A federal lawsuit has been initiated to challenge a Michigan statute that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has interpreted as a prohibition on using drones for locating downed game. The law, commonly referred to as the “Drone Statute,” was enacted in 2015 to ban drone-assisted “hunting.” The DNR’s interpretation includes the use of drones to locate already downed game, even after the hunter has stored their weapons.
Mike Yoder, the founder of Drone Deer Recovery Media, Inc., which assists hunters in locating downed game through drone technology, is at the center of the legal battle. The lawsuit argues that this use of drones is environmentally less intrusive and more humane compared to alternatives like tracking dogs or trail cameras.
The case, titled Yoder and DDR Media, Inc. v Lott, has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
