Committee approves bill to allow drones for wild hog control with deer-season exclusion

The Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee voted to report a bill that would create a civil exemption allowing the killing, trapping or taking of wild hogs by use of drones under limited circumstances, subject to departmental and federal aviation restrictions.

Chairman Whaley introduced the measure as a narrow exception to general prohibitions on using aircraft to take wildlife, saying it would allow killing, trapping and taking hogs by drone when performed as authorized actions to protect land, livestock, other domesticated animals or human life. "This will allow, killing, trapping, and taking hogs by the use of a drone," the sponsor said.

Senator Bridal asked whether the bill would allow people to hunt deer with drones. The sponsor replied, "No, sir. We're we are only asking, to kill wild hogs with these drones." Another senator raised concerns that allowing drones during deer season could incidentally reveal deer locations; the committee accepted a friendly amendment to exclude drone use during deer season.

Members discussed practical and legal limits: whether the FAA permits such flights, pilot licensing requirements, and whether a mechanism exists to fire projectiles from drones outside law enforcement or military use. Senator Wiley and others clarified the bill targets wild hogs only and that language may need refinement to specify locating versus firing from drones. The chairman and members described the measure as a work in progress and said they would continue refining FAA-related restrictions and language about taking versus locating animals.

The committee adopted a reverse-repealer amendment on the bill, accepted the deer-season exclusion amendment and voted to report the bill as amended.