08/05/2025
I'm extremely happy that the Missouri Department of Conservation allows the use of drones to recover game. I believe that this is an extremely beneficial tool that deer hunters can use to help them find a deer that they may not be able to find using conventional methods of finding their deer. I'm not saying that the use of drones should replace good ole fashioned woodsmanship and tracking skills, but it can be a great tool in a deer hunter's tool chest to quickly and effectively locate a wounded deer. I remember 20 or 30 years ago a deer hunter in Jefferson County hired a helicopter to find his trophy buck! Drones with thermal imaging are the cat's meow in my opinion. Here's what it says about the use of drones in the MDC'S 2025 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet.
(DRONES: Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, may not be used or possessed while hunting. A drone may however, be used after a deer or turkey has been to locate and recover a wounded animal. Before launching a drone, you must get permission from a conservation agent. Drone operators do not need hunting permits, provided they are not the person who wounded the deer or turkey. While the drone is in flight, no one may have in their possession a fi***rm, bow, or crossbow, except for concealable fi***rms as defined in Chapter 571, RSMo. Concealable fi***rms possessed under this exception may not be used to take wildlife. For additional rules, see
3 CSR 10-7.410 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.)
Have any of you used a drone or hired a drone service to find a deer or turkey?