By Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News. Photo by Joe Richards.
On Nov. 3, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved changes to the Aerial Wildlife Management Permit rules to allow the use of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles to locate feral hogs for the purpose of hunting.
Stormy King, assistant commander at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said current regulations prohibit the use of drones and UAVs to conduct any activity for take, including locating hogs.
“They can be useful to control feral hogs at night,” King said. “The change would allow the use to locate hogs for take by gunners on the ground.”
The regulation change would not apply to any other game or exotic species.
A total of 65 public comments were received, with 51 percent in favor and 37 percent opposed.
“The biggest concern was overflight (onto neighboring properties),” King said. “However, the permitted activity has to be reported.”
Also, no drone-mounted weapons are permitted.
“They can only be used to locate,” King said. “They can’t be used to herd them.”
Commissioner Jeffrey Hildebrand pointed out, like when herding cattle, the noise from drones would herd hogs into an area where the hunters are waiting.
“It does have a herding effect,” he said.
