Drone Deer Recovery Laws by State (2026)

Drone deer recovery laws are different in every state. Some states allow a thermal drone to help find a wounded or dead deer, with conditions. Some ban it outright. Many have drone rules for hunting that don’t say anything about recovery.

These rules aren’t just about deer. Most apply to elk, moose, bear, pronghorn (antelope), bighorn sheep, wild turkey, and other game too, and each state guide lists the animals its rules cover.

This guide sorts every state we’ve covered into four groups, based on what each state’s official rules say. Click a state for the details, the exact wording, and links to the official sources.

Jump to your state: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

✅ Legal

• Arkansas — Yes, per the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, to find and recover wounded game. No written recovery rule.
• Indiana — Yes, with an infrared drone, to recover a legally taken deer. No drone scouting from 14 days before the season.
• Kentucky — Yes, for a dead deer. The drone has to back off if the deer is alive.
• Louisiana — Yes, for a mortally wounded deer or bear on private land, outside hunting hours, after tracking fails.
• Maryland — Yes, new for 2026. Call Natural Resources Police before and after.
• Missouri — Yes, for wounded deer, elk, bear, and turkey. No weapons while the drone is up.
• Ohio — Yes, after the deer is shot. No hunting devices during the recovery.
• Oklahoma — Yes, on private land. Notify the game warden before and after.
• Tennessee — Yes, for a mortally wounded deer, at night only, over private land with permission. Paid pilots register with TWRA.
• West Virginia — Yes, for a mortally wounded deer, bear, turkey, or boar. Paid pilots need an outfitter or guide license.

⚠️ No specific rule

• Alabama — Bans hunting by aid of aircraft. Drones need written permission on WMAs.
• Connecticut — Hunting rules don’t mention drones. Drones are banned on state parks, forests, and DEEP land.
• Delaware — No drone hunting rule. Drones banned on Division land without a permit.
• Florida — Bans shooting at, harassing, or herding game with drones.
• Mississippi — Night tracking allows “reasonable means,” naming lights and dogs.
• North Carolina — Bans taking wildlife with airplanes and drones. One leashed dog allowed for retrieval.
• South Carolina — Hunting rules don’t mention drones.
• Virginia — Drone rule is silent on recovery. No hunting that property the same day after a drone locates an animal.
• Wisconsin — Case by case. Wardens judge recovery of a dead animal by a list of factors.

❓ Not clearly

• Alaska — Bans using a camera drone to spot or locate game.
• Arizona — Bans locating wildlife by drone in a unit with an open big game season.
• California — Bans flying devices to locate big game from 48 hours before to 48 hours after the season.
• Colorado — Bans drones to look for, scout, or detect wildlife to aid hunting.
• Georgia — Bans using a drone to locate any game species.
• Idaho — The 2026 seasonal drone ban exempts retrieving wounded game, but drones can’t be used to spot game and tell anyone on the ground.
• Iowa — Bans drones to hunt deer. Iowa defines hunting to include “searching for” game.
• Kansas — Bans taking game from aircraft. A 2026 recovery bill died.
• Maine — Bans aircraft, including drones, to aid hunting deer, bear, or moose.
• Massachusetts — Bans hunting by the aid of any aircraft.
• Montana — Bans drones to spot or locate game for hunting within 24 hours.
• Nevada — Bans drones to locate big game for hunting from July 1 through February.
• New Hampshire — Bans drones to locate, surveil, or aid in taking wildlife.
• New Mexico — Bans drones to locate any protected species and relay its location to anyone on the ground.
• North Dakota — Bans aircraft, manned or unmanned, to chase or disturb game. Defines hunting to include “searching for” game.
• Oregon — Bans drones to track, locate, or scout wildlife in aid of hunting. Doesn’t mention recovery.
• South Dakota — Bans aircraft to locate or spot wild animals. A 2026 recovery bill failed.
• Utah — Bans drones to locate any protected wildlife from July 31 through January 31.
• Vermont — Bans drones to locate wildlife, or relay its location, for the purpose of taking it.
• Washington — Bans drones to spot or locate wildlife for hunting. No hunting the day you fly.
• Wyoming — Bans aircraft to spot or locate big game from August 1 through January 31.

❌ Not legal

• Illinois — Drones can’t be used for any aspect of hunting or recovery.
• Michigan — Locating or recovering game counts as “take.” Upheld in court.
• Minnesota — Recovering dead or wounded game counts as taking game.
• Nebraska — Aircraft, including drones, can’t be used to recover game.
• New Jersey — Drones can’t be used to track or retrieve wildlife.
• New York — Recovery is part of the hunt, and drones aren’t allowed.
• Pennsylvania — Drones can’t be used for tracking or recovery. A 2024 conviction.
• Rhode Island — New for 2026-27: drones can’t aid in recovery of wildlife.
• Texas — Drones can’t pursue or recover wildlife in sport hunting.

Not yet covered

• Hawaii — Not covered.

Before you fly, in any state

• Check with your state wildlife agency. Rules change, and how they apply can depend on your situation. Every state guide above names the agency to contact.
• Paid pilots need an FAA Part 107 certificate.
• Get permission for the land. Landowner permission matters for where the deer is found, and some states require it for the land the drone flies over.
• Never use the drone to push or chase game. Almost every state bans using a drone to drive, harass, or herd wildlife.

Ready to find a pilot? Check the map, or see how to find a drone deer recovery pilot fast.

Last checked November 2026. This guide summarizes each state’s official rules as linked in each state article. Rules can change, so check with your state wildlife agency before you hunt. This article is general information, not legal advice.