Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Curious about this for turkeys. Have used mine for deer and after they get familiar with the noise and visual, they settle down. Usually takes a few days. Turkeys tho?
                                               :funnyturkey:

Illegal many places!

I have a friend who is in charge of 3 Missouri Dept of Conservation areas, so I'll be contacting him with the legalities of flying over state and private land, but I am curious about how turkeys will respond if they are legal to do so... :camohat:

illegal in my state during hunting seasons .. just opening another can of worms..

Whether legal or not, not the quality I am looking for in how I hunt.  Less technology is more if you are able bodied.  Unless you own the land, that is a disrespectful way to harass wildlife as well as the people who also use the land.  Shouldn't have to be illegal to see the issues here...this time of year with hens on nest, and with the threat aerial raptors are to turkeys, keep your drone out of the woods.

Some of the state ground I hunt have large open fields.  The birds like to strut in those fields in the afternoon if its not too hot/sunny.  I've been wondering how long it will be before people start flying drones to see if the birds are there as opposed to taking the time to sneak in.

I kind of chuckled at this...you know it won't be long and we won't even have to go out of the house to "hunt/scout". We can have technology scout/shoot/and bring the bird to us.lol. I'm not knocking what others do, I just laugh when I think about it all.

Not legal in Missouri.
As with most things , wise to check before you do it.

Here in Tennessee illegal on all public and private lands in season. If caught using during season $5,000 fine.

  Now if it is legal and you want to do it I am sure it could be effective. Just fly has high has you can. We used those little drones a lot in Syria and Iraq and the
a$$holes we were looking for never knew it was there.



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If my "scouting" required drone intel I'd sell my gun and take up origami.


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Boots on the ground scouting is half the fun.

I'm not sure it would be a big advantage.  Where I hunt they're very unpredictable so far as day-to-day patterns.  Seems like you'd be going to a lot of trouble for nothing.  I'd just assume scout from the ground and use binoculars. 


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Quote from: warrent423 on June 09, 2021, 04:42:11 PM

Quote from: lowoctane on June 09, 2021, 10:00:21 AM
Curious about this for turkeys. Have used mine for deer and after they get familiar with the noise and visual, they settle down. Usually takes a few days. Turkeys tho?
                                               :funnyturkey:

That's all I need to know about you as a "hunter"

So judged without qualifying?

Quote from: warrent423 on June 09, 2021, 04:42:11 PM

Quote from: lowoctane on June 09, 2021, 10:00:21 AM
Curious about this for turkeys. Have used mine for deer and after they get familiar with the noise and visual, they settle down. Usually takes a few days. Turkeys tho?
                                               :funnyturkey:

That's all I need to know about you as a "hunter"

So, it's okay to hide a camera in the woods that can take pictures of a deer in a given location that also records the time and "may" give you a live feed over the phone if you shell out the $$$.  But fly over and see them with a drone is terrible?  I don't see people bashing trail cams, but maybe I'm on the wrong forum for that.  I'll find out in a few minutes I'm sure.  I'm sure there are problems with using drones around game and all that, but using remote cameras to watch game movements isn't a major difference.


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Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on June 09, 2021, 06:15:42 PM

Quote from: warrent423 on June 09, 2021, 04:42:11 PM

Quote from: lowoctane on June 09, 2021, 10:00:21 AM
Curious about this for turkeys. Have used mine for deer and after they get familiar with the noise and visual, they settle down. Usually takes a few days. Turkeys tho?
                                               :funnyturkey:

That's all I need to know about you as a "hunter"

So, it's okay to hide a camera in the woods that can take pictures of a deer in a given location that also records the time and "may" give you a live feed over the phone if you shell out the $$$.  But fly over and see them with a drone is terrible?  I don't see people bashing trail cams, but maybe I'm on the wrong forum for that.  I'll find out in a few minutes I'm sure.  I'm sure there are problems with using drones around game and all that, but using remote cameras to watch game movements isn't a major difference.


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^^^THIS^^^

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Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on June 09, 2021, 06:15:42 PM

Quote from: warrent423 on June 09, 2021, 04:42:11 PM

Quote from: lowoctane on June 09, 2021, 10:00:21 AM
Curious about this for turkeys. Have used mine for deer and after they get familiar with the noise and visual, they settle down. Usually takes a few days. Turkeys tho?
                                               :funnyturkey:

That's all I need to know about you as a "hunter"

So, it's okay to hide a camera in the woods that can take pictures of a deer in a given location that also records the time and "may" give you a live feed over the phone if you shell out the $$$.  But fly over and see them with a drone is terrible?  I don't see people bashing trail cams, but maybe I'm on the wrong forum for that.  I'll find out in a few minutes I'm sure.  I'm sure there are problems with using drones around game and all that, but using remote cameras to watch game movements isn't a major difference.


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There is one SUBSTANTIAL difference.


Deer can move at night. AND WILL after they know they are being pressured.

Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on June 09, 2021, 06:15:42 PM

Quote from: warrent423 on June 09, 2021, 04:42:11 PM

Quote from: lowoctane on June 09, 2021, 10:00:21 AM
Curious about this for turkeys. Have used mine for deer and after they get familiar with the noise and visual, they settle down. Usually takes a few days. Turkeys tho?
                                               :funnyturkey:

That's all I need to know about you as a "hunter"

So, it's okay to hide a camera in the woods that can take pictures of a deer in a given location that also records the time and "may" give you a live feed over the phone if you shell out the $$$.  But fly over and see them with a drone is terrible?  I don't see people bashing trail cams, but maybe I'm on the wrong forum for that.  I'll find out in a few minutes I'm sure.  I'm sure there are problems with using drones around game and all that, but using remote cameras to watch game movements isn't a major difference.


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I don't utilize game cameras deer hunting, but my personal issue with droning fields for deer would be locating bedded animals. I think that's a chicken sh*t way to "hunt." With regard to how I personally view things like cell cameras, though, there was a MONSTER buck killed in my county two years ago. It later comes out the boy got a cell phone picture sent to him at work, he took off, got there, anticipated the line of travel, and killed the buck. My thoughts after hearing that, yeah, that old boy is a hell of a "woodsman," hell of a "hunter."


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Go for it.

Another advantage of TSS could be the extended range you could shoot illegal drones out of the air. Man I've thought about the drone thing before and I'm not a fan!


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Quote from: aclawrence on June 09, 2021, 07:00:49 PM
Another advantage of TSS could be the extended range you could shoot illegal drones out of the air. Man I've thought about the drone thing before and I'm not a fan!


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You need a drone capable of firing TSS!

For the sake of sane conversation, I refuse to go down the road(s) that some have taken. Please let me bore y'all with some of my issues: I have 9 stents and have to take 10 meds daily and have been struggling with high blood pressure lately. I also have two artificial knees and the one on my right leg has had 3 revisions and might be headed for the fourth. And some other ailments that limit my mobility, but not to worry. Years ago when I was spry and froggy I thought nothing of miles and miles of shoe leather tracking and setting up natural blinds all over the woods that I decided to hunt. It helped me to stay in shape, or so I reasoned. Now if I want to have a quality hunt where the game happens to be way prior to the season opening, and if I can't manipulate my Honda Foreman into a certain area prior to the season opening, I was looking into the possibility of using my FAA registered recreational drone as I have that hobby as well. Just looking into it, which is why I asked this wonderful forum my question(s). I have only seen youtubes on drone activities on deer which is why I stated with certainty on their behavior.
I'm of the opinion that I hunt safely and with fierce dedication to my quarry of choice and intend to continue to hunt as long as I can with these facts in mind. I don't poach or involve myself in anything illegal while spending my time in the woods.
It's my hope that this settles my position on what I asked as I was hoping for dialogue that would be beneficial to me and possibly other.  :camohat:

As many others have stated, using drones for direct scouting/locating/hunting purposes is illegal in many states.  I am not sure there are exceptions to that based on health issues or not. 

Having said that, there are many people who use drones for recreational purposes and unless there is direct evidence to correlate your use of a drone as a hunting aid during a hunting season for which you were licensed, I suspect it would be unlikely that you would be cited for using one. 

Finally, I have a small drone (DJI Spark) that I occasionally use to take video (outside of those illegal time periods), mostly just for kicks.  First observation I made was that it is harder than heck to get close enough to any sort of game animal to observe them or get good video.  The darn thing is just too noisy.  For use as an aid in scouting, and most definitely hunting, it would probably be more of a hindrance than it would be an aid, regardless of whether it is legal where you are or not.  Then again, perhaps you have a better drone that overcomes those obvious "deficiencies" I have found in the use of the one I have :icon_thumright:.

Quote from: deerhunt1988 on June 09, 2021, 06:34:15 PM

Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on June 09, 2021, 06:15:42 PM

Quote from: warrent423 on June 09, 2021, 04:42:11 PM

Quote from: lowoctane on June 09, 2021, 10:00:21 AM
Curious about this for turkeys. Have used mine for deer and after they get familiar with the noise and visual, they settle down. Usually takes a few days. Turkeys tho?
                                               :funnyturkey:

That's all I need to know about you as a "hunter"

So, it's okay to hide a camera in the woods that can take pictures of a deer in a given location that also records the time and "may" give you a live feed over the phone if you shell out the $$$.  But fly over and see them with a drone is terrible?  I don't see people bashing trail cams, but maybe I'm on the wrong forum for that.  I'll find out in a few minutes I'm sure.  I'm sure there are problems with using drones around game and all that, but using remote cameras to watch game movements isn't a major difference.


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There is one SUBSTANTIAL difference.


Deer can move at night. AND WILL after they know they are being pressured.

So it looks like the unfair advantage goes to the trail cam vs the drone.


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Quote from: GobbleNut on June 09, 2021, 08:05:35 PM
As many others have stated, using drones for direct scouting/locating/hunting purposes is illegal in many states.  I am not sure there are exceptions to that based on health issues or not. 

Having said that, there are many people who use drones for recreational purposes and unless there is direct evidence to correlate your use of a drone as a hunting aid during a hunting season for which you were licensed, I suspect it would be unlikely that you would be cited for using one. 

Finally, I have a small drone (DJI Spark) that I occasionally use to take video (outside of those illegal time periods), mostly just for kicks.  First observation I made was that it is harder than heck to get close enough to any sort of game animal to observe them or get good video.  The darn thing is just too noisy.  For use as an aid in scouting, and most definitely hunting, it would probably more of a hindrance than it would be an aid, regardless of whether it is legal where you are or not.  Then again, perhaps you have a better drone that overcomes those obvious "deficiencies" I have found in the use of the one I have :icon_thumright:.

Yep.  I can hear them long before I can find it in the air.  Though I don't have a drone nor do I fly one, it seems to be a good bit of trouble to go through for spotting game.  To me a trail cam is too much trouble.


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Not only illegal but totally unethical for those who still care about such things.  I realize many will do anything just to get that kill and this is just another idea that dumbs down the sport so that the masses have a chance for success, kind of like a participation trophy. We know a lot of you would be totally lost without all the crutches some choose to use to cheapen the experience and take the sport and fair chase out of the hunt. 

I read something last year on this as a matter of fact and it stated when it was tried regardless of how high they drone was the turkey did not tolerate it nearly as well as deer herds that the same was done with.

Quote from: lowoctane on June 09, 2021, 07:39:18 PM
For the sake of sane conversation, I refuse to go down the road(s) that some have taken. Please let me bore y'all with some of my issues: I have 9 stents and have to take 10 meds daily and have been struggling with high blood pressure lately. I also have two artificial knees and the one on my right leg has had 3 revisions and might be headed for the fourth. And some other ailments that limit my mobility, but not to worry. Years ago when I was spry and froggy I thought nothing of miles and miles of shoe leather tracking and setting up natural blinds all over the woods that I decided to hunt. It helped me to stay in shape, or so I reasoned. Now if I want to have a quality hunt where the game happens to be way prior to the season opening, and if I can't manipulate my Honda Foreman into a certain area prior to the season opening, I was looking into the possibility of using my FAA registered recreational drone as I have that hobby as well. Just looking into it, which is why I asked this wonderful forum my question(s). I have only seen youtubes on drone activities on deer which is why I stated with certainty on their behavior.
I'm of the opinion that I hunt safely and with fierce dedication to my quarry of choice and intend to continue to hunt as long as I can with these facts in mind. I don't poach or involve myself in anything illegal while spending my time in the woods.
It's my hope that this settles my position on what I asked as I was hoping for dialogue that would be beneficial to me and possibly other.  :camohat:

If you can't physically walk and/or ride your Honda into the field to scout it how do you plan to walk and/or ride your Honda into the field to hunt it once you confirm patterns from drone footage?


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Very carefully...not into pain anymore. Fortunately my brother will help when he can. I've no desire to give up hunting which is what this post is all about. Thanks for the positive remarks.

Sorry to hear about your health problems. That's a bummer. I hope you find a way stay after them as long as you can. 


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Quote from: lowoctane on June 09, 2021, 10:00:21 AM
Curious about this for turkeys. Have used mine for deer and after they get familiar with the noise and visual, they settle down. Usually takes a few days. Turkeys tho?
                                               :funnyturkey:

Hear anything from your guy?

