Embedded Files
Locating a deer carcass
Locating a deer carcass
Deer Carcass Locating Fees
$350 to for the drive and for up to 2 hours of searching, another $100 for a successful find
Mileage add-on if over 60 miles from pilot's location
Clients will need to sign a UAS Search and Locating Agreement
The laws about drone use in finding deer carcasses vary by state. I am not a lawyer but my understanding is that in Illinois, I cannot aid a hunter in the hunting of deer. See the following link below for the details about the Illinois State conflicting laws. The quick summary is that no hunting (no weapons) can happen while I am on site, and if the targeted deer is found to be still alive, I must immediate return and land my drone. I cannot follow a live animal or it becomes pursuing the animal, which is against the law. The law treats drones in the same way that they treat other vehicles. When you ask a CPO if you can ride in a side by side to locate your shot deer or trail blood, they will tell you that you can do that. The drone is the same as a side by side in respect to the law so if you can search for your downed deer with a side by side, then you can use a drone. The same is true if you locate your deer and it is still alive. It is illegal to pursue that live deer using a side by side or a drone. It really should be this simple. We now know that the courts agree. 5/20 UPDATE: Conservation officers are being directed to still go after the legal thermal drone searching for deer carcasses even after a court determined that it was legal. A recent court case against a pilot was thrown out and the pilot was deemed NOT GUILTY. Here is a video about it and here is the podcast DDR did with the winning attorney. It is important that the thermal pilot only searches for the deer carcass and does not cross over to the illegal activity of pursuing a wounded deer. The case shows that while Law Enforcement Director Jed Whitchurch has publically stated his opinions and put out a brochure about any use of a drone to find deer legally shot as illegal, the law actually does not prohibit the searching for legally shot deer. Mr. Whitchurch has indicated that he is still directing his officers to confiscate drones and fine pilots even with the knowledge that a court found for the drone pilot. Illinois thermal drone pilots are allowed to search of deer legally shot, but if the deer ends up being found wounded and starts to leave the area, the drone pilot cannot follow as they then will have crossed the legal boundary and will be illegally pursuing the deer. It came down to the definitions of searching vs. pursuing.
2025 Updates: There are two new bills (HB1462 and HB2740) in the House of Representatives of Illinois. Please contact your house and senate representatives to show your support for these new bills to codify the responsible and legal use of drones for the recovery of legally shot deer. 3/21/2025 UPDATE: The bill has moved back to the Rules Committee from the Illinois House Agriculture & Conservation Committee and this is really where they park bills they don't want to vote on. It doesn't look good. Can you spare 2 minutes to fill out a witness slip? It is not as scary as it sounds. You are simply letting the committee know that you are for (a proponent of) the bills (HB1462 and HB2740) which will make the law clear that drones can be used to find wounded deer after a legal hunt. Step 1: Click on this link to create a witness slip (https://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/157515?committeeHearingId=21456&LegislationId=157515&LegislationDocumentId=197305) Step 2: Fill in the slip with your information, that you represent yourself, that you are a Proponent of the Original Bill, and that you are filling out a Record of Appearance Only. Step 3: Send this to everyone you know that will be for this legislation. Thank you!
Illinois State Laws and Bills related to Drones and Hunting
Illinois State Laws and Bills related to Drones and Hunting
Most people agree that using drones to aid in the hunt is against the law and does not promote fair chase. "Not only is drone use for hunting unlawful in Illinois, it goes against the spirit of fair chase and widely accepted hunting ethics," said Jed Whitchurch, director of the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement. - It is important to note that this opinion is not the law.
(520 ILCS 5/1.2k) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2k) Sec. 1.2k. "Hunt" means the act of a person possessing a weapon or being accompanied by a dog or a bird of prey for the purpose of taking species protected by this Act in any location such species may inhabit. (Source: P.A. 85-152.)
(520 ILCS 5/1.2o) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2o) Sec. 1.2o. "Take" means hunt, shoot, pursue, lure, kill, destroy, capture, gig or spear, trap or ensnare, harass, or to attempt to do so. (Source: P.A. 81-382.)
