What Do You Think Of The Eye In The Sky On Hunters and Anglers?

[itsmyright]

http://mobile.philly.com/news/politi...&id=262927741&

Pa. prepping for a new drone target: hunters and anglers

Andrew Staub
PA INDEPENDENT June 12, 2014 4:02 PM


Consider it a preemptive strike.


That’s how state Sen. Richard Kasunic described a pair of bills that would outlaw the use of drones to disrupt legal hunting and fishing activities in Pennsylvania.

“It hasn’t happened here in Pennsylvania yet, but I’m sure that in due time it will happen,” Kasunic, D-Fayette, said Wednesday.

The possibility may sound a little far-fetched, given that most of the talk about drones focuses on military capabilities. But even Amazon is considering using unmanned aircraft to deliver packages, and Dominos is exploring ways to use a quad-copter to drop off piping-hot pizzas.

There’s another possible civilian use: monitoring hunters and anglers.

Ashley Byrne, a campaign specialist with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said drones have been used effectively overseas to police poachers.

In America, PETA last year conducted its own test flight of drones as part of a program to keep watch over hunters. The organization began offering drones for $324.99 as part of its online catalog, describing the “Air Angels” as “The New Hobby for Animal Protectionists.”

The animal-rights activist group has painted its “Air Angels” as tools to capture evidence of hunters illegally shooting deer from the side of the road or cracking open a cold one while pursuing their next trophy buck. That footage could then be used to alert authorities to problems, PETA said.

“The idea is that poachers need to rethink the idea that they can get away with murder out there alone in the woods with no one watching,” Byrne said.

The drones could also capture the “cruel” side of hunting — such as animals dying slowly after being shot, Byrne said.

While activists might catch illegal activities on tape, they could also scope out hunters and anglers doing nothing unlawful. It makes for a privacy problem in the eyes of state Sen. Richard Alloway, R-Franklin, an outdoorsman and chairman of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee.

“Most Americans don’t want drones spying on us or watching our activities for any reason, particularly if they’re not criminal,” Alloway said.

Like Kasunic, state Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Luzerne, is sponsoring legislation in the House that would prohibit the use of drones from interfering with lawful hunting, fishing and boating.

After more than 30 years of hunting, Mullery thinks drones would just interfere with lawful activities.

“These are people simply there to disturb that,” he said, adding that drones could also interrupt bird watchers and other outdoor-related tourism.

Drones would not be used to interfere with hunting, Byrne said. Rather, they would capture footage from high overhead. She dismissed the idea the drones could be a spy tool, saying hunters would be monitored on public lands.

“Anyone who is suggesting that these laws be implemented has something to hide,” Byrne said.

Pennsylvania lawmakers, though, are just the latest to explore such a ban on drones. Illinois legislators have already passed a bill that makes the use of drones to interfere with hunters illegal, and several other states have looked into similar laws.

Travis Lau, a spokesman with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, said the agency believes the use of drones to interfere with hunting may already be covered under existing law that addresses the harassment of hunters.

“As a point of clarity, and drones being a big issue, maybe it’s better to clean up that language and address it specifically,” Lau said.

John Arway,executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, said it’s rare to see anglers being harassed. So far, the state has had no conflicts regarding drones, he said.

While Arway said he wouldn’t be bothered by a drone while fishing — and doesn’t think anyone acting lawfully would — he believes the aircraft could be a nuisance to hunters who head to the woods to escape background noise.

“What the future holds is hard to say,” Arway said. “A lot of times technology surpasses common sense.”

[streaker69]

“Anyone who is suggesting that these laws be implemented has something to hide,” Byrne said.

I guess he's willing to have his entire home wired up for public viewing, if he doesn't want that, I guess he has something to hide.

[mongo]

Drone? What drone? What's a drone? That was a crow, and I blasted it with my SP10......

[Hodgie]

Drone? What drone? What's a drone? That was a crow, and I blasted it with my SP10......

Yeah that thing looked like another clay pigeon to me sir.

[itsmyright]

I guess he's willing to have his entire home wired up for public viewing, if he doesn't want that, I guess he has something to hide.

This is Ashley Byrne and after seeing this video I can only imagine what she would do with the footage, captured by drones, of the legal hunters in PA. Hey streaker, instead of posting pictures of all your great looking meat meals why don't you order a vegan starter kit and post it and make Ashley proud

[bogey1]

For $324.99 ? Have at it I dont mind a land owner scoping out his property from above, but some government organization keeping tabs on someone hunting or fishing? Target practice.
Though, I did catch a township school bus burning two stop signs the other day while flying above "my" property.

[DennisH82]

Pardon my lack of knowledge on radio controlled devices but wouldn't a jammer cause one of these drones to have a hard landing? Its not like they have encrypted control frequencies and it would prevent unintended shots in the wrong direction. Hell maybe a hunters drone might have a control issue and rash into another drone (Think Robot Wars)

[Svickstc]

Im cool with it, as long as we can monitor the homes and activities of these animal groups...

fair is fair...for some reason i dont think that would go over too well....

you know to catch some of these animal lovers actually abusing animals or illegal activities while persuing their next protest area..

[streaker69]

Pardon my lack of knowledge on radio controlled devices but wouldn't a jammer cause one of these drones to have a hard landing? Its not like they have encrypted control frequencies and it would prevent unintended shots in the wrong direction. Hell maybe a hunters drone might have a control issue and rash into another drone (Think Robot Wars)

Jamming legal RF transmissions is strictly verboten by the FCC. There was a prison, don't recall where, that wanted to install jammers to prevent prisoners using smuggled cellphones. The FCC wouldn't grant permission to use them.

[God's Country]

Guarantee any legislation passed will allow law enforcement, ie the pgc, to use drones to monitor/enforce the game laws. Count on it.