No drone assisted hunting in BC

'Boo

'Boo

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For Immediate Release
2016FLNR0150-001340
July 22, 2016
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
NEWS RELEASE
British Columbia grounds hunting drones
VICTORIA - The Province has strengthened regulations to ensure that hunters do not use flying drones to help them track wildlife, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today.
The Province amended the Wildlife Act hunting regulation, making it illegal for people to operate or possess a drone, or use data obtained by a drone, while on a hunting or trapping expedition. It is also now illegal for a third party to use a drone to help a hunter or trapper.
Before the change, Section 27 of the Wildlife Act made it illegal to use a helicopter to hunt in British Columbia, although the Province contended that drones were a kind of helicopter. The minimum fine for hunting with a helicopter or drone is $2,500 - although a first conviction could cost a hunter $250,000 and up to two years in jail.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation, B.C. Trappers Association and Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. support the change.
Quotes:
Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations -
"We have to make sure that our regulations keep pace with technology. These changes help ensure that the rules are in line with what most hunters already practise."
Jim Glaciar, president, B.C. Wildlife Federation -
"Using drones to help track your prey just isn't part of the hunting culture in British Columbia. Hunters are respectful of wildlife and their habitat and very supportive of the steps government is taking to
prevent hunters from using drones."
Scott Ellis, executive director, Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. -
"Hunters come to British Columbia to experience the wild and beautiful backcountry and participate in Fair Chase hunting. Drones undermine the experience people have come to expect when they hunt big game in this province."
Quick Facts:
* Drones are small, remote or GPS-controlled aircraft that can be equipped to send digital images to the operator.
* Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario,and Newfoundland and Labrador have banned hunters from using drones.
Learn More:
To find out more about hunting rules and regulations, visit:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/…/…/recreation/fishing-hunting/hunting
Media Contact:
Greig Bethel
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
 
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Darn, I really enjoyed hunting drones... My 28" goose gun did a GREAT job on them!

Do we need to be concerned the drone population will now explode due to a lack of natural predators?

Laugh2
 
A quality pellet gun makes for a quiet and therefore less annoying tool to intercede on behalf of wildlife against lazy/stupid hunters. I'm just waiting to come across someone who says they're using one to ensure that no bears are in the area and it's therefore safe to enter the woods LOL.
Having said that, does anyone have a good drone recipe to go with fish?
 
Weapontech said:
Enforce? Too easy......every hunter would have an awesome moving target to practice on!
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Do you shoot at other forms of privately owned property when out on crown land to?

Lack of enforcement is a problem in BC, Try calling something in only to be called a week later by the officer to say he just had a look an hour ago and the people you reported and any evidence there may have been left behind are long gone.

Years ago I would get stopped in very remote areas and checked by a lone officer, now it is only large roadside checks on long weekends at the side of major highways with multiple CO's and police present. Very different from the years ago where I was on a first name basis with those that worked the areas I hunt.
 
tinbird said:
A quality pellet gun makes for a quiet and therefore less annoying tool to intercede on behalf of wildlife against lazy/stupid hunters. I'm just waiting to come across someone who says they're using one to ensure that no bears are in the area and it's therefore safe to enter the woods LOL.
Having said that, does anyone have a good drone recipe to go with fish?
Click to expand...

A fellow i knew, with cancer said they tasted like gun metal. Course he was a gunnie, and because of the cancer, everything tasted like metal.

Just like the regulations here for blue grouse 10(30), have never seen a drone, and probably never seen 30 Blues in my life. Now we cant start a best shotgun for drones, or develop a drone retrieving pointer dog breed/thread. Perhaps a 10/22 with a 110 rd GSG magazine, 40 gr 22 lr would work better than #8 shot.
 
So you can't take a drone along to help you hunt, track, or trap game.

Okay....

What I can't understand is why anyone would even want to take a provincial civil servant along with them to hunt in the first place. :confused:
 
Y'know, while I can sorta respect the idea of restricting the use of drones to actively be involved in a hunt, I really do not see what difference it may make, to have pictures taken by a drone in your possession (that 'data obtained using a drone'), when it is perfectly legal to fly over an area and photograph it as you see fit, as long as the time limits in the regs are followed.

Silliness.

I got no real beef with a fella that is willing to sort out his plan well enough that he gets as up to date pictures as he can, that is the guy's prerogative. Some guy spotting moose from the drone and relaying that info to his partner, whole different story, and I am pretty sure the latter was what they were trying to avoid.

Cheers
Trev
 
Brian46 said:
Do you shoot at other forms of privately owned property when out on crown land to?
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Ya, I also shoot a .308 rifle 45 degrees from horizontal without any regard to where it will land....... :rolleyes: Dude.....sarcasm.

Ontario has the same issues with lack of MNR enforcement - the MNR has been gutted to the point you'd be lucky to see anyone from one year to the next.

Regardless, IMO using a drone to hunt defeats the entire purpose of the sport.
 
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Suther said:
Well, by my interpretation, you can use a drone to search for animals, you just can't use it for hunting... so explore with the drone one day, then go hunting the next day?
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You also cant use info obtained by drone... therefore, you cant go hunt the next day or week or month, if you are operating on info obtained by drone at any time.
 
Hmmm does this mean helicopter and airplane pilots and passengers must now be blindfolded? An argument could be made that spotting wildlife on the way to a camp or hunting site could be considered as gathering information even though there are time limits in place for such things as when you can start your hunt after the flight. Anybody willing to take the chance on flying with blacked out windows by instrument only?? Seems like a very viable option for fair chase to me.
 
hoytcanon said:
You also cant use info obtained by drone... therefore, you cant go hunt the next day or week or month, if you are operating on info obtained by drone at any time.
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So that means if I fly over the back of my property taking video and just happen to get a picture of a big buck I can never shoot that buck, ever? Right, that makes sense.
 
bWONGER said:
Using drones to hunt?! All I can say is wow...
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Anyone ever here how noisy those drones are?
Besides , what sport or challenge would the drone offer ...aside from herding said target towards the shooter/poacher.
No real advantage to fair chase and all...for that those that care.

On a side note anyone know the bag limit on drones?
Are tags required and is a CORE (BC Residents) course update required?
Rob
 
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