(520 ILCS 5/2.26) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.26) Sec 2.26. It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer by use of dogs, horses, automobiles, aircraft or other vehicles, or by the use or aid of bait or baiting of any kind. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the use of a dog to track wounded deer.
(520 ILCS 5/2.33) Sec. 2.33. Prohibitions. (i) It is unlawful to take, pursue or intentionally harass or disturb in any manner any wild birds or mammals by use or aid of any vehicle, conveyance, or unmanned aircraft as defined by the Illinois Aeronautics Act. (hh) It shall be unlawful to kill or cripple any species protected by this Act for which there is a bag limit without making a reasonable effort to retrieve such species and include such in the bag limit. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, leave, dump, or abandon a wildlife carcass or parts of it along or upon a public right-of-way or highway or on public or private property, including a waterway or stream, without the permission of the owner or tenant. It shall not be unlawful to discard game meat that is determined to be unfit for human consumption.
520 ILCS 5/1.25) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.25) Sec. 1.25. Every hunting or trapping device, vehicle or conveyance, when used or operated illegally, or attempted to be used or operated illegally by any person in taking, transporting, holding, or conveying any wild bird or wild mammal, contrary to the provisions of this Act, including administrative rules, is a public nuisance and subject to seizure and confiscation by any authorized employee of the Department. {Don't take my drone since it is not a vehicle or conveyance, it is not being used to hunt, and it is not being used in the taking of deer.}
Bill HB2740: Amends the Wildlife Code. Allows unmanned aerial vehicles to be used for the tracking of wounded animals in the course of hunting.
Bill HB1462: Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that tracking wounded wild birds or wounded wild mammals by use of unmanned aircraft is permissible under certain conditions, including that: (1) the wild bird or wild mammal is wounded when a properly licensed hunter has struck the animal with a projectile fired from a legal hunting device during the open season; (2) any person operating the unmanned aircraft has obtained permission from the public or private landowner, or the landowner's authorized representative, before launching or landing the unmanned aircraft from or on the landowner's property; (3) the person operating the unmanned aircraft does not possess or control a firearm, bow, or other implement whereby wildlife could be killed or taken while afield, whether acting singly or as a group of persons while the unmanned aircraft is in flight, except this prohibition does not apply to a person lawfully carrying a concealed firearm under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act if the concealed firearm is not used to take wildlife; and (4) the unmanned aircraft is operated in a manner that does not harass any wildlife. Exempts an operator of an unmanned aircraft that meets these conditions from hunting permit requirements if the operator is not the taker of the wounded animal. Effective July 1, 2025.
Sign this petition to help inform Illinois lawmakers that this makes no sense at all! I also do searches in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Missouri, and they have different laws. The client is responsible to know the hunting rules regarding drones as I am not a hunter and I am not a part of the hunt. No hunting can take place while I am on site. Pilots, here is a recovery guide to help you to navigate the laws and here is the court case.
FAQs:
The DJI Matrice 30T is an awesome tool. It takes two batteries and flies around 31 minutes depending on conditions. I have 8 batteries and a way to charge spent batteries so I can stay in the search for a long time. The drone can fly in light rain/snow, and up to 30 miles per hour winds. It has a very bright spotlight and a 200x hybrid zoom to identify heat sources well above the trees. That being said, searches in areas with a full canopy are tough as the thermal camera must be able to penetrate through the gaps between the leaves. I will also have a 24" monitor with me so you can help in the search. And yes, the whole drone kit is expensive which is partially why I need to charge for my services.
Yes, I do need a license to do this. The FAA requires pilots to have a Part 107 commercial drone license. I need to recertify every two years and the drones need to be registered. Some areas also require FAA clearance to fly. Again, this is also a reason for the fee I charge.
A long way...Up to 9 miles under perfect conditions, but FAA rules require that i be able to visually see the drone without aid for the entire flight.
Yes, you learn by failing, and I crashed my first 3 drones, but, knock on wood, I haven't crashed one in a while.
Success rate? No idea really. Did you make a good shot? Did you push the deer? How long ago was the deer shot? There are a lot of factors involved for a success search.
I accept cash, Paypal, Zelle and Venmo AFTER the service is performed. Credit cards accepted with a 3% additional fee.
Page updated
Report abuse