Would you use a drone to access your hunting spot?

[3forks]

Suppose you had access to a drone that had the capability to carry you and your gear (and an animal if you’re successful), but it’s not passenger rated. However, you test the drone out using a similar load to you and your gear using a dummy and payload that would be similar to what you would need - and it works successfully. All you have to do is put the GPS coordinates into the drone’s navigation system, and the drone would fly you to where you want to go. The drone then lands, you unhook yourself from the tether and either send the drone back, or keep it parked until you’re ready for it to carry you and your animal out.

I know you can’t fly and hunt on the same day in most states, but I don’t know what else may determine whether a drone could be used legally. For the sake of argument, let’s just say there’s not much to legally prevent you from doing it. The main question is would you take the risk and do it?

 

[Scoutman]

No

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[xziang]

If that is the only way to land locked public ground would seriously consider it. However cost would be to much for my empty pockets.

 

[dirtytough]

Heck yea

 

[cmahoney]

Yep


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[Azone]

If it's legal to land in the potential hunting area and I had the means to do it i would try it. Flying is flying to me, if you get there in a plane, helicopter, drone or magic carpet ride there's no difference. You were airborne.

Possible corner crossing?

 

[Nate_Beres]

Seems kinda sketchy. I wouldn't want to do it more than a foot or two off the ground. This would be hard to have a path that wide.
Even that close to the ground if you went down and a prop hit the ground and broke that could mess you up pretty good.
If it's safe, yes. I see why someone would say or that's cheating, but I'm at the point where I really want to arrow my first large animal so not as concerned about that.

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[Werty]

Yes,

 

[Pinewood]

Op: are you in California?

 

[Rich M]

It would open those large tracts of public land that none of us can get to. Yes - and how about renting some for the rest of us to try.

$$$$$ is the restriction there.

You would have to determine if it is legal - might be some FAA stuff to worry about.

I do know a guy who does the motorized paraglider things (parachute and fan) and he says no license required for that. The downside there is the weight capacity.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Meh. It’s been done before. This guy is my hero. Especially because he took along a six pack and a gun.

July 2, 1982: Up, Up and Away With 42 Balloons

1982: Frustrated in his dream of becoming an Air Force pilot, a southern California truck driver gets himself airborne anyway with the help of a lawn chair and 42 helium-filled weather balloons. Airborne, as in 16,000 feet worth of airborne. Poor eyesight put the kibosh on Larry Walters‘ top-gun...

www.wired.com

 

[kda082]

I vote for the magic carpet. More room for gear and meat.

 

[Rob5589]

Had me right up to "not passenger rated." Not risking my life for a deer.

 

[Wrench]

I had some clown flying a drone over me during an elk season a few years ago. If I'd have ever been able to find the little geek that was doing it, we'd have had a real fun conversation.

If allowed, don't think there won't be some pricks that are not smart enough to move in on animals alone or jealous and try to push the ones you're after.

You might as well put a gun on it and stay in your mom's basement.

 

[Doghed]

Drone is a generic word. In this case it would need to be a UAV that has vertical take off and landing capability and very large payload capacity. I'm not aware of a civilian/commercial craft with this ability yet. Also we would have to observe any private land ceiling requirements in place at the time this becomes possible so a few feet off the ground isn't an option.

Short answer is yes.
I would/will do this if I live long enough to see it available. There is a lot of public land out there with no pressure.

 

[NYyotekiller]

The drone technology is advancing very fast and before long this will be an option to do.
With that being said, as an FAA licensed drone pilot myself, I wouldn’t do it. The height above ground that you would need to fly over top of private property to be legal is still too high for me, and every once in a while the drones can have a mind of there own when the communication acts up with the satellites.

 

[KNASH]

Meh. It’s been done before. This guy is my hero. Especially because he took along a six pack and a gun.

July 2, 1982: Up, Up and Away With 42 Balloons

1982: Frustrated in his dream of becoming an Air Force pilot, a southern California truck driver gets himself airborne anyway with the help of a lawn chair and 42 helium-filled weather balloons. Airborne, as in 16,000 feet worth of airborne. Poor eyesight put the kibosh on Larry Walters‘ top-gun...

www.wired.com

OH, maybe I CAN afford fly in hunting. Heck, I've already got a lawn chair, an Endless Breeze fan, and how much can helium balloons cost from the local party store? Heck Yea, sign me up!

 

[dirtytough]

I do know a guy who does the motorized paraglider things (parachute and fan) and he says no license required for that. The downside there is the weight capacity.

I looked into a chute plane a long time ago. I believe you have to be a licensed pilot to fly it with a passenger. Or to just fly a two seater you had to be a licensed pilot. It was one or the other. I was thinking about getting one for landlocked tracts of land. But if I couldn't fly my boy in with me it kind of defeated the purpose at the time.

I want to say it was Randy that busted his legs scouting for deer in Arizona a few years back using a chute plane.

 

[mtnkid85]

I think the thing your thinking of is called a helicopter... lol

Transporting humans, I think would be too risky but as a way to bring in a drop camp or pack meat out? Now we are talking!
Im not too sure if Id want to be hearing George Jetsons luggage being shuttled over my head while im in the BC though.

 

[tntrker]

heck yea, if nothing else, use it to pack in your food/gear and to pack out animal...