Is Drone Deer Recovery Legal in Kansas? (2026 Rules)
Not clearly. Kansas law doesn’t specifically mention drone recovery, and a 2026 bill to allow it died. What current Kansas law says and what the failed bill would have done.
2026-11-03
Not clearly. Kansas law doesn’t specifically mention using a drone to recover deer, and there’s no law that allows it. A 2026 bill that would have allowed it died in the Legislature. Here’s what Kansas law says.
What Kansas law says
Kansas law, K.S.A. 32-1003, makes it unlawful, unless authorized by law or regulation, to:
- Take any game animal from an airplane or other air vehicle, and
- Provide or receive information about the location of any game animal by radio or other mechanical device for the purpose of taking it.
Kansas has no exception for drone recovery.
Which animals does this cover?
Kansas’s law covers any game animal. In Kansas, that includes deer, pronghorn (antelope), elk, and wild turkey.
How Kansas defines hunting
Kansas law (K.S.A. 32-701) defines “hunt” as:
“Take, in any manner, any wildlife other than a fish, bullfrog, furbearing animal or coyote.”
The bill that died
House Bill 2423, the proposed “Kansas wounded deer recovery act,” would have let hunters who are FAA Part 107 drone operators use drones to locate and recover wounded or recently deceased deer. To do that, the bill would have:
- added an exception to K.S.A. 32-1003 for using drones to locate wounded or recently deceased deer, and
- excluded that drone use from the legal definition of “take” (K.S.A. 32-701).
The bill had a committee hearing in January 2026, and the Kansas Legislature lists it as died. No exception was created, so current law still applies. If Kansas passes a recovery law, we’ll update this article.
Hunting in another state?
Neighboring Missouri and Oklahoma allow drone recovery, each with its own conditions. Find a pilot on the map.
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 Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to confirm it’s allowed.
Last checked November 2026 against K.S.A. 32-1003 and House Bill 2423 (2026). Rules can change, so check with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks before you hunt. This article is general information, not legal advice.