Drone Etiquette

[Kevin Dill]

I really see both sides of this issue.

If someone is legally flying a drone which happens to annoy you (and me), is shooting it down the correct thing? Is this akin to sabotaging someone's equipment (say a treestand, trail camera or e-bike) because its presence is annoying as well? Get over the fact a drone has viewing/recording capabilities. If it's legal....it's legal. You certainly might damage someone's drone or other gear and get away scot-free, but is it the right way to roll? I think I know the answer on a good day.

Conversely: A drone flown to my private property and hovering closely, or obviously surveilling people and property would be instantly too much to ignore or tolerate. I live on a farm and there would be no issues with firearms ordinances if I went full-combat and brought it down. Would I do it? I honestly don't know, but my attitude would certainly be affected by the drone's behavior. Flying past or appearing to be a recreational/innocent thing would be one thing, whereas circling the house at low altitude and peering in the second story windows is different. I might go Bubba if that happened, and I would claim a Particularly Trouble-Some Drone episode made me do it.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Drones can be a lot of fun but unfortunately the malicious use by some have soured the milk. I do feel they are useful and can provide information that would not be available otherwise.

So how can this malicious use be policed? That is the really tough question. It seems common sense is no longer part of our society. Reasonable thought processes of what is normal and accepted is lost in the social media "Oh yeah" mindset. Tic Toc, Youtube, Instagram ad nauseam all provide platforms for who can post the most absurd video without regard to anyone's right to privacy.

Its going to take a posting that unfortunately results in tragedy for someone being exploited by some social media moron to trigger necessary legislation to protect our privacy.

Most states have voyeurism laws that definitely apply to any drone used in such manner. These laws do have serious consequences. Your ability to document behavior with video will go long way for prosecution. Drone hovering for significant time over swimming pool with daughters and wife can be interpreted as such. Drone hovering looking into windows. Don't laugh at this, it can be serious and if you have adequate documentation, you might have reasonable case or at least formal warning to operator.

I had drone fly over recently at about 250', hovered for few seconds, moved on. No issue at all from my perspective. Cool looking too. They do have a place if used reasonably.

 

[idahodave]

Had one hovering over my backyard a couple of years ago. Got off about four shots with the Red Ryder before it skedaddled.

My wife was horrified and certain the police were going to show up, Nothing ever came of it. I figured I could always claim I didn’t shoot because there wasn't any recoil and no muzzle blast. It was a calculated risk, but Boise is a gun (and privacy) friendly state.

Am I Rambo…possibly.

Dave

 

[jmez]

One of my employees shot one a couple weeks ago. On her private property doing chores. Flies up her driveway and follows her around her place at low altitude. When she stopped walking it just hovered. She went in the house got a 12 Gauge and shot it. About half an hour later sheriff shows up. He asked her about it. She told him what it was doing and that it was in the trash can if the guy wanted it back.

Sheriff said I would have done the same thing. Don't worry about it, I'll go talk to the guy.

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

 

[Billy Goat]

Virginia woman shoots down drone near Robert Duvall's property

wjla.com

And that's not even the hillbilly area. That's one of the wealthiest counties in the Nation.

 

[11boo]

The only time CPW has come into my camp was drone related. Apparently some dronie was running his toy in our drainages during season, and they were looking for any information. We had no information.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Had a huge one (4') hover at eye level near the deck of a beach house I rented. Was loud, just beyond reach and took off when I came out with a fishing rod. Was all ready to sling the iron on the bitch.

 

[JJJ]

Drones are only appropriate in official survey work.
All others need to be taken down and the pilots taught to fear launching them.

 

[Northpark]

I haven’t had any issue with drones while enjoying national forest land except on wildland fires when we had to ground helicopters.

We had a drone intrusion on a fire in Colorado that grounded our aircraft. I caught the guy. Had to chase him down in my line gear. Turned out to be some rich kid from steamboat springs out playing with his dads toys. Needless to say we took his drone and he got an escort back home from LE&I.

 

[Shootinsurveyor]

Drones are only appropriate in official survey work.
All others need to be taken down and the pilots taught to fear launching them.

As a surveyor I approve of this message.

As with many other things, humans can get something cool and then F it all up for everyone involved.

 

[Oregonboy]

I can't stand em. I've had them buzz over me while fishing but never while hunting thank god.

 

[kwackkillncrew]

As a surveyor I approve of this message.

As with many other things, humans can get something cool and then F it all up for everyone involved.

Me too. We just got a quantum system's trinity f90. Thing is massive. Its main job will be to fly villages for lidar

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[Shootinsurveyor]

Me too. We just got a quantum system's trinity f90. Thing is massive. Its main job will be to fly villages for lidar

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

We just took delivery of a Alta X with Reigl Lidar that will also be used as a truck based mobile mapper. Next level up from the DJIs we had before. I've never seen anything like what you've got.

 

[MNGrouser]

It seems like most drone monitoring of people could be prosecuted as harassment in Minnesota. The law says:
"A person commits harassment under this section if the person: ...

