I am posting this drone footage that has nothing to do with Mule deer. But it does address the issue that some of you might have toward shooting down drone from a previous Mule deer post of mine. Please remember I am on your side on drones, and they have no place in any active hunting situation. EVER!
Yes, I am looking toward some comments, but please watch until the end and decide of shooting one down is the smart thing to do. I think that the more information that you have about something is better. Also, please note drones have cameras. At the time of this, I had 3 extra cameras set up on the bank that filmed the entire thing. But when I yelled down at them “Hey, if you are going to commit a crime, make sure that 4 cameras are not pointing at you”. That is when he sat down and acted nice.
(29sec mark for the shot.)
I guess there are 2 my points.
- I get the point that you feel the drones intrude on your personal and hunting space. I would point out that drones are not going away anytime soon. I am sure that they currently outsell hunting rifles. You might consider learning to live with them. But bear with me for 1 analogy. For many years, from 1970’s on, I used to love to sit at the end of McCall Lake in Idaho for many hours at a time. It was super peaceful and not heavily used until the 2000’s. Then MY personal lake space was invaded by jet skiers. You could hear them for miles. Yes, I was there first but did or do I have a right to shoot at them? They have just as much right to be there as a drone does, Right? Ok not convinced. Go to next reason:
- I have linked the youtube video of mine. The background story is, I had a friend that owned a white water rafting company in Riggins. He asked if it was possible to drone film parts of a one-day rafting trip for his clients. I had just purchased the drone and it was going to be my first attempt to shoot action. The trip was 3 weeks away. So, I decided to practice closer to home on the Payette river near banks, id. It was in a free airspace so save me the comments of “you shouldn’t have been there “. I had as much legal right as they did. (see comment below). This time it was water. But in cases involving members of this site, I might bet it would be a copper jacketed.
After the event I did follow the raft with my truck to see where they got out. I filmed them as they left the ramp area and got their license plates. I took all information to the county sheriff and what they said was “what do you want us to do, It was illegal what the rafter did”(just like shooting at jet ski). I asked if they could just call them for a warning only. They said they do not warn, they prosecute or nothing. I took a pass and dropped it locally. All I can say at this point is that FAA took a different view of the matter. They take a dim view of people shooting at aircraft, manned or not. The rules are the same. MR. shooter is picking up garbage on the freeway for a couple of weekends this year. It took 2 years. Hey, I just do not like it when someone deliberately tries to damage a $2000 piece of my equipment. Some things you pass on, others you do not. Maybe you are the same way.
In closing, it is not my intention to aggravate you on this drone issue. But there is that element of a dog chasing a car. What do you plan to do with it after you catch it? I guess I am asking you to think first before you shoot at one. It may not turn out the way you would like.
Thanks!
Last edited: