Proposed Bill Aims To Ban Drones Used for Hunting

Caption: The Draganflyer X6 drone

A measure to ban drones used for hunting cleared the Illinois Senate agricultural committee last week, paving the way for a vote in the full senate.

The proposal’s sponsor, State Senator Julie Morrison (29th District) argues that drones can give hunters an unfair advantage.

“Most of the hunters I’ve talked to see using drones as cheating. They want to keep the hunt challenging,” the Deerfield Democrat said in a written statement. “Other groups, like the Humane Society [of the United States], believe the animals deserve a chance to escape that drones would eliminate.”

While small animals that fear birds of prey run when they see unmanned aerial vehicles, big game animals like deer are unfazed by the small aircraft, making them easy pickings for high-tech hunters, Morrison said.

In 2014, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved measures banning the use of drones for scouting or hunting wild game. Montana and Saskatchewan followed suit in February.

Montana officials likened drones to trail cameras and baiting. Alaska also joined the ranks of anti-drone hunting states, Field and Stream reported.

Farmers and ranchers who use drones to locate deer foraging or feral pigs don’t view drones as an ethical dilemma, but a tool to protect crops and land.

Morrison’s legislation would allow conservation police and other DNR employees to confiscate drones that are used for hunting – either to take animals down or to scout out wildlife locations. Hunters could also be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $2,500, up to one year in jail or two years’ probation.

An existing state law imposes similar penalties on hunting out of season or during prohibited times, and using poison or explosives to hunt game.

The senator said she came up with idea for the law while talking to officials from Illinois’ Department of Natural Resources late last year. Numerous other states already have similar laws. Because the measure has drawn so much attention, the senator has also filed legislation to create a commission to take a more comprehensive look at drone regulation.

The drone hunting ban proposal is Senate Bill 1371.

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