Is Drone Deer Recovery Legal in Maryland? (2026 Rules)
Yes. New for 2026, Maryland allows drones to help recover a wounded or dead deer. The call you must make first, the 24-hour scouting rule, and who can carry a weapon.
2026-11-03
Yes. New for 2026, Maryland allows a drone to help recover a wounded or dead deer, and the rules include a phone call you must make. Here’s what the 2026 Maryland Hunting & Trapping Guide says.
What Maryland’s rule says
From the 2026 Maryland hunting regulations:
“It is unlawful to use a drone (i.e., Unmanned Aircraft System) to hunt, trap, or pursue wildlife with the exception that a drone may be used to assist with the recovery of a wounded or expired animal.”
The Maryland DNR announced the new drone rules this season.
The rules
- Call Natural Resources Police before and after. Drone operators must call (800) 628-9944 (available 24/7) before trying to locate a wounded or dead deer, and again when the search is over.
- Recovery only. Drones can’t be used to locate, drive, or flush game.
- The 24-hour scouting rule. It’s illegal to scout for game with a drone and then hunt, or help someone else hunt, that property within 24 hours of the last drone flight.
- Follow drone laws. Operators must follow all federal, state, and local drone laws. Pilots who charge for a search need an FAA Part 107 certificate.
Tip: save (800) 628-9944 in your phone before the season, so you can make both calls without hunting for the number.
Who can carry a weapon
This is different from most states. Per the Maryland deer hunting rules:
“Only the hunter, dog handler, or drone operator may carry a hunting device and dispatch a wounded deer while tracking it.”
So in Maryland, the hunter or the drone operator can finish a wounded deer, but no one else in the group can carry a weapon while tracking.
If you think you’ll need to finish a wounded deer after legal shooting hours, Maryland also requires you to call Natural Resources Police at (800) 628-9944 first and call again when you’re done. You must use a weapon legal for the current season, and you may use artificial lights to help.
Which animals does this cover?
Maryland’s rule covers recovering any “wounded or expired animal,” not just deer. In Maryland, that includes white-tailed and sika deer, black bear, and wild turkey.
Permission to go get your deer
Maryland requires written permission to enter land owned by another person or organization to retrieve a deer.
The drone can search over neighboring land under FAA rules, so ask the landowner where you’re hunting if the pilot can launch from there. If the deer is found on a neighbor’s land, get their written permission before you go in.
Tracking dogs
Maryland also allows tracking dogs to find dead or wounded deer. The handler must keep physical control of the dog at all times, and the hunter must call Natural Resources Police before tracking.
Finding a pilot
Drone Deer Tracker is adding pilots in Maryland. Check the map for the closest pilot to your hunt, including nearby states. For tips on what to tell the pilot, see how to find a drone deer recovery pilot fast.
Are you a thermal drone pilot in Maryland? Apply to be listed so hunters near you can find and call you.
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 Maryland DNR to confirm it’s allowed.
Last checked November 2026 against the 2026 Maryland Hunting & Trapping Guide and Maryland DNR announcements. Rules can change, so check with the Maryland DNR before you hunt. This article is general information, not legal advice.