Has anyone used a drone with a thermal camera on it for finding or locating pigs? I’m interested in using one for locating more pigs on our place. Any legal issues? Just curious.

Oh, well that answered that question!! Thanks!!

https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/permits/land/wildlife_management/aerial_wl_management/

Charlie

Are hogs considered 'wildlife' these days?

You have to read the actual law, not the TPWD summary. Their summaries are not always accurate.

So, for scouting and finding hogs, it is legal or not?

Did you read the actual regulations?

Well, my game warden just informed me that you are not allowed to fly a personal drone at night anyway.

I have my Part 107 Certificate. For personal use, you can fly at night. To be paid to fly (commercial work), you cannot fly at night without a 107 Certificate and a night waiver. Stay under 400ft and know what airspace (B4UFLY app or many others) you're going to be flying in.

https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/

You have to have the TPWD permit to basically do anything with wildlife and a UAV, and for a safe assumption for this discussion, hogs are wildlife.

Just to ask, what are you flying?

Charlie

This is too complicated for this old man, I would just do what I want. Hogs are hogs.

Is this something that is easier to ask forgiveness for after the fact rather than ask for permission?

I mean what could they possibly do to you if you are flying a drone on your property away from other houses or people? Isn’t like you could be tried for being a peeping Tom or anything....get the drone taken away? Go to
Jail For flying a drone....hardly seems like they would go that route.

To legally do it, you need the same permits helicopter pilots get to run a door gunner on them. I have no idea what you have to prove or pay, to get the permit. Texas Administrative Code (TAC §65.152) is the statute where all this is codified. In the statute, you can't fly at night to video or hunt even with the permit. It's a Class A Misdemeanor, not a ticket, for a violation.

Where do you see that it says no night UAV flying with a permit? It says “no taking”, I don’t see any references to looking with a UAV.

Link to Statute

Charlie

"Take," except as otherwise provided by this code, means collect, hook, hunt, net, shoot, or snare, by any means or device, and includes an attempt to take or to pursue in order to take.

It’s all friggin stupid government overreacting.....

I don’t agree with your interpretation as it pertains to UAV’s, but maybe I’m wrong... I sent an email to TPWD asking for clarity/confirmation. I’ll post up what I hear back.

Charlie

You don’t own the air space over your property above a certain point. Basically, if the county has a deed of no buildings above 80 feet, that’s where your air ownership stops. You can buy and sell those air rights under the set height, basically if your neighbor wants to build a large building blocking your view of whatever you like looking at, you could purchase the air rights over his property from him and it would prevent him from building, obviously he has to agree to this.

Prior to the twentieth century, it was believed that you owned the space above your property to heaven and the soil to hell

Each and every Game Warden interprets and enforces the codified laws of Texas without consulting with the clerk who is going to respond to your email. I wouldn't want to touch "Looking" as not hunting, with a ten foot pole, especially with it being a Class A Misdemeanor. Good luck to you in your endeavors.