Is Drone Deer Recovery Legal in Arkansas? (2026 Rules)

Yes, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, but Arkansas doesn’t have a written rule that spells out drone recovery. Here’s what the rules say and what AGFC has said.

What Arkansas’s rules say

Arkansas’s hunting rules prohibit hunting, driving, herding, or harassing wildlife from or with an aircraft, and AGFC applies that to drones. The written rules don’t mention recovering a wounded deer.

What AGFC has said

In October 2026, AGFC assistant chief of communications Trey Reid told the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that drone use in the field is limited but legal, and that drones can be used by hunters to find and recover wounded game during deer season. He also said:

“Drones can’t be used as a hunting aid.”

So in Arkansas, a drone can help find and recover a wounded deer, but it can’t be used to hunt, drive, herd, or harass wildlife.

Tip: let the pilot search from above and stay back, so the drone isn’t used to push or herd the deer.

Which animals does this cover?

AGFC’s statement covers wounded game generally, not just deer. In Arkansas, that includes deer, elk, and black bear.

Finding a pilot

Drone Deer Tracker is adding pilots in Arkansas. Check the map for the closest pilot to your hunt, including nearby Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Are you a thermal drone pilot in Arkansas? Apply to be listed.

Other states: see drone deer recovery laws by state.

Verify before you fly

Drone rules change, and how they apply can depend on your situation. Before any drone recovery, contact the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to confirm it’s allowed.

Last checked November 2026 against AGFC’s aircraft rules and AGFC’s October 2026 public statement. Rules can change, so check with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission before you hunt. This article is general information, not legal advice.