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

Not clearly. Maine bans using aircraft, including drones, to aid or assist in hunting deer, bear, or moose. The law doesn’t specifically mention recovering a wounded or dead deer. Here’s what it says.

What Maine’s law says

Maine law (12 M.R.S. §11216, “Hunting with aid of aircraft”) says a person on the ground or airborne “may not use an aircraft to aid or assist in hunting” bear, deer, or moose. Maine IF&W’s general hunting laws say that includes drones and remote-controlled aircraft.

Penalties:

• Without taking an animal: a civil fine of $100 to $500.
• Taking a bear, deer, or moose: a Class E crime with a fine of at least $500.

The law doesn’t mention recovery or make an exception for it.

Which animals does this cover?

Maine’s law names bear, deer, and moose.

How Maine defines hunting

Maine law (12 M.R.S. §10001) defines “hunt” as:

“to pursue, catch, take, kill or harvest wild animals or wild birds or to attempt to catch, take, kill or harvest wild animals or wild birds.”

What you can do instead

Leashed tracking dogs, with a permit. Under 12 M.R.S. §11111, a person may not use a leashed dog to track a lawfully wounded bear, deer, or moose without a valid permit. The permit is open to people with a big game hunting license, and permit holders may track outside legal hunting hours.

Finding a pilot

Drone Deer Tracker is adding pilots in New England. Check the map for the closest pilot to your hunt. Are you a thermal drone pilot? 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 Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to confirm it’s allowed.

Last checked November 2026 against 12 M.R.S. §11216, 12 M.R.S. §11111, and Maine IF&W’s general hunting laws. Rules can change, so check with Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife before you hunt. This article is general information, not legal advice.