Is Drone Deer Recovery Legal in Ohio? (2026-27 Rules)

Yes. Ohio allows a drone to help recover a deer after it’s been shot, as long as you follow a few rules. Here’s what the law says, in plain language, for the 2026-27 season.

What Ohio’s rule says

Using a drone to hunt is illegal in Ohio, with one exception: a drone may be used to help recover a deer after the taking has occurred. The rule is Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-15-02, and it also appears in the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations.

There are three conditions:

1. No hunting devices during the recovery. No one involved in the search can be carrying a bow, crossbow, or gun while the drone is in use.
2. If the deer is alive, the drone stops first. The drone has to be done before anyone goes back to hunting that deer.
3. The pilot can tell you where the deer was. In that case, the pilot is allowed to give you the last location where the drone saw the deer.

Any other use of a drone to hunt or help hunt deer, such as scouting for deer during the hunt, is illegal.

Which animals does this cover?

Ohio’s recovery exception names deer only.

If the deer is still alive

This is the part hunters ask about most. If the pilot finds your deer and it’s alive:

• The drone search ends, and the drone comes down.
• The pilot can give you the deer’s last location.
• Then you can pick up your bow or gun and go finish the hunt.

Leave your weapon at the truck or at camp while the drone is up. That keeps everyone legal if the deer turns out to be alive.

Permission to go get your deer

The drone can search over neighboring land under FAA rules, so you don’t need anyone’s permission before the search. Ask the landowner where you’re hunting if the pilot can launch from there.

Once the deer is found, it’s a different story. In Ohio, you need written permission to go onto someone else’s land to recover a deer, even without a weapon. If the deer is on a neighbor’s property, get their written OK before you go in. There’s a permission slip on page 37 of the Ohio hunting regulations, and you have to carry it while you’re on their land.

Other recovery rules worth knowing

• Leashed dogs are allowed. Ohio lets you use a leashed dog to recover a wounded deer.
• Paid pilots need an FAA license. Pilots who charge for a search need an FAA Part 107 certificate. It’s fair to ask.

Finding a pilot in Ohio

Drone Deer Tracker lists thermal drone pilots across Ohio. Browse Ohio pilots by county, or use the map to find the closest one and call or text them directly. For tips on what to tell the pilot, see how to find a drone deer recovery pilot fast.

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 Ohio Division of Wildlife (1-800-WILDLIFE) to confirm it’s allowed.

Last checked November 2026 against Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-15-02 and the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Rules can change, so check with the Ohio Division of Wildlife (1-800-WILDLIFE) before you hunt. This article is general information, not legal advice.