Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commissioners are expected to outlaw another facet of society’s increasingly technological lives when it comes to hunting — drones.

FWP’s proposed 2014-15 hunting regulations have a new section specifically addressing the use of drones for hunting. The commissioners are expected to vote on the new regulations next month. The draft regulations simply outlaw drones for use in hunting.

Biologists and others have used drones for viewing and counting wildlife. Manufacturers in recent years now sell outfits for less than $500 that include a remote-controlled helicopter complete with a video camera that can transmit live video to the operator.

FWP spokesman Ron Aasheim said FWP would likely “fine tune and focus” the language outlawing drones before the regulations are adopted.

He noted that FWP already has regulations that outlaw use of electronic devices. For example, the use of game cameras during hunting season is prohibited, the use of aircraft to scout for game on the same day as a hunt is also illegal, and the use of night-vision goggles, artificial light and two-way radios to track game is illegal.

While the possible use of drones by law enforcement has rankled Montanans, drones are proving useful to biologists. Because of their small size and quietness, biologists have found drones useful for conducting game and bird surveys.

U.S. Geological Survey biologists in Nevada have been using drones for several years to count bighorn sheep and mule deer. Drones are a cheap and effective way to monitor wildlife.

Animal rights activists have also taken a liking to drones. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have created an “Air Angel” program that advertises a $324 drone that PETA says should be used to spy on hunters and other people being “cruel” to animals.

“Using your hobby drone, you can collect instant to-your-phone video footage of hunters engaging in illegal activity, such as drinking while in possession of a firearm, injuring animals and failing to pursue them, and illegally using spotlights, feed lures and other nasty but common hunting tricks,” PETA says on its Web site. “Your amateur footage can be used to alert game wardens and other authorities to who is doing what to animals.”

Article courtesy of Hungry Horse News: http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/article_786aecf2-7dfd-11e3-9717-001a4bcf887a.html