When it comes to pests, I'm not opposed to hi-tech solutions to rid them. I've read about a number of
inventions to kill rats and possums in New Zealand and elsewhere. I certainly wouldn't advocate requiring each rat or possum (they are non native there) to be shot by someone with a primitive bow. And I personally don't care about people hunting invasive pigs with night vision equipment, or more.
But, this thread started thinking about use of drones for scouting our game resources, not just pests. When we're talking about shared (and limited) natural resources, we all have a stake in how our sport evolves. It simply won't work for us to say
"what I'm doing doesn't bother you, so <insert expletive of your choosing> off." Thoughtful dialogue on a forum like this might give us the opportunity learn each others' opinions, and possibly even alter our own over time. I truly appreciate the passion folks on this forum have, and I hope we can keep open minds and as a community think about how the sport of hunting is evolving so we can preserve it, and our natural resources. If we do that, I bet we can influence it's trajectory more than some distant lawyers and bureaucrats.
When it comes to game animals, I think there should be boundaries to what technology is used. While drones are today's conversation, this topic will get more challenging for us as we see a steady stream of inventions that, if applied to hunting, will further diminish the chance an animal escapes. Should each of us be allowed to shoot a prized bull elk with a $100 tracking chip (once they're available) so we be the first to shoot it when season opens? There's a reason hunting regulations long ago were applied to private land owners and not just public lands. If not for that, anybody with land on a migration corridor would then "own" the resource, tell the rest of us to **** off, and could do whatever they want with them--including shoot every last one of them. They'd be doing what they want on their own land, so why should anyone care? Well, I bet we'd all care quite a lot.
Advanced cartridges, variable power scopes, range finders and more are things huge numbers of hunters have adopted (yes, I use these things also, in addition to the muzzleloader that I've taken most of my elk with). They have tilted the odds very highly in the favor of the hunter over the prey. At some point, hunting will simply become killing. I think there might be some boundaries worth keeping to prevent that.
As things are today, the sport of hunting still requires elements of stealth and concealment, proficiency with whatever weapon chosen, patience, perseverance, and much more. It can be exhilarating, brutally hard, joyful, peaceful, and even at times heartbreaking. I like that (and support accommodations for those with physical disadvantages).
What do we do when we clearly have enough technology that we could exterminate all the elk, pronghorn, and plenty more in America and beyond? Even if not restricted by law, would I want elk and other wild animals to be buzzed by drones year-round? Not one bit. I say we give them some peace and quite a few months of the year. And may each of us enjoy the rewards that come from our time in the field, whether successful or not.
Apologies for the long post. Must be sad all my big game seasons are over for the year.
