🦌 Deer Recovery Services

Find Your Deer with Thermal Drone Technology

Lost a deer after the shot? Connect with drone operators using thermal imaging to locate wounded deer quickly and humanely.

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How Drone Deer Recovery Works

Thermal imaging locates deer in minutes, not hours

1

Contact a Pilot

Find a local operator and describe where you lost the deer, shot placement, and time since the shot.

2

Thermal Search

The drone flies over the search area with thermal cameras that detect heat signatures even in thick cover.

3

Deer Located

Once found, the pilot guides you directly to your deer using GPS coordinates and real-time video.

Why Use Drone Recovery?

Thermal drones find deer that traditional tracking methods miss

🌡️

Thermal Detection

Thermal cameras detect body heat through brush, tall grass, swamps, and darkness where visual tracking fails.

⏱️

Fast Results

Most deer are located within 15-30 minutes. Cover large areas quickly that would take hours on foot.

🌙

Night Operations

Thermal works best in cooler conditions. Evening and early morning searches are highly effective.

🎯

Higher Success Rate

Professional operators report 80%+ success rates for deer wounded within 12 hours of the search.

🦮

Complements Dog Tracking

Works alongside blood tracking dogs. Drones cover open areas while dogs work scent trails in thick cover.

📍

Precise Location

GPS coordinates and live video guide you directly to your deer. No more grid searching on foot.

300+
Recovery Pilots
80%+
Success Rate
15-30
Minutes Avg Search
50
States Covered

Find Deer Recovery by State

Browse services in your hunting area with state-specific season information

🏆 Top Hunting States

🦌 Wisconsin

Gun: November 23 - December 1
Northern hardwoods, agricultural land, wetlands

🦌 Michigan

Gun: November 15 - November 30
Northern hardwoods, conifer swamps, agricultural land

🦌 Minnesota

Gun: November 9 - November 17
Northern boreal forest, prairie potholes, river valleys

🦌 Texas

Gun: November 2 - January 5
Hill Country, South Texas brush, Piney Woods

🦌 Pennsylvania

Gun: November 30 - December 14
Mountain ridges, agricultural valleys, hardwood forests

🦌 Ohio

Gun: December 2 - December 8
Agricultural land, hardwood forests, reclaimed mine land

🦌 Illinois

Gun: November 22 - December 1
Agricultural fields, hardwood river bottoms, bluff country

🦌 Iowa

Gun: December 7 - December 11
River timber, agricultural fields, CRP grasslands

🦌 Missouri

Gun: November 16 - November 26
Ozark hills, river bottoms, agricultural land

🦌 Georgia

Gun: October 19 - January 12
Piedmont hardwoods, coastal plains, pine plantations

All 50 States

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Typical Pricing

Affordable rates to recover your harvest

$150-400

Per search (varies by location)

  • Thermal drone search
  • Professional FAA-certified pilot
  • GPS coordinates provided
  • Live video guidance
  • Evening/night availability
  • Success-based options available
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Frequently Asked Questions

Drone deer recovery uses thermal imaging cameras mounted on professional drones to detect heat signatures. The drone flies over the search area and locates deer even through thick cover, at night, or when traditional blood tracking fails. Thermal cameras can detect temperature differences as small as 0.1°F.
Services typically cost $150-400 per search depending on location, time of day, and pilot availability. Many pilots offer flat rates or "no find, reduced fee" options. Contact local pilots for specific pricing.
Contact a pilot as soon as traditional tracking fails. Thermal works best 2-12 hours after the shot when there's still a significant temperature difference. Success rates drop significantly after 24 hours, especially in warm weather.
Thermal works best in cooler conditions (below 60°F ambient temperature). In warm weather, searches before sunrise or after sunset are most effective when the ground has cooled.
Have these details ready: exact location of the shot (GPS if possible), time of the shot, shot placement (where you hit the deer), blood trail description, last known location of blood, and property boundaries/access information.
Yes, drone deer recovery is legal in most states when conducted by FAA Part 107 certified pilots following all regulations. The drone is used only for recovery after the shot, not for hunting. Some states have specific regulations about drone use on public land.

Don't Lose Your Harvest

Connect with a thermal drone operator in your area before your next hunt. Save their number - you'll be glad you did.

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All drone operations must comply with FAA regulations. Verify pilot credentials independently.