Drone

[Paula]

I am watching a hunting show with the nephew. Can drones be used in NY to spot deer.  

He is a gamer not a hunter so that is not the point of the question. 

[Steve D]

https://www.dronethusiast.com/drone-laws-in-new-york/

A person is guilty of unlawful use of a drone when during the personal use of such drone, except as otherwise provided by federal law, he or she knowingly operates a drone:

 

1. more than four hundred feet above ground level; or
2. weighing more than ten pounds; or
3. without a visual line of sight of such aircraft; or
4. within a restricted airspace; or
5. in a reckless manner wherein such operation creates a risk of harm to the public; or
6. with the intent to harass or annoy an individual or individuals; or
7. below one hundred feet above ground level on private property with-
out the owner’s consent.

EXPLANATION–Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00380-01-7 A. 16702

Unlawful use of a drone is a violation.

This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law.

Potential DEC Regulations

Though there are no solid regulations or public comment from the Department of Environmental Conservation, they are currently seeking public input on the subject of determining whether or not public drone use will be permitted on state land.

The potential regulations and policies are being introduced to the public within the next couple of months ahead, mostly due to the concern about using a drone where lands have been classified as wilderness. This includes Catskill and Adirondack parks, for example, which are classified as canoe and primitive.

Though the FAA has regulations that control the use of recreational drones, the DEC currently holds jurisdiction over launching and landing a drone on land owned by the state.

This means that the DEC is able to issue tickets for certain instances, such as if a person brings their drone into the Adirondack wilderness and launches it from there. However, if they have launched it elsewhere, and are simply flying over the wilderness area, there is very little that the DEC can actually do.

With all of this in mind, the DEC is going to be releasing a firm public comment and some potential regulations on the subject of recreational drones within the next couple of months.

The DEC do not currently have any set regulations on recreational drones, however, but they do have a ban on motors within the majority of the forest preserves. Because drones have been considered as being motorized equipment, this is why you can be ticketed for launching

[Paula]

I take that as a yes, I think. Lol

 

[Steve D]

The Registering Process in New York

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that all Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) owners follow strict regulations and laws. You will need to file your name, home address and your email address as a start.

From there, you will receive a Certificate of Aircraft Registration and Proof of Ownership. These will include an identification number for your aircraft. You must have this number displayed on your drone at all times. The number will be valid for up to three years.

All aircraft that weighs more than 0.55 pounds, or 250 grams, and less than 55 pounds, or 25 kilograms, must be registered. This also includes any added payloads, such as an onboard camera.

You must be at least 13-years-old in order to register and, effective December 21st, 2015, all newly purchased or made drones must be registered before their first flight. You are able to register through a paper-based process, but you can also do so online by clicking here

[Steve D]

As of April 2017:

“DEC is currently in the early stages of determining what kind of public drone use will or will not be allowed on most state land,” DEC spokesman Benning DeLaMater wrote in an email. “The allowable uses and the regulatory mechanism for such use will depend on the land designation.”

He added, however, “Drone use will not be allowed on lands classified as wilderness in the Adirondack and Catskill parks and areas classified as primitive and canoe in the Adirondack Park. DEC’s potential policies and potential regulations will be subject to a thorough public comment period in the coming months.”

[Paula]

I wonder how someone would use one for hunting  

Say you have one up and your scanning for game, unless it's sleeping I wouldn't think there was a big chance at getting it. It's going to walk away by the time you get there.  Maybe

[turkeyfeathers]

How cool would it be to zip that thing around the woods or fields to find turkey ?  Even just scouting birds beforehand.. Side note: anyone see the drone racing on ESPN ever ? Holy crud can those boys fly those things 

[Elmo]

I have one and there is so much legal obstacles that it's a pain in the neck.  Instead of looking for where you can't fly it, you spend more time looking for where you can fly it.  If you enter certain fly zones, you have to call the traffic controller ahead of time to ask for permission to fly, etc.

The tiny cameras on these things have poor zoom so it's not like you can spot much on the ground.  Add in the tree canopy and you can forget spotting any game animal with it.  I could see if you fly it over a large corn field to see if they're bedded in there and what routes they're taking but you could do that with google maps and a little bit of leg work as well.

[Elmo]

btw, once I was flying it and a hawk took interest to it.  Kept circling my drone.  I decided to pack it in because I was afraid the hawk was going to attack it.

[biggamefish]

 I have my drone pilots license!!  Yes thats a real thing!! The test you take is more aircraft oriented that drone. Crazy and the FAA doesn't fool around.  There are alot of laws etc to fly one for a business.