(2) follows, monitors, or pursues another, whether in person or through any available technological or other means;"
I really can't see how spying on somebody with a drone wouldn't be monitoring through technological means. Maybe convicting some of these pukes would take the starch out of the others. I know some folks joked about it being self-defense but I like my chances of going to court and saying I was being harassed and I wanted to collect the drone as evidence so my harasser didn't get away with it. Nothing I post here is legal advice, I'm just saying I'd like my chances.

 

[Newtosavage]

Drone etiquette - only shoot flying drones. Never on the ground. That's just poor sportsmanship.

 

[finner]

Drone etiquette - only shoot flying drones. Never on the ground. That's just poor sportsmanship.

If it lands in the decoys, I'm going to sluice it. Them's the rules

 

[mavinwa2]

ok...love my drone!
However, there are regulations & rules, ethics and courtesy, just like anything else.
My drone is a fantastic OFF SEASON scouting tool. Especially in the desert hunting landscapes, public BLM lands and such. I think of it as a real time GoogleEarth, as if I control the satellite to view.
Saves my old legs and it's FUN to fly.
I'm a FAA licensed as recreational operator AND also commercial FAA-F107 pilot license.

If you fly a quality drone, such as DJI, which has to be registered with FAA. DJI registers all drone purchases in their network. They even possess any flight data that you attempt or complete. My drone has registration, license numbers with label on the drone.
Once launched, your GPS coords, user information is instantly available to> Big Brother. I was initially shocked at how restricted drone fly or not fly areas exist. You cannot legally just fly anywhere.
Cannot fly Nat'l Parks, Designated Wilderness, anywhere near any airport facility, certain Federal areas, and under 400' over private land.
But even at 300-400' in the sky, the camera footage is incredible. Pixel quality so good that post edit zoom can reveal a lot of detail.

With Big Brother's eyes over your shoulder, FAA, LE can quickly track you if need be.
And shooting a drone, legally flying over public lands, is a CRIME and LE enforceable, culprit shooting can be sued in court of law.

 

[Tmac]

Anyone ever had a problem with being “droned” while in the National Forest?
I went out to one of my favorite swimming holes yesterday with the family and had someone fly a drone over us for about 15 minutes. It irritated me to no end and the thought of watching a load of number five shot slam into that thing after going through a full choke crossed my mind. I took a walk down the river to see if I could find it’s owner to ask them to please stop but came up empty. Shortly after this it stopped and never came back. I understand the National Forest isn’t my private property and I have to share it with everyone but the drone thing should be illegal imo, total invasion of privacy.

Have not had that issue yet. If I saw one I’d probably wave, if it lingered I’d wave it away, if it persisted I’d treat it like a peeping Tom and employ active measures.

 

[Newtosavage]

ok...love my drone!
However, there are regulations & rules, ethics and courtesy, just like anything else.
My drone is a fantastic OFF SEASON scouting tool. Especially in the desert hunting landscapes, public BLM lands and such. I think of it as a real time GoogleEarth, as if I control the satellite to view.
Saves my old legs and it's FUN to fly.
I'm a FAA licensed as recreational operator AND also commercial FAA-F107 pilot license.

If you fly a quality drone, such as DJI, which has to be registered with FAA. DJI registers all drone purchases in their network. They even possess any flight data that you attempt or complete. My drone has registration, license numbers with label on the drone.
Once launched, your GPS coords, user information is instantly available to> Big Brother. I was initially shocked at how restricted drone fly or not fly areas exist. You cannot legally just fly anywhere.
Cannot fly Nat'l Parks, Designated Wilderness, anywhere near any airport facility, certain Federal areas, and under 400' over private land.
But even at 300-400' in the sky, the camera footage is incredible. Pixel quality so good that post edit zoom can reveal a lot of detail.

With Big Brother's eyes over your shoulder, FAA, LE can quickly track you if need be.
And shooting a drone, legally flying over public lands, is a CRIME and LE enforceable, culprit shooting can be sued in court of law.

Does BLM allow flying drones over their lands?

Do you know if the FS does?

I know several federal agencies that do not, which is why I ask.

 

[mavinwa2]

yes, BLM, State and Forest Service (nat'l forest) lands.
UAV are allowed in airspace, just like any aircraft, with similar restrictions.
However, there are stringent regulations specific for drone pilots & equipment.
Any smart drone pilot will have an APP that instantly shows if you can fly the area. Kind of like having Onyx maps showing private lands.

I rec'd letter once from FAA. My drone had a weak signal, high wind gust drifted it 500 yards, referred to as a Drone-Fly-Away. Drone had crossed into no-fly airspace zone of nearby small plane airport 2 miles away!
No fine, just a warning but I was required to respond in writing to FAA regarding the circumstances.

Bet Ukraine is thankful their civilian drone operators are identifying Russian targets, send GPS coords to artillery and KA-Boom~! As tragic as this war is, very interesting to see footage of drones like mine being used in warfare.