Chasing Sheep With a DRONE

[jherald]

Check this friggin guy out, chasing dall sheep with a DRONE on the Turnagain Arm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5-m_6vs1ZY

I would say he is intentionally harassing them with the drone, his title would even suggest it "Dall Sheep VERSUS Drone".

The video triggered some anger within me. As sheep in the winter, especially at this time of year, are recovering from the stresses of surviving the winter. The last post here gives a perfect statement of the sheep in this gmu 14c being even more vulnerable than other areas since the populaltion has been in a decline for reasons even unknown to adfg.

In the many years i've hiked that area, i've seen myself the population dwindle. There arent as many sheep as there used to be in 14c. Sheep have enough working against them while they scratch out a meager living in the mountains.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Wtf!!! This video makes me way angrier than it probably should. What a disrespectful dickhead. I don't know if there are laws against this kind of stuff yet but they need to find something to fine him on. I absolutely would've shot it down.

 

[jherald]

I would think this would fall into the General Regulations of harassing, driving, herding or molesting game.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Well hopefully he gets reported to Alaska fish and game.

 

[Floorguy]

Well hopefully he gets reported to Alaska fish and game.

Troopers and he will be. He has another one where he gets in a moose's face. With the control he has it looks to me like he was trying to get the moose to do something but it just stands there.

 

[jherald]

I've got buddies with AWT and I forwarded the link to them as well. I could see if a guy wanted to use his little rc drone for reasonable purposes but he was blatantly harassing those animals.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I wouldn't have had issue if he were just video recording wildlife, but that is clearly not the case.

 

[Jon Pynch]

cool video. didn't seem overly harassing to me..? he could have got a lot closer, and chased them, but he was panned off to the side just filming. how do you think shows like planet earth are made?

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

It seems to me that he keeps moving in to get the sheep moving

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Everyone will have a different opinion on this drone subject. My opinion is I'd never use one to video tape game especially during winter when all animals are trying to make it that last little bit to survive. Any time animals are forced to move I am against it especially during winter. Even when I'm snowmobiling if I run into game I either back out or let them pass through as calmly as possible. Using drones jus doesn't seen right to me, why not do it the old fashioned way an sneak in or climb to them

 

[HardcoreHunter]

I personally have an issue with this. Simply for the fact that it is effecting the animals directly. I am also someone who has experience with drones. Drones of a different nature, but none the less. I am in the Air Force and am a sensor operator on MQ-1 predators. If the drone that was being used to film nature and wildlife was not so close that the animal was spooked and starring right at it, then fine, but when it is low and loud enough that the animal is spooked and stares at it before running, well now we are talking about harassment. Had it stopped a the point that the animal was alarmed, ok fine, but to continue following it, uncool. My 2 cents.

 

[Floorguy]

cool video. didn't seem overly harassing to me..? he could have got a lot closer, and chased them, but he was panned off to the side just filming. how do you think shows like planet earth are made?

Alaska state law doesn't have levels of harassment page 30 of the regs under definitions

harass - to repeatedly approach an animal in a manner which results in the animal altering its behavior

comparing this to planet earth is laughable at best

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I have to agree with floorguy

 

[PA 5-0]

comparing this to planet earth is laughable at best

Maybe you should catch an episode that details the making of Blue Planet or Planet Earth or any of the hundred nature shows. They all utilize remote controlled vehicles to video animals close up and personal. Some of these little vehicles are dressed up as the animals as not to alarm them. So watching all these incredible wildlife documentary shows, you think all these animals are just running, and swimming and flying by naturally?????

And aren't these two sheep bedded just above a busy highway. Something tells me they were not too alarmed by that quad rotor or the 18 wheelers screaming by. Maybe it was the inquisitive look on their faces as they stood there and stared at it hovering. They did not appear the least bit frightened to me. Beautiful little guys standing there in the sun.

 

[wilkes]

I read a few of the comments before I watched in. Overreaction much? He just filmed them off a busy highway for a couple minutes... I was expecting to see the drone right up in their faces or literally chasing them around in circles... They were barely startled and simply moved away slowly. I am not saying I condone use of drones in all cases, but simply filming some local fauna like this is fairly tame.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

The title alone reflects some insight into the operators intent unless he is simply trying to stir controversy after the fact. It is also clear by his maneuvering that he is intentionally harassing the sheep into moving away from the drone, as was brought out this is also a difficult time of year when the animals need to conserve energy just to survive not needlessly expend it for someone's amusement. Perhaps it wasn't chasing the animals in circles but if they weren't alarmed they would not be moving to safety.

 

[Floorguy]

Maybe you should catch an episode that details the making of Blue Planet or Planet Earth or any of the hundred nature shows. They all utilize remote controlled vehicles to video animals close up and personal. Some of these little vehicles are dressed up as the animals as not to alarm them. So watching all these incredible wildlife documentary shows, you think all these animals are just running, and swimming and flying by naturally?????

And aren't these two sheep bedded just above a busy highway. Something tells me they were not too alarmed by that quad rotor or the 18 wheelers screaming by. Maybe it was the inquisitive look on their faces as they stood there and stared at it hovering. They did not appear the least bit frightened to me. Beautiful little guys standing there in the sun.

I know exactly where the sheep in the video were, which is irrelevant. It doesnt matter whether you think they are alarmed or how they appeared to you. Again see Alaska's definition of harassment.

 

[R Miller]

Sheep along the arm and other areas of the park are accustomed to seeing humans, vehicles, etc but it doesnt change the fact these animals a nutritionally stressed this time of year. 14c sheep have enough working against them. I think the arm in Winter is the wrong spot for this, not to mention it's a potential distraction to drivers on an already deadly stretch of road. Wrong place for it IMO.

Edit*If there is a place for it at all, I'll admit the footage has potential but at what cost?