The Benefits of Using Drones for Big Game Scouting

The Benefits of Using Drones for Big Game Scouting

Drones have become an increasingly valuable tool for hunters preparing for big-game seasons across the West and beyond. While using drones during a hunt or to locate game in real time is illegal in most states, drones are useful for preseason scouting tasks such as mapping terrain, assessing access routes, evaluating habitat, and planning glassing locations.

This guide explains how drones can support your scouting efforts responsibly, legally, and effectively. If you're preparing for a Western big-game hunt or comparing outfitters who can help you scout smarter, explore vetted options through Find A Hunt.

First: Understand the Legal Limitations

Before flying a drone for any hunting-related activity, know the rules:

• Using drones to locate or harass wildlife is illegal in nearly every state.

• Real-time scouting with a drone during the season is prohibited.

• Many states require drones to be grounded 24–48 hours before a hunt to prevent unfair chase.

• National parks ban drone use, and many national forests and WMAs limit drone operations.

• You must follow FAA regulations, including altitude restrictions and line-of-sight rules.

This guide focuses only on legal, preseason scouting applications that help hunters plan—not locate—animals.

Benefits of Using Drones for Big Game Scouting (Legally & Ethically)

1. Terrain Analysis from Above

Big-game animals often inhabit rugged, remote, or brushy regions that are difficult to analyze from ground level.

A drone helps you:

• Identify glassing knobs

• Pinpoint travel corridors

• Assess bedding cover and feeding terrain

• Map transition zones and elevation changes

High-angle views make it easier to understand how deer, elk, or pronghorn might use the landscape.

2. Mapping Access Routes

Many hunts are won or lost based on how efficiently you can enter an area.

Drones allow you to:

• Locate trailheads, benches, and ridgelines

• Evaluate potential stalk routes

• Avoid cliffs, deadfall, or impassable terrain

• Plan quiet approaches that minimize disturbance

This is especially valuable in steep elk and mule deer country.

3. Locating Water Sources & Vegetation Types

Water and vegetation dictate how big game use the landscape throughout the year.

Preseason drone scouting helps you:

• Identify springs, creek crossings, and stock ponds

• Spot green-up pockets and lush feeding areas

• Compare vegetation types (sagebrush flats vs. timber vs. meadows)

• Evaluate seasonal habitat transitions

This information shapes where you’ll focus your glassing and hiking efforts.

4. Checking Road Conditions & Access Points

Remote access roads change yearly due to weather, washouts, or fallen trees.

Drones can:

• Confirm road passability

• Identify safe parking or camping areas

• Determine whether a trail is overgrown or blocked

• Help you choose alternative approaches before burning daylight

This prevents wasted time during the hunt itself.

5. Improving Safety in Backcountry Hunts

The high country doesn’t forgive poor planning. Drones help you identify:

• Avalanche paths

• Loose scree and cliff bands

• River crossings

• Potential hazards like blowdown fields

Safer routes mean more energy for hunting and less risk of injury.

6. Digital Mapping Integration

Drone footage can be integrated with:

• OnX

• Basemap

• Google Earth

• GPS mapping apps

This allows you to build precise hunt plans with annotated routes, waypoints, and vantage points.

7. Scouting Pressure & Human Activity

In many units, understanding hunter pressure is as important as understanding deer or elk behavior.

Drones can help you identify:

• Unofficial campsites

• ATV tracks and trail usage

• High-pressure road systems

• Undisturbed pockets worth exploring on foot

Again, this is preseason data, not in-season surveillance.

Ethical Considerations: Fair Chase Comes First

Even when legal, hunters should follow these guidelines:

• Never fly a drone around game animals—it causes stress and alters natural movement.

• Never fly during the hunting season unless regulations clearly allow it.

• Never use a drone to push or locate wildlife.

• Only use drones for terrain and access planning—not to gain an unfair advantage.

Fair chase ethics ensure hunting remains a respected tradition.

Practical Tips for Using Drones in the Field

• Bring spare batteries—cold weather drains power fast.

• Fly early or late for the best lighting and reduced glare.

• Keep footage organized by area or hunt zone.

• Use slow, controlled flight paths to gather useful mapping footage.

• Always maintain line-of-sight and follow FAA rules.

Good drone scouting is methodical, safe, and respects both wildlife and other hunters.

How Drones Compare to Traditional Scouting Methods

Drones enhance traditional scouting—they don’t replace it.

FAQs: Using Drones for Big Game Scouting

Is it legal to use drones for scouting during hunting season?

In most states, no. Preseason use only.

Can drones help find animals?

They can, but using them that way is illegal and unethical.

What type of drone is best for scouting terrain?

Look for long battery life, stable hover, and high-resolution video—camera drones, not FPV racers.

Can drones spook wildlife?

Absolutely. Keep them far from animals and use only for terrain mapping.

Do outfitters use drones?

Some use them legally for preseason access and habitat evaluation—not locating game.

Plan Your Next Hunt with Better Scouting

Used responsibly, drones are a powerful addition to preseason scouting—helping you analyze terrain, plan routes, and hunt more safely. Combine drone mapping with boots-on-the-ground scouting, glassing, and traditional woodsmanship for the best results.

To compare guided big-game hunts and outfitters who prioritize ethical, fair-chase methods, explore options today on our hunt marketplace.