 :morning:
No sir, he's on vacation til next week.   :camohat:

Quote from: guesswho on June 09, 2021, 07:07:14 PM

Quote from: aclawrence on June 09, 2021, 07:00:49 PM
Another advantage of TSS could be the extended range you could shoot illegal drones out of the air. Man I've thought about the drone thing before and I'm not a fan!


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You need a drone capable of firing TSS!

You beat me to it!

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Yes I have seen a drone while  scouting

Have seen a couple guys in Alabama using a drone scouting this past spring.

Aren't most drones limited to about 15 minutes flight time?   I really don't see any advantage to using one  .  I think most of what your going to see are field birds, and they're pretty easy to scout traditionally. 

A farmer friend of mine, whom I hunt on, has a good drone which he uses for entertainment...not hunting purposes. It's not a cheapie and has good range. He sees the video it transmits and, when it gets out a bit too far, it knows when to come back home for a recharge and does so.

Quote from: guesswho on June 10, 2021, 03:12:38 PM
Aren't most drones limited to about 5 minutes flight time?   I really don't see any advantage to using one  .  I think most of what your going to see are field birds, and they're pretty easy to scout traditionally.

My thoughts exactly.  A good pair of binoculars would suffice.


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Toys boys! He who has the most still dies tho!  :funnyturkey:
Mine isn't especially low dollar so 25-30 minutes is fairly common if the wind isn't a factor. Plus it has more range than I need so have to watch how far I fly it. The camera is it's weakest link as most drones are. I don't want or need an expensive camera as they can get well over $4-5,000.00.

Guess it depends on when you plan on scouting....

Drones are illegal in Florida, if you use them in season. Out of season no one can stop you from flying drones on public lands as long as you follow FAA guidelines.

The batteries on drones, like everything else, have vastly improved. You can go for half an hour and then swap out batteries. Depending on how much money you got.

So 2x batteries = 60 minutes, traveling at 30 mph(for good video). That's covering a lot of terrain.

If scouting a month before season opens I don't see a difference between trail cam or drone.

In Florida with the vegetation I wouldn't see much use, trail cam probably work better. In PA, with no leaves on the trees could see an advantage.

I use neither, scouting is part of the fun for me. The exercise is a bonus.

Quote from: guesswho on June 09, 2021, 07:07:14 PM

Quote from: aclawrence on June 09, 2021, 07:00:49 PM
Another advantage of TSS could be the extended range you could shoot illegal drones out of the air. Man I've thought about the drone thing before and I'm not a fan!


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You need a drone capable of firing TSS!

Just wait till drone scouting catches on and WMU parking lots get crowded.
The usual "I was here first" arguments now has the potential to turn into aerial drone dogfights.

This could be the start of a new turkey hunting sub sport,  lead #4's vs TSS drone dogfights,
the winner gets first pick to film the best chuffa patch

 :popcorn:

Quote from: crow on June 10, 2021, 10:37:03 PM

Quote from: guesswho on June 09, 2021, 07:07:14 PM

Quote from: aclawrence on June 09, 2021, 07:00:49 PM
Another advantage of TSS could be the extended range you could shoot illegal drones out of the air. Man I've thought about the drone thing before and I'm not a fan!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You need a drone capable of firing TSS!

Most are not good enough to pilot there drones over unchartered territory so the fear of losing the toy will discourage many, imho.    :z-twocents:



Just wait till drone scouting catches on and WMU parking lots get crowded.
The usual "I was here first" arguments now has the potential to turn into aerial drone dogfights.

This could be the start of a new turkey hunting sub sport,  lead #4's vs TSS drone dogfights,
the winner gets first pick to film the best chuffa patch

 :morning:
It's very obvious that the majority of respondents aren't in favor of drones and their usage, practical or not, so rather than add to the dissension I will pull this post. It is also obvious to me how the temperature of this awesome forum has changed and I hope and pray for more moderate tones.  :camohat:

Quote from: lowoctane on June 11, 2021, 07:07:40 AM
:morning:
It's very obvious that the majority of respondents aren't in favor of drones and their usage, practical or not, so rather than add to the dissension I will pull this post. It is also obvious to me how the temperature of this awesome forum has changed and I hope and pray for more moderate tones.  :camohat:

To be clear I wasn't trying to be rude or insensitive when I asked how you'd get into the areas if you confirmed there are birds; I meant the question quite literally. If you can't walk or ride in there to visually scout it I don't know how you'll be able to walk or ride in there if the the footage shows you there are birds. I understand the mobility/health issues and I think the better bet would be trying to obtain permissions or hunt setups that you CAN drive into. I mean I was involved on a hunt where we took a quadriplegic into a field and got him set up in a blind where he killed a bird. Had to get in crazy early and do things very differently but got it done. I guess what I'm getting at is that I don't understand how using a drone to scout areas you can't physically get into is going to help you. But there are other ways to skin that cat and keep you in the field. I'd be seeking out those type setups.


