Is Drone Deer Recovery Legal in Michigan? (2026 Rules)
No. Michigan doesn’t allow drones to locate or recover deer, dead or wounded. What the DNR says, the court case that upheld it, and the leashed-dog option.
2026-11-03
No. As of 2026, Michigan does not allow drones to locate or recover deer, whether the deer is dead or wounded. Here’s what the rule says, what the courts said, and what you can use instead.
What Michigan’s rule says
Michigan law (MCL 324.40111c) says a person “shall not take game or fish using an unmanned vehicle or unmanned device that uses aerodynamic forces to achieve flight.”
The Michigan DNR’s deer hunting regulations answer the question directly:
“Can I use a drone to recover game animals? No. The use of drones to pursue wildlife in any manner, either during legal hunting hours or after, is illegal.”
The key is that the DNR counts recovery as “taking” game: “Attempting to locate and/or recover game, either dead or wounded, is an act which falls within the definition of ‘take.’” So using a drone to find your deer counts as taking game with a drone, which the law bans.
Which animals does this cover?
Michigan’s rule covers game animals, dead or wounded. In Michigan, that includes deer, elk, black bear, and wild turkey.
The court case
A drone recovery company and a hunter challenged the ban in federal court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld the dismissal of their case in July 2025, and in June 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear it. The ban stands.
What you can do instead
Leashed tracking dogs are legal in Michigan for finding a down or mortally wounded deer. Per the DNR:
- The dog has to be on a leash, or the tracker has to be able to show control of the dog.
- No one along can have a bow, crossbow, or firearm. The exception: if a licensed dog tracker is with you, the hunter may have a firearm or a ready bow or crossbow only at the time and point of kill.
- At night, you can use lights carried in your hand or on your person.
- A dog that barks while tracking can’t be used on public land.
Tip: since no one can have a weapon along while tracking with a dog, leave guns and bows behind unless a licensed tracker is with you.
Permission to recover your deer
Per the DNR, if a wounded deer goes onto private land, you have no legal right to follow it without the landowner’s permission, and you could be prosecuted for trespassing.
Hunting near the state line?
Neighboring Ohio does allow drones to help recover a deer, with conditions. If you hunt in Ohio, see Is drone deer recovery legal in Ohio?, and find an Ohio 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 Michigan DNR to confirm it’s allowed.
Last checked November 2026 against MCL 324.40111c and the Michigan DNR’s 2026 deer hunting regulations. Rules can change, so check with the Michigan DNR before you hunt. This article is general information, not legal advice.