering if there's something out there that is more clear about the aid of drones in the recovery of wild game that you shot that you can point me to.

Thanks!

1501:31-15-02 General hunting and trapping provisions.

(B) Except as provided in section 2923.16 of the Revised Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, shoot, shoot at, kill, take or attempt to take any wild bird or wild quadruped from or by means, aid, or use of any aircraft, including aerial drones, or any motor-driven conveyance or its attachments.

Source: http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/1501:31-15-02

A follow-up regarding my original question about using a "aerial drone to recover a deer that you shot?"

I received an email response from a 'District Four Law Supervisor' of ONDR Division of Wildlife.

And I qoute,

"The short answer is no, by strict interpretation."

OAC 1501:31-1-02 Definition of terms.
(HHH) "Hunting" means pursuing, shooting, killing, following after or on the trail of, lying in wait for, shooting at, or wounding wild birds or wild quadrupeds while employing any device commonly used to kill or wound wild birds or wild quadrupeds whether the acts result in killing or wounding or not. It includes every attempt to kill or wound and every act of assistance to any other person in killing or wounding or attempting to kill or wound wild birds or wild quadrupeds.​
(MMMMM) "Take" or "taking" includes pursuing, shooting, hunting, killing, trapping, angling, fishing with a trotline, or netting any clam, mussel, crayfish, aquatic insect, fish, frog, turtle, wild bird, or wild quadruped and any lesser act, such as wounding, or placing, setting, drawing, or using any other device for killing or capturing any wild animal, whether it results in killing or capturing the animal or not. It includes every attempt to kill or capture and every act of assistance to any other person in killing or capturing or attempting to kill or capture a wild animal.
1501: 31-15-02 General hunting and trapping provision

(B) Except as provided in section 2923.16 of the Revised Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, shoot, shoot at, kill, take or attempt to take any wild bird or wild quadruped from or by means, aid, or use of any aircraft, including aerial drones, or any motor-driven conveyance or its attachments. Shooting wild animals, except migratory game birds, is permitted from farm machinery when being used in normal farm operations. It shall be lawful to hunt small game and furbearers, except migratory game birds, mink, muskrat, river otter and beaver from a powercraft if the motor has been completely shut off and the powercraft has come to rest.
"Keep in mind officer discretion, because situations are different in each scenario."
 

Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
I would think that as long as the hunt is over and you are not carrying a weapon, the warden should use discretion if he sees you using the drone for recovering the deer...the deer is already dead, and using a drone could prevent the deer from going to waste.
 

twireman

Senior Member
2,929
149
Kingston, OH
Live from the squirrel woods!
 

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