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Thank you sir! I was actually looking for this type of dialogue. The reality of using a drone was just one thought of the feasibility of using it and if anyone had any success or tricks of the trade, so to speak.
My health has diminished greatly over the last 10 years so this query was merely looking to expand my possibilities. I never wanted to incite any uproar and am sorry if I've offended anyone. Thanks again for your kind words!  :camohat:

Quote from: lowoctane on June 11, 2021, 07:07:40 AM
:morning:
It's very obvious that the majority of respondents aren't in favor of drones and their usage, practical or not, so rather than add to the dissension I will pull this post. It is also obvious to me how the temperature of this awesome forum has changed and I hope and pray for more moderate tones.  :camohat:

I see no reason to pull your post.  The question you raised is a valid one, not only regarding the use of drones, but also the general topic of whether certain forms of technology we now have available should be legal and, at the least, whether they are ethical to use even if they are legal. 

To me at least, there is a major difference between using a drone to get a direct hunting advantage and using one well outside of hunting seasons to assess the wildlife in an area.  The same philosophy could be applied to many technological tools we use.  It just depends on how far down the list one wants to go.

For instance, in my opinion the mapping apps that are available for our "smart phones" give hunters a great advantage now in terms of things like evaluating habitat, identifying topographical features, private land boundaries, and tracking features that allow hunters to go anywhere they want without fear of getting lost in the woods, as well as avoiding obstacles that might reduce their chances of success.

We can deny it all we want, but those apps give hunters a very real advantage in hunting.  Yet, those apps seem to be accepted by pretty much everybody nowadays as an essential tool to have. 

Now, don't get me wrong about drone use.  Again, if they are being used directly as an aid in killing game, they very much should be illegal.  Same goes for the "real time" game cameras,...and in fact, both are illegal in some, perhaps many, states.

As for the tone some folks take in participating in these forums,...well, that is just the reality of life, in general.  Fact is, most of us learn to hang with the ones we like,...and ignore the ones we don't.  That is the best you can do....   ;D :D

Quote from: GobbleNut on June 11, 2021, 08:24:32 AM
As for the tone some folks take in participating in these forums,...well, that is just the reality of life, in general.  Fact is, most of us learn to hang with the ones we like,...and ignore the ones we don't.  That is the best you can do....   ;D :D

Good thing I enjoy talking to myself.

Quote from: guesswho on June 11, 2021, 09:46:17 AM

Quote from: GobbleNut on June 11, 2021, 08:24:32 AM
As for the tone some folks take in participating in these forums,...well, that is just the reality of life, in general.  Fact is, most of us learn to hang with the ones we like,...and ignore the ones we don't.  That is the best you can do....   ;D :D

Good thing I enjoy talking to myself.

I was brought up that if I had nothing good to say, say nothing at all. I too enjoy talking to myself!   ;)

Yelp no better person to talk to then yourself. Glad to know I'm not the only one. Technology is in fishing now. With live scan. Side scan. Devices that sound like fish feeding. I've been fishing had drone hang out overhead for awhile watching. Just stopped fishing but they knew a new spot to try. Technology only going get better. It's up to us how we use it or not. Always will be used by someone to gain an advantage.

Because turkeys have a natural fear of avian predators (hawks, eagles) drones absolutely terrorize turkeys.  My son and I flew his new drone a couple autumns ago on my farm, found some turkeys in a field, and the flock went bezerk running for cover despite the drone being 400ft in the air above them. 

You will do way more harm trying to scout turkeys with a drone than good.

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Quote from: tazmaniac on June 11, 2021, 03:41:52 PM
Because turkeys have a natural fear of avian predators (hawks, eagles) drones absolutely terrorize turkeys.  My son and I flew his new drone a couple autumns ago on my farm, found some turkeys in a field, and the flock went bezerk running for cover despite the drone being 400ft in the air above them. 

You will do way more harm trying to scout turkeys with a drone than good.

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Thanks! End of story... :camohat: